Scientists uncover day by day multivitamin slows down organic ageing by unbelievable quantity
A study has suggested that taking a daily multivitamin could slow down biological ageing, though some experts have urged caution about the findings
Research suggests daily multivitamin use could reduce biological ageing(Image: Getty Images)
Taking a daily multivitamin could slow biological ageing, new research has claimed.
Scientists determined that two years of daily vitamins reduced biological ageing by roughly four months on average. Biological ageing relates to how old the body is regarding health and function rather than the number of years someone has been alive.
Earlier research on multivitamin use and health has produced conflicting outcomes, with one major study in 2024 demonstrating no advantage in preventing premature death whilst others suggest they might have some impact.
In the most recent trial, published in Nature Medicine, researchers concluded that multivitamins could lead to “healthier, higher-quality” ageing.
Dr Howard Sesso, associate director of the division of preventive medicine at the Mass General Brigham Department of Medicine in the US, and lead author, said: “There is a lot of interest today in identifying ways to not just live longer, but to live better.”
“It was exciting to see benefits of a multivitamin linked with markers of biological ageing. This study opens the door to learning more about accessible, safe interventions that contribute to healthier, higher-quality ageing.”
However, other specialists questioned the findings. The research examined biological ageing based on minute alterations to DNA.
Particular sites in DNA that control gene expression (known as DNA methylation) were studied as indicators of ageing. As time passes, methylation patterns change, creating the foundation for what scientists call “epigenetic clocks”.
Blood samples from 958 randomly chosen healthy individuals with an average chronological age of 70 were analysed for DNA methylation.
Researchers examined alterations in five epigenetic clocks at the trial’s beginning and at the conclusion of the first and second years.
They discovered that, in comparison with people receiving placebo tablets, those in the multivitamin group experienced deceleration in all five epigenetic clocks.
The modifications amounted to roughly four months less biological ageing throughout the two-year period. Additional research is currently underway to determine whether the effects are enduring.
Dr Sesso said: “A lot of people take a multivitamin without necessarily knowing any benefits from taking it, so the more we can learn about its potential health benefits, the better.”
The research received funding from Mars Edge, a division of Mars, which provided the multivitamins for the study.
Dr Laura Sinclair, lecturer in healthcare and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Exeter, explained that epigenetic clocks “are powerful tools to measure biological ageing, but they are only one piece of the ageing puzzle”.
She noted that factors such as DNA damage, protein alterations, and cellular communication issues also contribute to the ageing process.
She said: “This study doesn’t recommend going out and buying supplements. If a person eats a nutritionally balanced diet, then many dietary supplements would probably be superfluous to their individual requirements.”
“However, most adults in the UK are actually not eating a nutritionally balanced diet and so probably would benefit from a multivitamin-multimineral.
“Indeed, the UK Government suggests that UK adults should consider a vitamin D supplement in autumn and winter.
“Overall, this work provides evidence on the potential role of multivitamin supplementation in biological ageing, although the effects observed are limited.
“Within the broader context of diet and lifestyle, these results suggest that its impact would likely be complementary within wider strategies for promoting health and healthy ageing, rather than a standalone intervention with a decisive effect.”
Professor Luigi Fontana, from the University of Sydney and a director of the healthy longevity research, said: “This is a well-conducted trial, but the interpretation of the findings needs to be cautious.”
“The study reports that a daily multivitamin slightly slowed two of five DNA-based ‘epigenetic clocks’ used as markers of biological ageing in older adults.
“However, the magnitude of the effect is extremely small, and the effect was not consistent across all the ageing measures tested.
“Overall, the findings are scientifically interesting, but they do not provide convincing evidence that taking a daily multivitamin meaningfully slows human ageing.”
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