Multivitamins May Slow Biological Aging
Daily multivitamins can help slow the biological aging process in seniors, new research has found, the latest in a string of scientific studies that is fueling interest in the role that nutrition plays in the aging process.
Researchers from Mass General Brigham and other institutions found that seniors taking a daily multivitamin saw improvements in the biological aging process compared with those taking a placebo.
The study found that the aging process was slowed slightly, and while the changes were not significant, scientists say it is the beginning of the proof that nutritional supplements can slow the aging process.
Biological Aging
Biological aging is the gradual deterioration in the body’s cells and systems over time. Unlike chronological aging, which measures the number of years a person has lived, it measures the health and functionality of the body’s cells and systems.
Scientists measure the process through the use of blood and DNA tests that measure the rates of certain processes in the body, such as inflammation and cellular damage. This measurement is sometimes referred to as the “aging clock.”
In the latest study, the scientists collected biological samples from the participants in the clinical trial. The participants were then randomly assigned a daily dose of a multivitamin or a placebo.
The results showed that the participants who were assigned the multivitamin had a slower rate of aging two years later based on several measures.
The greatest benefits were found in the participants who entered the study with the highest rates of aging compared to chronological aging.
Clinical Trial
The research is based on the data from the COSMOS Trial, which is one of the biggest randomized trials that has sought to determine the effects of nutritional supplements on the health of the elderly.
The trial involved thousands of individuals aged 60 and above across the US and has sought to determine whether supplements, including multivitamins, can affect the aging process.
Previous research from the same trial has indicated that daily multivitamins can also help slow memory loss in the elderly.
Previous research has indicated that individuals taking the multivitamin supplement recorded enhanced memory and cognitive functions compared to those taking the placebo. “In a randomized study of 958 older adults, those who took a multivitamin daily for two years experienced slowed so-called biological aging by about four months. That is, during the 24 months, they aged only 20 months at a cellular level,” according to NBC News.
Meaningful Effect
However, it is worth noting that although the new study found that taking multivitamins can slow the process of aging, the extent to which it can do so is quite minimal.
According to the new study, the results show that taking the supplements every day can slow the aging process by some extent over the two-year period.
However, it is worth noting that the new study does not imply that the supplements can be used to extend lifespan.
“This is a small but measurable effect,” the researchers noted.
Why They Work
Multivitamins have been found to contain numerous vital nutrients such as:
- Vitamins A, C, D, E, and B
- Minerals such as Zinc and Magnesium
Many of these vital nutrients are known to be involved in various biological processes associated with aging, such as:
- Cellular repair
- Immune system function
- Energy production
- Antioxidant defense
Vitamin and mineral deficiency is known to increase with age, particularly due to changes in diet, nutrient absorption, and various medical conditions.
Multivitamins are known to be beneficial in maintaining nutrient reserves in the body, which in turn may help in maintaining biological mechanisms that help combat the effects of aging.
According to scientists, although the mechanisms of these observed effects are still under investigation, it is known that these effects are real.
Courtesy of Garry Knight (Flickr CC0)Evidence is Mixed
Despite these promising results, experts warn that studies on multivitamins have yielded conflicting results over the years.
While some studies have found positive results in some areas, such as cognitive function in older persons, others have found little or no effect in terms of overall health.
For instance, in a large observational study of almost 400,000 U.S. adults, researchers found no clear association between regular use of multivitamins and decreased risk of death.
Similarly, other studies have found little evidence of a protective effect of multivitamins in preventing major diseases such as heart disease or cancer in healthy populations.
As such, most organizations emphasize that supplements should be taken in addition to, but not in place of, a healthy diet.
Nutrition Matters Most
Experts agree that the best ways to ensure healthy aging are well established and are as follows:
Nutrition, exercise, sleep, and the avoidance of smoking are the best ways to ensure healthy aging. “Large-scale randomized trials have found that multivitamin–multimineral (MVM) supplements and cocoa flavanols may benefit several age-related chronic conditions among older adults,” according to Nature Medicine.
Multivitamins are known to be effective in bridging nutritional gaps, especially in the elderly population whose nutritional intake may not always be adequate in all the required nutrients.
However, scientists are quick to add the following:
“A supplement cannot make up for a poor diet,” many nutrition experts stress.
Future Research
The most current findings have generated public interest in conducting more research into the interrelationship between nutrition and aging. Scientists are also hopeful that additional research might investigate:
- What types of nutrients are most beneficial to the process
- Whether extended usage increases the benefits received
- How supplements affect other aspects of a person’s lifestyle, like exercise and nutrition
Additionally, scientists are seeking to discover whether a more targeted approach, known as “personalized nutrition,” might be effective in slowing the process of aging in people who are at risk of deficiency.
Scientists are even dreaming of a future day when a doctor might be able to recommend a course of nutrition based on a person’s biological age.
Early Step
For now, the new discoveries give scientists cause for “cautious optimism that something as simple as taking a daily multivitamin could be part of the answer to healthy aging.”
However, the scientists stress that the science is still in its early stages.
To see if these anti-aging effects translate into longer lifespans and reduced risk of age-related diseases, more research is needed.
Until that day, the best course of action is to stick with what is known to be beneficial—good eating habits, exercise, and preventive medicine—while using supplements as “just one part of the many tools that could be helpful in the aging process.”
By David Loran Jr
A successful Editor-in-Chief, journalist for over 6 years, writing about important topics that are going on within the U.S. and beyond.
Sources:
NBC News: Multivitamins may slow biological aging in older adults, study finds
Nature Medicine: Effects of daily multivitamin–multimineral and cocoa extract supplementation on epigenetic aging clocks in the COSMOS randomized clinical trial
Featured Image Courtesy of Daniel Foster’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Garry Knight’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
