Think Twice Before Popping Multivitamins: Study Shows They May Shorten Your Life

While many people take multivitamin supplements with various nutrients in a single dose for their health, a recent study in the U.S. revealed that those who took multivitamins daily had a 4% higher mortality rate than those who did not.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) conducted a study over 20 years, tracking 391,124 healthy adults with no history of chronic illness. The study aimed to investigate the correlation between multivitamin intake and decreased mortality risk.

The results were published in the JAMA Network Open, the American Medical Association journal.

Shockingly, the researchers found no evidence suggesting that daily intake of multivitamins could reduce the risk of death from diseases like heart disease or cancer.

Those who took vitamins had a higher mortality rate than those who did not. Approximately 165,000 people died during the study, and the mortality rate among those who took vitamins daily was 4% higher than those who did not.

The research team clarified that these findings might reflect the possible side effects or people’s propensity to begin taking them only after they become seriously ill.

“We do not recommend taking multivitamins for longevity,” they shared and advised against squandering money on trendy dietary supplements for vitamin and mineral supplements.

However, the study has limitations as it did not separately analyze data from people with vitamin deficiencies.

Dr. Neal Barnard, a professor at George Washington University School of Medicine, noted that nutrients such as beta-carotene, vitamins C and D, and zinc can help delay age-related macular degeneration, possibly leading to vision loss. However, he advised that consuming healthy foods is preferable to taking multivitamins because these foods offer a variety of nutrients and fiber while also helping to limit saturated fats and cholesterol.