Posted on 07/27/2025 9:19:06 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Rather than extending lifespan, daily multivitamin use is linked to a 4 percent higher risk of death, according to a large study of healthy U.S. adults conducted by the National Cancer Institute.
Drawing data from three extensive cohort studies, the research followed 390,124 adults across the United States for up to 27 years, making it one of the most comprehensive analyses of its kind.
Participants, all without a history of cancer or chronic diseases, were part of the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study, the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial, and the Agricultural Health Study. They reported their multivitamin use at the study’s start and during follow-up intervals.
The data did not support a mortality benefit for multivitamin users. Instead, the results indicated a slight increase in mortality risk. The study states, “Daily MV use was associated with a 4% higher mortality risk” compared to non-users. This increased risk, though small, suggests multivitamins may not provide the expected health benefits.
The researchers accounted for other health habits such as diet, exercise, and smoking. They found that multivitamin users were generally more health conscious, often eating healthier and exercising more. However, this “healthy user effect” did not translate into a longer lifespan.
The study’s extended follow-up period allowed for a robust analysis of long-term multivitamin use. Over the study period, 164,762 participants died, providing a substantial dataset to evaluate mortality trends. The consistency of the findings across different cohorts and follow-up periods strengthened the conclusion that MV use does not significantly impact mortality rates.
He emphasized that individual nutritional needs can vary greatly and change over time, which the study did not account for. This variability means that the weakest nutritional link in one person might not be the same in another, and it can shift based on various factors.
“We have no idea what the baseline nutritional status was of any of the folks in the study or if they even needed a multivitamin to begin with,” Dr. Bauerschmidt said. This omission is significant because without knowing the initial nutritional deficiencies, it is challenging to determine the true impact of multivitamin use, he said.
Another concern is the imbalance of minerals in many multivitamins. Robert Love, a neuroscientist, noted in a video , “Multivitamins are deficient in some minerals that most of us are lacking—specifically magnesium and zinc.” He noted that 40 to 70 percent of Americans are deficient in magnesium and many multivitamins also lack adequate zinc, crucial for brain health and immunity. Conversely, multivitamins often contain excessive amounts of minerals such as copper and iron. Mr. Love said that too much copper can cause oxidative stress and brain damage, especially if it is not balanced with zinc.
Similarly, high iron levels , which most Americans do not need, can contribute to oxidative damage and accelerate aging . This imbalance may negate potential benefits and be harmful long term. Renowned scientist David Sinclair, a tenured professor at Harvard Medical School, avoids multivitamins due to concerns about excessive iron intake.
“They did their best to control for things like the possible ‘sick user effect,’ but there could be other factors not fully accounted for, such as differences in how often people see their doctors or other health habits that aren’t reflected in the available data sets, which might influence the results,” he said. While the study states that multivitamins do not benefit longevity, it is harder to say with certainty that they cause harm, he added.
The study mainly focused on mortality, leaving open the possibility that vitamins may have other health benefits or risks not measured in this research. “Although the study did not find evidence of any benefit with respect to mortality, that does not rule out the theoretical possibility for some other type of benefit that they weren’t measuring,” Mr. McSweeney added.
Mr. McSweeney’s personal view is clear—if a health care provider recommends a supplement, follow their advice. “However, in cases where people may be choosing to take new supplements based on things they see on social media, I still don’t see strong evidence that justifies spending a lot of money on products that don’t seem to offer significant health benefits,” he said.
He suggests that people might be better off spending their money on healthy foods rich in dietary fiber and phytonutrients. “Such foods are pricey these days with inflation, but have very clear benefits for health,” he concluded.
Not all multivitamins are created equal.
Especially the ones made in China. Quality control is often very poor.
78% of vitamins imported into the US are from China
My mom never took vitamin pills. She lived to age 103.
Both my grandfather’s never took the pills coz they did not exist in 1945 in India. Both lived to Mid-90’s age. But they all fasted one day every month.
Everybody dies in the end. It’s just what quality of life do you want before you go?
[[Rather than extending lifespan, daily multivitamin use is linked to a 4 percent higher risk of death, ]]
So, there’s a 104% risk of dying some day?
Good genes are priceless. Many of our relatives smoked, some drank, ate things like bacon and eggs most days (although they did have their own gardens, so ate a lot out of them rather than canned stuff at stores), and most have lived to 95+, some into their 100’s. They were hard workers, and didn’t have desk jobs, so that likely helped them too. My u cle right now is in his 80’s and still working as carpenter bui,ding log homes. Thatt side of family just lives a long time. The other side, not as long on average, but still up there in 80’s.
I wasn’t spoked to live long- 30’s they said. Little did they know who they were messin with! Lol.
My benchmark test is to check the label to see if the Vitamin E is solely in natural form with mixed tocotrienols and tocopherols, and with the magnesium being amino acid chelated (magnesium taurate, glycinate, or L-threonate). As a practical matter, look to buy the most expensive brands, not the cheapest.
Then how can one reasonably claim an actual link between multivitamin use and actual death risk without knowing the initial conditions?
What about a Flintstone every day?
Most multivitamins are comprised of compounded chemicals. Worse, at ratios established by some panel of supposed smart people.
So, go figure.
Yep. And many of the better ones are independently tested by 3rd party places to verify they contain what they say on their labels.
Just don’t take the brand the dinosaurs took.
I doubt that multivitamins increase mortality. I’m guessing that people who take them are more likely to have pre-existing health conditions and are more likely to die earlier with or without the vitamins.
They only work for Neanderthals.
Also, in many years of researching and using nutritional supplements for my health issues, I have found the greatest and most beneficial effects in figuring out specifically what I needed instead of taking a multi and hoping that it would resolve an issue.
The kind you swallow, or the kind you put in your butt?
Yup, me too.
4% is noise (smoking is more than 500%!). And +4% deaths means something but what does 4% RISK of death even mean? What a bunch of bollocks.
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