Taking a daily multivitamin may slow down biological ageing, a study has suggested. Experts calculate that taking daily vitamins for two years cuts biological ageing by about four months on average.
Biological ageing refers to how old the body is in terms of health and function rather than the number of years a person has lived.
Previous studies on the use of multivitamins and health have given mixed results, with one large study in 2024 showing no benefit when it comes to preventing early death and others showing they may have some effect.
In the latest trial, published in Nature Medicine in March, experts conclude that multivitamins may lead to “healthier, higher-quality” ageing.
Dr Howard Sesso, associate director of the division of preventive medicine at the Massachusetts General Brigham Department of Medicine in the United States, and lead author, says: “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.