A recent study involving nearly 400,000 people reveals that multivitamins do not contribute to longer life, contradicting the widespread belief among the third of American adults who take them. The research, led by Erikka Loftfield from the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI), found no evidence that multivitamin use improves longevity in healthy adults. The findings were published on June 26 in the journal JAMA Network Open.

Loftfield's team analyzed data from three prospective studies, tracking participants over an average of 27 years. The study included over 390,000 healthy adults, with an average age of 61 at the beginning of the study. Data on multivitamin use was collected, and over the follow-up period, nearly 165,000 participants died, with causes of death including cancer, heart disease, and strokes.

Despite the extensive follow-up, the researchers found no association between multivitamin use and reduced mortality risk. In fact, the study indicated a 4% higher mortality risk among daily multivitamin users compared to non-users. This association remained consistent regardless of participants' race, ethnicity, education, or dietary quality.

The study aligns with previous research showing no benefits of multivitamins in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, or mortality. In 2020, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force also found insufficient evidence to support multivitamin use for preventing heart disease or cancer. Despite a slight decline in multivitamin use from 1999 to 2011, they remain popular, with nearly one-third of American adults reporting recent use.

While the study concluded that multivitamins do not improve longevity, the researchers noted that they cannot rule out potential benefits related to other health outcomes associated with aging.