Cohort Study: Long-Term Multivitamin Use Not Linked to Reduced Mortality in Over 390,000 US Adults

tudy Design and Population: This cohort study examined the association between daily multivitamin (MV) use and mortality risk using data from three large prospective cohorts in the United States. The study included 390,124 generally healthy adults with no prior history of cancer or major chronic diseases. Participants were followed for up to 27 years, with baseline MV use assessed between 1993 and 2001 and follow-up assessments from 1998 to 2004.

Main Findings: Daily MV use was not associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality. In fact, the study found a 4% higher risk of mortality among daily MV users compared to nonusers during the first half of the follow-up period (HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02-1.07), although this risk was not significant in the second half. The findings were consistent across major causes of death, including heart disease, cancer, and cerebrovascular diseases.

Implications for Practice: These findings suggest that long-term MV use does not confer a mortality benefit among generally healthy adults. Healthcare providers may need to reconsider recommending MVs for longevity purposes, as the evidence does not support their efficacy in reducing mortality risk.

Reference: Loftfield, E., O’Connell, C. P., Abnet, C. C., et al. (2024). Multivitamin Use and Mortality Risk in 3 Prospective US Cohorts. JAMA Network Open, 7(6), e2418729. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.18729.