Findings come from an NIH analysis of more
than two decades of dietary data from 390,124 U.S. adults.
BETHESDA, Md., June 26,
2024 /PRNewswire/ --
What: A large analysis of data from nearly 400,000
healthy U.S. adults followed for more than 20 years has found no
association between regular multivitamin use and lower risk of
death. The study, led by researchers at the National
Institutes of Health's National Cancer Institute, was published
June 26, 2024, in JAMA Network
Open.
Many adults in the United
States take multivitamins with the hope of improving their
health. However, the benefits and harms of regular multivitamin use
remain unclear. Previous studies of multivitamin use and mortality
have yielded mixed results and been limited by short follow-up
times.
To more deeply explore the relationship between long-term
regular multivitamin use and overall mortality and death from
cardiovascular disease and cancer, the researchers analyzed data
from three large, geographically diverse prospective studies
involving a total of 390,124 U.S. adults who were followed for more
than 20 years. The participants included in this analysis were
generally healthy, with no history of cancer or other chronic
diseases.
Because the study population was so large and included lengthy
follow-up and extensive information on demographics and lifestyle
factors, the researchers were able to mitigate the effects of
possible biases that may have influenced the findings of other
studies. For example, people who use multivitamins may have
healthier lifestyles in general, and sicker patients may be more
likely to increase their use of multivitamins.
The analysis showed that people who took daily multivitamins did
not have a lower risk of death from any cause than people who took
no multivitamins. There were also no differences in mortality from
cancer, heart disease, or cerebrovascular diseases. The results
were adjusted for factors such as race and ethnicity, education,
and diet quality.
The researchers noted that it is important to evaluate
multivitamin use and risk of death among different kinds of
populations, such as those with documented nutritional
deficiencies, as well as the potential impact of regular
multivitamin use on other health conditions associated with
aging.
Who: Erikka Loftfield,
Ph.D., M.P.H., Division of Cancer Epidemiology and
Genetics, National Cancer Institute
The Study: "Multivitamin Use and Mortality Risk in 3
Prospective US Cohorts" appears June 26,
2024, in JAMA Network Open.
About the National Cancer Institute
(NCI): NCI leads the National Cancer Program and
NIH's efforts to dramatically reduce the prevalence of cancer and
improve the lives of people with cancer. NCI supports a wide range
of cancer research and training extramurally through grants and
contracts. NCI's intramural research program conducts innovative,
transdisciplinary basic, translational, clinical, and
epidemiological research on the causes of cancer, avenues for
prevention, risk prediction, early detection, and treatment,
including research at the NIH Clinical Center—the world's largest
research hospital. Learn more about the intramural research done in
NCI's Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics. For more
information about cancer, please visit the NCI website
at cancer.gov or call NCI's contact center at
1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).
About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH,
the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and
Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and
supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and
is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common
and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs,
visit nih.gov.
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SOURCE National Cancer Institute