Multivitamins Slow Biological Aging in Older Adults
Two-year trial shows daily multivitamins reduce biological age by 1-2 months, with effects varying across biomarkers A study has found that daily multivitamin supplements may help slow the body's aging process. Researchers from Mass General Brigham in the U.S. analyzed data from a large-scale randomized clinical trial involving older adults between 2016 and 2020. They reported that participants who took a daily multivitamin for two years showed a biological age (body age) reduction of approximately 1-2 months.
The findings were published on the 10th in the international journal *Nature Medicine*. Biological age differs from chronological age, which marks the number of years since birth, as it reflects how quickly the body is aging at the cellular level. To measure biological age, the researchers used an "epigenetic clock," which assesses chemical markers influencing DNA function to estimate aging. The study involved blood samples from 958 healthy participants with an average age of 70 years old.
Participants were divided into groups taking either a multivitamin, cocoa extract, or a placebo. The multivitamin group showed slowed aging in two key biomarkers linked to mortality risk: one slowed by approximately 2.6 months and the other by 1.4 months. Notably, individuals whose biological age exceeded their chronological age at the study's start -- those aging faster -- experienced a more pronounced effect, with one biomarker showing a 2.8-month delay. However, the effect was not uniform across all five biomarkers tested.
Only two showed statistically significant changes, while the remaining three did not. Cocoa extract, also tested, demonstrated no aging-slowing effects across any of the five biomarkers. Howard Sesso, associate director of preventive medicine at Mass General Brigham, stated, "We confirmed that multivitamins are associated with biological aging markers" and added, "This could help identify ways to age healthily." The research team plans to conduct follow-up studies to determine if these effects persist beyond the trial period. They also aim to explore potential connections with existing research showing multivitamins' benefits in cognitive improvement, cancer risk reduction, and cataract prevention.
The researchers noted limitations, stating, "Most participants were non-Hispanic White, so the results may not apply universally. It is also too early to declare multivitamins a universal solution, as further confirmation is needed to determine if small changes in biological age translate to reduced disease risk or extended lifespan." Laura Sinclair, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Exeter and director of the British Society for Research on Ageing, who was not involved in the study, commented, "This research does not immediately recommend purchasing supplements. For those already maintaining a balanced diet, supplements may not be necessary." Reference Nature Medicine (2026), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-026-04239-3