Can Taking a Daily Multivitamin Slow Down Aging? Here's What a New Study Found

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- You eat well, exercise, and keep your brain active, but is there something else you can do to slow aging?

"Now we'll add a multivitamin," said culinary medicine specialist Dr. Terry Simpson with Dignity Health St. John's Regional Medical Center.

For years, experts have said that multivitamins containing vitamins A, C, D, E, B-complex, and minerals like zinc, selenium, and calcium had little evidence supporting their benefits. Now, researchers are reconsidering.

"Multivitamins aren't magic pills, but they may be a simple way to support healthy aging," Dr. Simpson explained.

A two-year study published in Nature Medicine found that daily multivitamin use appeared to slow biological aging compared to chronological age by over two years. The trial involved nearly 1,000 older adults taking Centrum Silver.

Biological age is measured using surrogate markers on DNA, indicating that their DNA aged less over time. While it is a surrogate marker, it is a meaningful indicator not to be ignored.

At the cellular level, the anti-aging effect translated to approximately 2.7 to 5.1 months less biological aging after two years of multivitamin use.

"People around 60 or 65 years old should consider making this part of their daily routine, along with a healthy diet and exercise," Simpson advised.

Although Centrum Silver was the supplement used in the trial, Simpson says similar multivitamins should provide comparable effects. Since different products contain various fillers, it’s important to find one that suits you.

However, a daily multivitamin is only a small part of what is needed for healthy aging.

"Maintaining a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean or DASH diets rich in fruits, vegetables, and fish, remains essential. Taking a multivitamin can serve as a little extra insurance," he added.

Simpson emphasized that multivitamins are easy to take and inexpensive, but they do not reverse Alzheimer's disease or cognitive decline. Those who may benefit most include older adults with cardiovascular disease, nutritional gaps, or those experiencing faster biological aging.