Daily Multivitamin Slows Cellular Ageing by Four Months, Major Study Reveals
A new study suggests that a cheap, standard daily multivitamin may significantly slow the body's ageing process at a cellular level. Researchers have found that older adults who took these supplements every day for two years experienced a deceleration in biological ageing, an effect roughly equal to reducing their biological age by approximately four months.
The Science Behind Cellular Ageing
As we age, cells gradually become damaged and release chemicals that trigger inflammation, while the body's ability to repair itself diminishes. Over time, this process elevates the risk of serious illnesses such as cancer, dementia, and heart disease. It is widely believed that this cellular deterioration is the primary reason many diseases become more prevalent from mid-life onwards.
However, there has been growing scientific interest in whether it might be possible to slow or even reverse the body's biological clock. A large randomised clinical trial, led by researchers at Massachusetts General Brigham and using data from the COSMOS trial, measured the biological age of nearly 1,000 healthy adults aged around 70. The study employed blood samples to analyse age-related DNA changes known as methylation, with samples taken at the start, after one year, and after two years.
Measuring Ageing with Epigenetic Clocks
Researchers utilised 'epigenetic clocks' – sophisticated tests that track age-related changes in DNA to reflect how rapidly the body is ageing biologically. The findings, published in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine, demonstrated that participants who took the multivitamin experienced slower ageing across all five DNA-based ageing measures compared to those taking a placebo.
The effect was most pronounced in individuals who were already ageing faster biologically than their chronological age at the study's commencement. This suggests that multivitamins could offer a simple, accessible method to support healthier ageing, although the benefits observed were modest.
Nutrient Composition and Recommendations
Multivitamins typically contain a blend of essential nutrients, including vitamins A, C, D, E, and B vitamins, along with minerals such as zinc, magnesium, and iron, which help fill nutritional gaps. The British Dietetic Association recommends that individuals over 65 take a daily vitamin D supplement of 10 micrograms to support bone and muscle health. This advice is particularly crucial for those who are frail, housebound, or have limited sun exposure.
Howard Sesso, the paper's senior author, commented, 'There is a lot of interest today in identifying ways to not just live longer, but to live better. A lot of people take a multivitamin without necessarily knowing any benefits from taking it, so the more we can learn about its potential health benefits, the better. This study opens the door to learning more about accessible, safe interventions that contribute to healthier, higher-quality ageing.'
Caveats and Broger Context
Despite these promising results, the researchers emphasised that the study measured changes in DNA markers linked to ageing rather than actual lifespan or disease risk. It is far from the only intervention being investigated for anti-ageing properties. In the rapidly expanding field of geroscience, scientists are testing various drugs designed to prevent age-related diseases and promote longer, healthier lives.
In a potentially major development, researchers at biotech company Mabwell have initiated the first human tests of a drug that blocks interleukin-11 (IL-11), a molecule that increases in our bodies as we age. In younger individuals, IL-11 levels spike briefly during illness, but with advancing age, immune system cells begin producing it continuously, leading to chronic inflammation that damages organs like the heart, lungs, and muscles.
A 2024 study in Nature found that a new molecule, code-named 9MW3811, which blocks IL-11, extended the lifespan of older mice prone to age-related cancers by about a quarter and reduced both the number and severity of tumours. This has prompted Calico Life Sciences, an anti-ageing research company owned by Google's parent company, to sign an exclusive US licensing deal for the drug.
Additionally, GLP-1 drugs such as semaglutide (brand names Ozempic and Wegovy) may also slow age-related diseases. A 2023 study in The New England Journal of Medicine found that semaglutide reduced heart attacks and strokes by 20 percent in people with obesity and cardiovascular disease. Notably, only about a third of this benefit was attributed to weight loss, suggesting the drug may have additional protective effects, such as reducing inflammation. Analyses have also indicated that these drugs may lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
