New study finds this daily habit may slow aging

This article contains affiliate links. If you click on such links and make a purchase, we may earn a commission.

“Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commissions or revenue on some items through these links.”

Research has shown that taking a multivitamin regularly can slow down biological aging, or internal aging. natural medicine.

Researchers based their findings on data from the Cocoa Supplement Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS). This well-established, large-scale randomized trial examined the effects of multivitamin/multimineral vitamin supplements and cocoa flavanol intake on several age-related chronic diseases in older adults. Notably, cocoa flavanols had no effect on slowing biological aging, so the study authors analyzed blood test results from people who took the multivitamin.

After tracking seniors over 60 for two years, scientists found that those who took a daily multivitamin experienced the following symptoms: Slow biological aging corresponding to about 4 months. And the participants People whose biological age was more accelerated at the start of the study had greater benefits.

“Our research group tested whether a group taking a typical daily multivitamin versus a placebo had improvements in a variety of aging-related outcomes. What we found is that taking a daily multivitamin may be a viable intervention option when it comes to slowing the biological aging process,” said study lead author Howard D. Sesso, Ph.D., MPH, vice chair of the Division of Preventive Medicine at the Massachusetts General Brigham School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts.

Here’s more on what this study revealed and why multivitamins may be the key to your fountain of youth.

Aging is more than just a number

They may not look their age on the outside, but on the inside it can be a different story. While chronological age refers to the number of years you have existed on Earth, biological aging is a measure of how your body ages at the cellular level.

It all depends on your own specific epigenetic clock, which estimates aging in your body based on changes in your DNA. Throughout your life, your DNA, aka your unique genetic structure, typically undergoes chemical modifications in your body. This process, called DNA methylation, changes your genes and can affect how you age naturally.

The epigenetic clock monitors specific DNA methylation sites and helps track the pace of aging in the body. “These are sites in the DNA that are turned on or off to keep the body functioning,” Sesso says. “As people grow older, some of these DNA methylation sites begin to turn ‘off’, affecting aging. ”

Changes in individual DNA methylation sites, or changes that make up a defined epigenetic clock, tend to be unfavorable when defined as an outcome, Sesso explains. “Certain conditions have disease-specific epigenetic clocks and are associated with accelerated aging and increased morbidity and mortality,” he added.

What we learned from the research

Sesso and his colleagues analyzed information from the COSMOS trial, specifically blood samples from 958 healthy participants with an average chronological age of 70 years. Participants either took a daily multivitamin or received a placebo.

The goal was to evaluate the effect of daily intake of a multivitamin (in this case Centrum Silver supplement) on five DNA methylation markers of biological aging. “These five clocks have been shown to be the most common way to summarize the different ways we age,” Sesso says.

Changes in blood samples were assessed at the end of the 1-year and 2-year marks. Compared to the placebo group, the multivitamin group showed a decrease in all five epigenetic clocks, including a significant slowdown in two clocks that predict mortality. In terms of time, those who took the vitamin supplement had their epigenetic clocks increase about 1.5 to 2 months slower per year than those who took a placebo.

It’s not completely understood why multivitamins work the way they do, but one hypothesis could be the fact that you’re getting all your daily nutrients in one supplement. There’s something about the combination of all of these things that promotes effectiveness, Sesso says.

“Daily multivitamins are unique in that they contain all essential vitamins and minerals, plus several other bioactive compounds that focus on the natural interactions of nutrients,” says Sesso. “Multivitamins have the potential to mimic the importance of healthy dietary patterns for extending healthspans.”

Of course, Sesso points out that it’s best to get your daily essential nutrients from a varied, rich, and healthy diet, ensuring you’re getting adequate amounts of lean protein and colorful fruits and vegetables. However, if that’s not possible, a multivitamin can at least cover the bases.

Take-out

“This study shows that multivitamins slow biological aging and may reveal an important mechanism of daily multivitamin intake.” [in the COSMOS trial] “To reduce the risk of lung cancer and cognitive decline,” Sesso says. This is encouraging news because lung cancer is primarily diagnosed in people over age 65, and some cognitive decline typically occurs with age.

While the study’s results are certainly encouraging, Sesso says there’s still work to be done to better understand the precise role multivitamins play in slowing biological aging.

In the meantime, Sesso says taking a multivitamin definitely won’t hurt and there are few downsides for most people. “This is a low-risk, safe, and cost-effective option and could be a viable means of slowing the aging process.”

However, simply taking a multivitamin is not enough to maintain your physical strength. “It’s very important to focus on eating nutritious food, getting enough sleep, and staying physically and socially active,” Sesso emphasizes. “While multivitamins can have a positive effect on your daily diet, they should not be seen as a replacement for these important lifestyle habits.”

you may also like