Question explored with the scientific record
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- 1 is centrum silver vitamins acturlly beneficial for someone over 60
- 2 are multi viatamins actually beneficial
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are multi viatamins actually beneficial
The short version: the evidence does not show that multivitamins provide meaningful health benefits for healthy adults over 60, and some formulations may cause harm.
The strongest evidence comes from large randomized trials, not observational studies that can confuse supplement use with a healthier lifestyle. The Physicians' Health Study II randomly assigned nearly 6,000 men aged 65 and older to a daily multivitamin or placebo for over a decade. It found no effect on cognitive function — the global composite score difference was 0.01, with confidence intervals crossing zero [7]. A separate analysis from the same trial found no reduction in major cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death) [3]. A large trial in women also found no association between multivitamin use and cardiovascular disease [4].
| Outcome | Multivitamin group | Placebo group | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major cardiovascular events (men) | 876 events | 856 events | HR 1.01, no benefit [3] |
| Total mortality (men) | 1,345 deaths | 1,412 deaths | HR 0.94, not significant [3] |
| Global cognitive score (men) | 0.01 change | -0.005 change | Difference 0.01, no effect [7] |
For infections, the MAVIS trial gave multivitamins to older adults and found no reduction in doctor visits for infections or days of illness [6]. Another trial found that vitamin E supplements actually increased illness duration and fever rates in elderly participants [8].
Observational studies sometimes show small benefits, but these are unreliable. A Swedish cohort found that regular supplement users had higher cancer mortality among smokers (RR 1.46) [1]. Beta-carotene in multivitamins is known to increase lung cancer risk in current smokers [2].
The evidence does not support routine multivitamin use for healthy adults over 60. For people with diagnosed deficiencies or specific conditions like mild cognitive impairment, targeted B-vitamin supplementation may help [5], but a broad multivitamin for general health has no proven benefit and carries documented risks.
My call: for a healthy adult over 60, a daily multivitamin is not beneficial and may be harmful depending on the formulation. Confidence: high.
Sources used 8
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Dietary supplement use and mortality in a cohort of Swedish men
A large population-based prospective cohort study in Swedish men found no overall association between dietary supplement use and all-cause, cancer, or cardiovascular mortality; however, regular supplement use was linked to higher cancer mortality among current smokers and, among…
DOI: 10.1017/S0007114507812049 -
Beta‐carotene in multivitamins and the possible risk of lung cancer among smokers versus former smokers
This study investigates the association between beta-carotene supplementation and lung cancer risk among smokers and former smokers, revealing a significant increase in risk for current smokers and evaluating the beta-carotene content in national brand multivitamins.
DOI: 10.1002/cncr.23527 -
Multivitamins in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Men
The Physicians' Health Study II found that long-term daily multivitamin use did not significantly reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events among middle-aged and older men.
DOI: 10.1001/jama.2012.14805 -
Multivitamin use and cardiovascular disease in a prospective study of women
This prospective cohort study of 37,193 women investigates the association between multivitamin use and the long- and short-term risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), finding no significant associations with major CVD events, myocardial infarction, stroke, or CVD death.
DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.114.088310 -
Effects of Multivitamin Supplements on Cognitive Function, Serum Homocysteine Level, and Depression of Korean Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment in Care Facilities
Multivitamin supplements (B6, B12, folic acid) improved cognitive function, reduced serum homocysteine, and alleviated depression in Korean older adults with MCI in care facilities.
DOI: 10.1111/jnu.12201 -
Effect of multivitamin and multimineral supplements on morbidity from infections in older people (MAVIS trial): pragmatic, randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial
The MAVIS trial found that routine supplementation with multivitamins and multiminerals does not significantly reduce self-reported infection-related morbidity or affect quality of life in older adults living at home.
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.331.7512.324 -
Long-Term Multivitamin Supplementation and Cognitive Function in Men
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 5947 male physicians aged 65 and older found that long-term multivitamin supplementation did not significantly affect cognitive function over a follow-up period of more than a decade.
DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-159-12-201312170-00006 -
Effect of Daily Vitamin E and Multivitamin-Mineral Supplementation on Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in Elderly Persons
This randomized controlled trial investigates the effects of daily multivitamin-mineral and vitamin E supplementation on the incidence and severity of acute respiratory tract infections in elderly individuals, finding no beneficial effects and some adverse effects associated wit…
DOI: 10.1001/jama.288.6.715