A daily multivitamin may slow biological ageing by about four months over two years, an analysis of the COSMOS trial suggests.
The study analysed data from nearly 1,000 older adults, including men aged 60 and over and women aged 65 and over, who were followed for two years.
Participants were randomly assigned to take a daily multivitamin and cocoa extract, a daily multivitamin and placebo, cocoa extract and placebo, or placebo only.
Researchers measured the effects using five epigenetic clocks, tools based on small chemical changes in DNA that can help estimate how fast the body is ageing at a cellular level.
The study, led by researchers at Mass General Brigham and Augusta University, found the multivitamin group showed slower biological ageing across all five clocks than the placebo-only group.
The effect reached statistical significance, meaning it was unlikely to be due to chance, in the two clocks seen as predictive of mortality, or risk of death.
The effects were stronger in participants whose biological ageing was already accelerated at the start of the trial, suggesting those with a higher biological age may benefit more.
The authors said the changes equated to about four months less biological ageing over the course of two years. They also said further research is needed to determine how changes in biological ageing measures relate to long-term health outcomes.
The multivitamin used in the trial was Centrum Silver, a Haleon brand. The company provided the product, placebo and packaging for the trial, although the study was led by independent academic researchers.
Alpa V. Shah, senior director of medical and scientific affairs at Haleon, said: “These findings add to a growing body of evidence around multivitamin use and healthy ageing.
“This COSMOS ancillary study provides new insight into how a daily multivitamin like Centrum Silver may relate to biological aging measures, complementing existing research on cognition and overall nutritional support.”
The trial, known as the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study, was described as the first and only reported large-scale randomised controlled trial to examine the effect of a daily multivitamin and cocoa extract supplementation on biological ageing using epigenetic clocks.