A long-term clinical study has shown that regular intake of multivitamins may slow biological aging. This conclusion was reached by American scientists who analyzed data from nearly a thousand elderly participants. The study was published in the journal Nature Medicine.

In recent years, there has been active debate among scientists about the benefits of vitamin supplements. More than 100,000 different dietary supplements are currently available on the market, but their impact on lifespan remains controversial. Some studies suggest that vitamins do not increase life expectancy, but they may provide certain health benefits in older age.

As part of the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS) project, scientists observed nearly 1,000 participants with an average age of about 70. The volunteers were randomly divided into groups: some took a daily multivitamin and mineral complex, others received cocoa flavanol extract, while a third group received a placebo.

After two years, researchers compared the participants’ biological aging indicators using so-called epigenetic “clocks,” methods that estimate the body’s age based on changes in DNA.

The results showed that aging occurred more slowly in people who took multivitamins. The changes were detected using two epigenetic models — PCPhenoAge and PCGrimAge. According to the researchers’ calculations, taking multivitamins was associated with a reduction in biological age of about 0.113 years per year on the PCGrimAge scale and 0.214 years on the PCPhenoAge scale.

Scientists also identified additional positive effects. Participants who took multivitamins showed improvements in markers of inflammation and cognitive function.

A particularly noticeable slowdown in aging was observed among individuals who had signs of accelerated biological aging before the study began. This may indicate that multivitamins help compensate for hidden nutrient deficiencies.

However, the authors emphasize that the results should be interpreted with caution. Although changes in epigenetic markers appear promising, it is still unknown whether this will lead to a real increase in life expectancy or long-term health improvements.