Daily multivitamin may help seniors stay independent

Popping a daily vitamin tablet provides "modest but meaningful" improvement in everyday activities - such as dressing, bathing, walking and climbing stairs - for people over the age of 60, according to the findings.

Previous research has shown that the ability to perform everyday activities free of debilitating symptoms profoundly affects quality of life as we age.

Older adults who took a daily multivitamin pill for the new study had "significantly better" measures of functional health after three years compared with those who took a placebo.

The findings suggest a daily multivitamin can help older people maintain day-to-day functioning by helping to preserve cognitive abilities.

It may also benefit blood circulation and physical stamina, according to the research team.

Bayu Bekele said: "What makes this work unique is our focus on functional health, how people actually feel and function in their daily lives - rather than just the prevention of major diseases.

"For older adults, these findings suggest that a daily multivitamin could be a helpful, low-risk addition to a healthy lifestyle to support physical well-being as they age, although it is not a substitute for a good diet or exercise."

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

The research team analyzed data from more than 16,000 people aged 60 and older who participated in the COcoa Supplement Multivitamins Outcomes Study (COSMOS).

Participants were randomly assigned to take a daily multivitamin, a cocoa extract supplement, both or neither, with placebos used for the control group and for those taking only one supplement.

After three years, participants taking a multivitamin had significantly better functional health than those taking a placebo based on their responses to a well-being survey.

The greatest differences were seen in symptom burden and clinical summary score, which reflects an average of symptom burden and physical ability scores.

Cocoa extract did not significantly change functional health scores in the overall population, although it provided a "significant" benefit in the patients with congestive heart failure.

Bekele, from the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, said: "Multivitamin use supporting heart health and overall physical function may help maintain the ability to perform everyday activities such as dressing, bathing, walking, climbing stairs, jogging or hurrying, and completing household chores."

He added: "These benefits may be particularly relevant for individuals experiencing fatigue, shortness of breath or swelling in the feet, which can limit daily functioning."

The research team emphasized that it is important to check with a doctor before taking any new supplements.

The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition in National Harbor, Maryland.