A new study published in Nature Medicine has sparked fresh interest in the role of daily supplements in healthy aging.
Researchers say multivitamins may slightly slow down the biological aging process in older adults. The findings offer cautious optimism—but not definitive answers yet.
Researchers observed that older adults who took a daily multivitamin for two years showed slower biological aging compared to those who did not.
The difference, while modest, was measurable—about four months of slowed aging over the study period. Scientists say this suggests a potential link between multivitamin use and improved aging markers.
Focus beyond longevity
According to the study’s co-author, the goal is not just to help people live longer but to improve how well they age.
The research emphasizes quality of life, exploring whether daily supplements can support healthier aging rather than simply extending lifespan.
How scientists measured aging
To assess biological age, researchers analyzed blood samples from 958 healthy individuals aged over 70.
They used five epigenetic clocks—advanced tools that track aging by measuring DNA methylation patterns. These molecular markers change predictably as people grow older.
The findings showed that multivitamin use slowed aging in two out of the five epigenetic clocks studied.
Researchers noted that these specific clocks may also be linked to mortality risk, making the results particularly significant despite their limited scale.
Expert reaction
Steve Horvath, a leading expert in aging research, described the findings as “very interesting.”
He highlighted the growing public curiosity around whether daily supplements can genuinely slow aging, adding that this study provides some of the strongest evidence so far in that direction.
Despite promising signals, researchers stress that it is too early to directly connect these findings to real-world clinical outcomes.
However, the consistent impact observed across multiple biological markers suggests the results are not random and warrant further investigation.
