Research from Brigham and Women’s Hospital suggests that taking a daily multivitamin may slow biological aging. The study, part of the extensive COSMOS trial, found that older adults who took a multivitamin experienced a measurable delay in two key biomarkers associated with aging over a two-year period.
The findings, published in Nature Medicine, indicate that daily supplementation could impact both lifespan and healthspan, the duration of life spent in good health. According to Howard Sesso, an associate director in the division of preventive medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, “Living longer is one thing; living better is just as important.”
Details of the COSMOS Trial
Conducted between 2014 and 2020, the COSMOS trial involved 21,442 participants, average age 72, who were free of significant chronic diseases at the outset. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a daily multivitamin, a cocoa extract supplement, both, or a placebo. Over several years, the researchers monitored their health outcomes.
Previous findings from COSMOS indicated that individuals taking multivitamins experienced improved cognitive function, potentially equivalent to a three-year delay in age-related memory decline. In this latest research, the team focused on a subset of approximately 1,000 participants who provided blood samples throughout the study.
Scientists measured changes in five different “epigenetic clocks,” which assess biological aging by analyzing DNA patterns that indicate aging or an increased risk of death. The results showed that multivitamin users had a significant reduction in two of these clocks—PCPhenoAge and PCGrimAge—demonstrating an average slowdown of 2.6 months and 1.4 months, respectively.
Implications for Anti-Aging
While these findings are encouraging, the researchers caution against premature conclusions regarding the health benefits of multivitamins. The COSMOS study primarily involved older adults, raising questions about the applicability of these results to younger populations.
Sesso emphasized the need for further investigation into the relationship between changes in biological aging and actual health benefits. “We still need to understand what an improvement in biological aging feels like beyond our DNA,” he stated.
Despite these uncertainties, the COSMOS trial holds promise. In addition to cognitive improvements, earlier findings suggested that daily multivitamin use might lower the risk of lung cancer. Sesso and his team believe their research could contribute to the prevention of chronic diseases and premature death.
The researchers plan to continue exploring data from COSMOS and other clinical trials focused on supplements. They advocate for additional studies to investigate how various lifestyle choices or pharmaceutical interventions can influence biological aging.
As we all confront the realities of aging, ongoing research may illuminate pathways to a healthier, longer life, making the journey through time a more manageable endeavor.
