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🏥Health Watch:

Taking a Daily Multivitamin May Not Help You Live Longer

A recent study involving nearly 400,000 adults in the U.S. has found that taking a daily multivitamin may not offer the health benefits many expect. The findings, led by researchers from the National Cancer Institute and published in JAMA Network Open, suggest that daily multivitamin use does not lower mortality risk, even for common chronic illnesses like heart disease and cancer.

Despite the widespread popularity of multivitamins—around one in three Americans take them—there is limited evidence of their benefits for otherwise healthy individuals. Annual spending on multivitamins in the U.S. alone reaches approximately $8 billion, but according to lead researcher Dr. Erikka Loftfield, Ph.D., “There has been insufficient evidence to determine the benefits and harms of multivitamin use.” The study showed that those taking multivitamins had a slight (4%) increase in mortality risk over the study’s 20-year period.

Why Multivitamins May Fall Short

The study, which drew from three diverse cohorts, had the strengths of both size and duration, but its observational nature means it can’t definitively prove a causal relationship between multivitamin use and increased mortality. Researchers adjusted for potential confounding factors, like lifestyle habits (diet, smoking, exercise), to ensure the findings focused specifically on the impact of multivitamins.

Two common issues they tackled were the “sick user effect” and the “healthy user effect.” The “sick user effect” refers to the tendency of individuals with health issues to use multivitamins more frequently, while the “healthy user effect” refers to health-conscious individuals being more inclined to take supplements as part of a generally healthy lifestyle. Without controls for these biases, conclusions about the efficacy of multivitamins would be less reliable.

Expert Perspectives on Multivitamins

Experts agree that a healthy diet generally provides sufficient vitamins and minerals, making multivitamins unnecessary for many people. Dr. Parul M. Goyal, a professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University, emphasized that “if you are a healthy individual, consuming a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables, you’re likely meeting your nutritional needs without the need for a multivitamin.” She does note, however, that those with specific medical conditions, such as anemia or diabetes, may benefit from supplements.

Kristin Kirkpatrick, RD, and Alyssa Kwan, MS, RD, dietitians at the Cleveland Clinic and Stanford Medicine respectively, echo this sentiment, advising patients to focus on a balanced diet rather than relying on multivitamins. Kirkpatrick points out that “an MVI [multivitamin] is not insurance for an unhealthy diet,” while Kwan advises against using multivitamins as a cover for poor dietary choices.

Bottom Line

For most healthy adults, multivitamins are unlikely to improve longevity or protect against chronic disease. Experts recommend focusing on a balanced diet for meeting nutritional needs and consulting healthcare providers before adding supplements.

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📚Study of the week:

Why Americans Are Pleasantly Surprised in Retirement

Most Retirees Comfortable, but Nonretirees Doubt Their Future Finances

According to Gallup’s recent analysis, three-quarters of retired Americans report having enough money to live comfortably. However, only 45% of nonretired Americans believe they will have enough money for a comfortable retirement, a gap that has persisted since Gallup began tracking this data in 2002.

One reason for nonretirees’ skepticism may be concerns about Social Security. Data from 2019 to 2024 shows that 58% of retirees rely on Social Security as a major source of income, compared to only 35% of nonretirees who expect to. In fact, nonretirees tend to expect their 401(k) and retirement accounts to play a larger role than Social Security, though many retirees ultimately find Social Security to be more crucial than they anticipated.

Retirees who rely solely on Social Security tend to have lower financial comfort levels than those with multiple income sources. About 60% of retirees relying only on Social Security feel financially secure, while 78% of those with additional sources report comfort, and nearly 95% of those with pension or other retirement income feel secure.

Gallup’s findings suggest that Social Security and Medicare remain essential for retirees’ comfort, but for many, these are not sufficient alone. Policymakers may consider bolstering Social Security, while encouraging younger Americans to build other retirement resources. For Americans, particularly those in nonretirement years, diversifying income sources could offer a path to greater security in retirement.

Gallup’s research shows a clear gap between what people expect from retirement and what actually happens, particularly around Social Security. Many retirees end up relying on Social Security more than they thought they would, while younger Americans assume that they’ll get most of their income from savings, 401(k)s, or pensions. But with pensions becoming rare and saving enough money often difficult, Social Security remains crucial for many retirees. Those who rely solely on it report mixed levels of financial comfort, with 40% feeling financially uncomfortable. Retirees with additional sources, like pensions or investments, are much more likely to feel financially secure.

Read more here.

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