Researchers from Columbia University and Harvard Medical School have found that taking a daily multivitamin supplement can slow age-related memory decline. Study published American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
In the study, more than 3,500 adults over the age of 60 were randomly assigned to take either a daily multivitamin supplement or a placebo for three years. At the end of each year, the participants took a series of memory tests at home.
By the end of the first year, people who took the multivitamin had improved memory. Improvement continued throughout the three-year follow-up period. The effect was more pronounced in participants with concomitant cardiovascular disease.
The results of the study are consistent with another recent study (COSMOS) of more than 2,200 older adults who found that taking a daily multivitamin improves general cognition, memory, and attention, and that these effects are more pronounced in people with concomitant cardiovascular disease.
“There is evidence that people with cardiovascular disease may have lower levels of micronutrients that multivitamins can correct, but we don’t yet know why the effect is stronger in this group,” the scientists wrote.
The scientists also stressed that any dietary supplement should not replace more holistic ways of obtaining the same micronutrients from food. Also, while multivitamins are generally safe, people should always consult their doctor before taking them.
Multivitamins provided by Pfizer. One of the study’s authors also reported receiving a grant from Pfizer to travel to scientific conferences during the study.