A massive NIH study of nearly 400,000 adults over 20 years found that daily multivitamin users had a 4% higher mortality risk compared to non-users. The research showed no mortality benefit whatsoever—contradicting the belief that multivitamins serve as health “insurance”. Interestingly, multivitamin users typically had healthier lifestyles overall, yet still showed increased risk.

For healthy adults without diagnosed deficiencies, the healthiest nutrients come from food sources, not processed pills. Some specific concerns include potential buildup of excess iron or niacin from daily use. This reinforces that supplementation should be targeted and evidence-based, not indiscriminate.

  • ratel@mander.xyz
    17·
    3 days ago

    Not OP obv, but based on the sample size and NIH reference I found the paper and the following down in the results section:

    In the meta-analysis incorporating the time-varying estimates from all 3 cohorts, daily MV use, compared with nonuse, was associated with a 4% higher risk of all-cause mortality in FP1 (HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02-1.07) but not in FP2 (HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.93-1.04) (Figure 2).

    https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2820369

    • fizzle@quokk.auEnglish
      9·
      3 days ago

      Thanks for finding the study.

      I can’t be bothered reading and understanding the whole paper, (and it’s probably out of reach for me anyway), but it’s notable that this quote is not from the abstract but from the results analysis.

      The Abstract says:

      MV use was not associated with lower all-cause mortality risk in the first (multivariable-adjusted HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02-1.07) or second (multivariable-adjusted HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.99-1.08) halves of follow-up. HRs were similar for major causes of death and time-varying analyses.

      The abstract doesn’t say that MV use increases mortality.

      That being the case the title to this post seems sensationalised at best.

      • ratel@mander.xyz
        2·
        3 days ago

        Yup exactly I was quoting that part to point out that it was only found in the results of the meta analysis of all the studies in follow up period 1 but I wasnt very specific about that, i.e. I was not intending to validate the title’s claim.