Aging could be slowed down with a common daily habit: “Live longer and better”
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Aging can’t be stopped, but a daily pill could slow it down, according to new research led by General Mass Brigham in Boston.
Among people who took a multivitamin every day for two years, biological aging was slowed by about four months, according to the study, published in Nature Medicine.
Biological aging refers to the pace of aging at the cellular level, which is often different from chronological age.
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The findings come from a large randomized clinical trial involving nearly 1,000 healthy older adults with an average age of 70 years. Participants were divided into four groups: One took a daily multivitamin and multimineral supplement along with a cocoa extract, another took a daily cocoa extract and a placebo, one took a placebo and a multivitamin, and the third took just a placebo, according to the study’s news release.
Among people who took a multivitamin every day for two years, biological aging was slowed by about four months. (iStock)
The researchers analyzed blood samples taken from participants at three time points during the study, looking at five biomarkers known as “epigenetic clocks” that measure age-related changes in DNA.
“Aging at the cellular level can be marked by DNA methylation, where in some cells it decreases and in others it increases,” Dr. Marc Siegel, News senior medical analyst, told News Digital. “This is also called epigenetic changes or DNA expression.”
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Those who took multivitamins showed a slowing of biological aging in all biomarkers, including the two related to longevity.
The researchers found that the greatest benefit was seen in those who were already at a biological age older than their chronological age.
Those who took multivitamins showed a slowing of biological aging in all biomarkers, including the two related to longevity. (iStock)
“There is a lot of interest today in identifying ways to not only live longer, but also live better,” lead author Howard Sesso, associate director of the Division of Preventive Medicine in the Department of Medicine at Mass General Brigham, said in the news release.
“It was exciting to see the benefits of a multivitamin linked to markers of biological aging. This study opens the door to learning more about accessible, safe interventions that contribute to healthier, higher-quality aging.”
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Siegel, who was not involved in the study, described the results as “scientific and significant” and agreed that they should be studied further.
It’s unclear what part of the multivitamin might be responsible for slowing aging, the doctor noted.
“Today there is a lot of interest in identifying ways not only to live longer, but also to live better.”
“There are so many possibilities, from biotin to calcium, zinc, vitamin B, C or D… to niacin and metals like magnesium and copper,” he told News Digital. “I personally believe in riboflavin, thiamine and vitamin D, but more research is needed to look into this and determine a cause-and-effect relationship.”
There were some limitations to the research, including the fact that the effects of aging were small and it is not yet known how they might affect actual medical outcomes.
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The study population was also limited primarily to older ages and people of European descent, which could mean it would not generalize to larger groups.
The research also did not explore the relationship between changes in the epigenetic clock and actual health outcomes, such as a lower risk of disease or longer life expectancy.
Additional studies will also look at other potential benefits of daily multivitamins, such as cognitive function and cancer risk reduction. (iStock)
The researchers are now planning follow-up research to explore whether the slowing of biological aging continued after the trial, as well as the impact these improvements may have on clinical outcomes.
Additional studies will also look at other potential benefits of daily multivitamins, such as cognitive function and cancer risk reduction.
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“Many people take a multivitamin without necessarily knowing the benefits of taking it, so the more we can learn about its potential health benefits, the better,” Sesso said. “We are fortunate and excited to be able to leverage a rich resource of biomarker data to test how two interventions can improve biological aging and reduce age-related clinical outcomes.”
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The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Melissa Rudy is a senior health editor and member of the lifestyle team at News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.rudy@News.com.