Daily multivitamin boosts functional health in elders

A daily multivitamin may help older adults maintain their ability to perform everyday tasks and preserve independence, according to preliminary findings from a large clinical trial presented this week. The research, unveiled at the American Society for Nutrition's annual meeting, suggests that a simple supplement could offer modest but measurable benefits for functional health in people aged 60 and older.

The analysis drew on data from more than 16,000 participants in the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS). Participants were randomly assigned to take a daily multivitamin, a cocoa extract supplement, both, or a placebo for three years. Researchers assessed functional health using a standardized questionnaire that measures symptom burden-such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and swelling-and physical ability for tasks like dressing, bathing, walking, and climbing stairs.

After three years, those taking a daily multivitamin showed statistically significant improvements in their functional health scores compared to the placebo group. The average benefit was modest, with symptom burden improving by 0.45 points and a combined clinical summary score improving by...