Multivitamins are beneficial for those over 60 (Image: Getty)
An expert has revealed that those aged 60 and over are among the groups who will benefit the most from a specific type of vitamin. Millions of people take vitamins and supplements every day for various reasons, such as improving their immune systems and filling any dietary gaps.
However, while vitamins have many health benefits, knowing what to take and how often is more important, as some experts warn that taking multiple supplements at the same time could lead to unintentional nutrient overdosing, which can be dangerous. Additionally, some vitamins make little or no difference for some people.
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One example is multivitamins. Figures from The Grocer show that 50% of adults in the UK take multivitamins regularly, though research over the past decade, including « high-quality trials », suggests they might not be as useful as many people hope.
Tim Spector, a professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London, said: « When you look at high-quality trials, multivitamins simply don’t work for most people. They add little or nothing beyond what a nutritious, diverse diet provides. »
Though the research shows that this is the case for some people, for others, multivitamins can be beneficial. Philip Calder, a professor of nutritional immunology at Southampton University, explained that subgroups of people who have low intakes of vitamins and minerals could still benefit from the supplement, reports Mail Online
JoAnn Manson, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, said: « Older people are a group which seems to benefit most from multivitamins. »
Those who have low intakes of vitamins and minerals could benefit from multivitamin tablets (Image: Getty)
This is because nutrient absorption in the gut decreases due to various factors, such as reduced stomach acid, medication side effects, and a lower appetite.
The slower movement of food through the gut also means it sits in the small intestine for too long, leading to possible fermentation and bacterial overgrowth, with the bacteria consuming nutrients like calcium and vitamins B12 and D before the body has a chance to absorb them.
A trial involving 21,000 people, monitored for around three years after taking a multivitamin or a placebo, found that those who took the vitamins had significantly higher brain function and memory scores, with researchers concluding that taking a multivitamin could slow brain decline by two years.
The 2024 study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
It is believed that multivitamins work in various stages. Vitamins A, C and E protect brain cells from age-related damage, and vitamin B increases cell function, while lowering levels of homocysteine, which is a protein in the blood that has been linked to dementia.
It is advised to look for multivitamins that contain 100% recommended daily amounts of vitamin B12 and D, magnesium and calcium, and to look out for ones with too much iron in them.
A 30-tablet tub of Centrum Advance 50+, used in the trial, can be bought for £5.25 at Boots, which is as little as 18p a tablet. Alternatively, Boots also sells its own branded multivitamins costing £1.49 for 30 tablets.
It is advised to speak to a pharmacist before taking any supplements.
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