A study suggested one pill may ‘slow down ageing’ (Image: Getty)
One affordable 25p pill found in most pharmacies may slow down biological ageing among people over 70 years old, according to a healthcare study.
Mass General Brigham, a US healthcare provider, evaluated the effects of taking a daily Centrum Silver multivitamin over two years. After assessing five measures of biological ageing, which reflects how well the body is functioning rather than simply how old someone is, it found a slowdown equivalent to about four months. “This study opens the door to learning more about accessible, safe interventions that contribute to healthier, higher-quality ageing, » said Dr Howard Sesso, associate director of preventive medicine in the Mass General Brigham Department of Medicine in New England, US.
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The multivitamin is targeted at older adults and contains a range of nutrients, including B vitamins and lycopene for heart health, zinc to support brain function, and vitamins A, C and E to help maintain a healthy immune system.
Scientists analysed the effects of this multivitamin compared with a placebo or a daily cocoa extract by examining DNA from blood samples of 958 healthy participants with an average chronological age of 70, randomly selected from the Cocoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study.
They found that participants in the multivitamin group aged more slowly compared with those taking only placebos, with DNA changes suggesting about four months less biological ageing over the two-year trial.
Those who were biologically older than their chronological age at the start appeared to benefit the most.
Researchers did not overtly recommend that older adults begin taking multivitamins, but they said there was growing evidence they may help lower cancer risk, improve cognition and support eyesight.
« A daily multivitamin is safe and well tolerated, » said Dr Howard Sesso. « This does not mean that everyone should take a multivitamin, but that, in consultation with your healthcare provider, it could complement a healthy diet and lifestyle.
« Avoid customised, costly speciality multivitamins and keep it simple and broad-based if you take one. »
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The multivitamin is targeted at older adults (Image: Getty)
A 30-pack Centrum Women 50+ Multivitamins & Minerals costs £7.60 at Boots currently, making each pill 25p.
Dr Laura Sinclair, a healthcare lecturer and postdoctoral researcher at University of Exeter, said supplements may be most useful for people with nutrient deficiencies.
« This study doesn’t recommend going out and buying supplements,” she said. “If someone eats a nutritionally balanced diet, many dietary supplements would probably be unnecessary.
« However, most adults are not eating a nutritionally balanced diet and so probably would benefit from a multivitamin-multimineral. »
Lifestyle and environmental factors can influence biological ageing. Habits such as smoking, poor diet and lack of exercise may accelerate biological ageing, while healthier behaviours can help slow it down.
The researchers now plan to investigate whether the improvements in biological ageing lead to fewer diseases and longer lifespans. Their findings were published in the journal Nature Medicine.
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