A new study shows Multivitamin Supplementation in older adults may provide health benefits seen in mircronutrient biomarkers. Overall, Multivitamin/Multi Mineral (MV/MM) supplementation prevents declines or improves vitamin status while limiting declines in cellular O2 consumption. These results have important long term implications for immune and metabolic health in healthy older men.
Participants in this single-center, two-armed, parallel, double-blind study were randomly assigned to supplement 1 Multivitamin/Multi Mineral or a placebo daily for the 6 month study period. Blood samples were taken at baseline and at the conclusion of the study. These blood samples were used to determine Vitamin, Mineral, and Mitochondrial metabolic status.
Results showed that even though participants lacked any overall micronutrient deficiencies, the participants who supplemented with the Multivitamin/Multimineral saw improvements in both the blood concentrations and the status of many of the vitamins. Additionally PBMC O2 (Peripheral blood mononuclear cells) consumption was stable in the group supplementing with the Multivitamin/Multimineral supplement when compared to the placebo. This has important implications for energy metabolism during aging and for maintaining proper mitochondrial function. Improved blood concentrations of Vitamins B6, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Beta Carotene throughout the study, participants in the placebo group actually showed declines in blood vitamin concentration and an increased risk of below optimal vitamin status throughout the study period.
It is recommended that future studies of Multivitamins/Multiminerals include using micronutrient biomarkers as benchmarks investigating disease risks only in participants who showed improvements in their micronutrient status.
Further studies are warranted.
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