A recent randomized clinical trial involving older adults revealed that daily multivitamin intake over two years significantly slowed epigenetic markers of aging. This finding translates to an approximate four-month reduction in biological aging when compared to a placebo group.
Lee et al. investigated the effects of a daily multivitamin/multimineral supplement alongside cocoa extract (500 mg cocoa flavanols and 80 mg epicatechin daily) over two years, focusing on five DNA methylation markers of biological aging in 958 participants (482 women and 476 men) from the COSMOS study. Image credit: Li Butov.
Epigenetic clocks measure biological aging by monitoring subtle changes in our DNA.
These clocks play a crucial role in regulating gene expression, tracking specific DNA sites that naturally change with age, and assessing mortality and aging rates.
Dr. Howard Sesso, a researcher at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, stated, “There’s a growing interest in finding ways not only to extend lifespan but to enhance life quality.”
“It was thrilling to observe the beneficial effects of multivitamins related to biological aging markers.”
“This study paves the way for further exploration of safe, accessible interventions that could promote healthier, higher-quality aging.”
The study utilized data from the COcoa Supplement Multivitamins Outcomes Study (COSMOS).
Researchers analyzed DNA methylation data from blood samples of 958 healthy participants with an average chronological age of 70.
Participants were randomly assigned to receive cocoa extract and a multivitamin daily, cocoa extract and a placebo, multivitamins and a placebo, or just a placebo.
Changes in five epigenetic clocks were assessed at the beginning, the end of the first year, and the end of the second year.
Compared to participants in the placebo-only group, those taking multivitamins exhibited delays across all five epigenetic clocks, including significant delays in two clocks indicating mortality predictions.
This reduction corresponds to around four months of biological aging over the two-year period.
Interestingly, those whose biological age exceeded their chronological age benefited the most.
“We aim to conduct follow-up studies to determine if the observed slowing of biological aging persists post-study,” said Dr. Yangbin Dong, a researcher at Augusta University.
“Many individuals take multivitamins without fully understanding their benefits. The more we uncover about these potential health advantages, the better,” Dr. Sesso added.
“Within COSMOS, we are fortunate to compile an extensive resource of biomarker data that can test how specific interventions may mitigate biological aging and related clinical outcomes.”
For further details, refer to the published paper in this week’s edition of Nature Medicine.
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S. Lee et al.. Effects of daily multivitamin/multimineral and cocoa extract supplementation on the epigenetic aging clock in the COSMOS randomized clinical trial. Nat Med published online March 9, 2026. doi: 10.1038/s41591-026-04239-3
Source: www.sci.news
