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By Lucy Notarantonio
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A new study suggests that a popular everyday vitamin may do more than fill nutritional gaps—it could also help older adults maintain their ability to carry out everyday tasks as they age.
Researchers at Augusta University found that adults aged 60 and older who took a daily multivitamin reported better functional health after three years compared with those who took a placebo. The findings will be presented at NUTRITION 2026, the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition.
Multivitamin-mineral supplements are the most commonly used dietary supplements across all age groups and may help fill nutritional gaps while supporting energy metabolism and immune function, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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"The effects were strongest among participants with existing cardiovascular conditions, particularly carotid stenosis, where improvements reached levels considered clinically meaningful," Bayu B. Bekele, a postdoctoral fellow at the Georgia Prevention Institute of the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, told Newsweek.
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What the Study Found
The researchers analyzed data from more than 16,000 participants aged 60 and older who took part in the COcoa Supplement Multivitamins Outcomes Study (COSMOS).
Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a daily multivitamin, a cocoa extract supplement, both supplements, or neither. Placebos were used for the control group and for those taking only one supplement.
After three years, those taking a multivitamin had significantly better functional health scores than those taking a placebo. The biggest differences were seen in symptom burden and the clinical summary score, which combines symptom burden and physical ability measures.
"Importantly, the multivitamin group was not suddenly able to do activities that the placebo group could not do," Bekele told Newsweek. "The overall benefit was modest."
He explained participants taking a daily multivitamin reported slightly fewer cardiovascular symptoms such as fatigue and shortness of breath and a modestly better overall functional health status over time compared with those taking a placebo.
Bekele said in a statement that maintaining heart health and physical function may help senior people continue performing daily activities such as dressing, bathing, walking, climbing stairs, jogging, hurrying and completing household chores.
"For older adults, these findings suggest that a daily multivitamin could be a helpful, low-risk addition to a healthy lifestyle to support physical well-being as they age, although it is not a substitute for a good diet or exercise," Bekele said in a statement.
"These benefits may be particularly relevant for individuals experiencing fatigue, shortness of breath or swelling in the feet, which can limit daily functioning."
Cocoa extract did not significantly improve functional health scores across the overall study population, though researchers found a significant benefit among participants with congestive heart failure.
Expert Urges Caution
While the results are promising, Dr. Ellen Fallows, a nutrition expert who was not involved in the study, told Newsweek that the findings should be interpreted with "considerable caution."
Fallows, a lifestyle medicine health expert at Welbeck Oxford, said: "This is a conference abstract that has not yet been peer reviewed, and while the authors report statistically significant differences, the improvements in functional health are very small and fall below the threshold generally considered clinically meaningful."
She doubts participants would be able to notice a serious "difference in their day to day lives based on these results alone."
Choosing the Right Supplements After 60
Fallows noted that supplement quality can vary widely, as vitamins are not regulated to the same standards as prescription drugs.
Pankti Shah, a doctor of pharmacy at U.K.-based PharmaLink Academy, shared four key tips for older adults choosing supplements:
- Pay attention to key nutrients. Senior formulas often contain higher levels of vitamins B12 and D, but little or no iron. Any additional iron supplementation should only be taken under medical supervision.
- Avoid proprietary blends. Instead, choose products that clearly list ingredient amounts and are specifically formulated for adults aged 50 and over. Shah said these formulas typically provide nutrients closer to recommended daily intakes rather than excessive doses.
- Look for independent quality verification. Certifications such as USP Verified or NSF can help confirm a product's quality and safety. It's also important to check whether a supplement could interact with any medications you take.
- Speak to a health professional. Scotland-based Shah recommends consulting a pharmacist or physician before starting supplements, particularly if you already take vitamins, have liver or kidney disease, or use multiple medications.
Update 07/30/26 03:25 a.m. ET: This story has been updated to add comments from Dr. Ellen Fallows.
Reference
EurekAlert! (2026). A daily multivitamin may help older adults maintain functional health. [online] Available at: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1136435
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Kara Dolman and Emma Lee-Sang
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