Skip to main content

Cognitive Benefits Seen for Daily Multivitamin-Mineral Supplementation

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Jan 22, 2024.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Jan. 22, 2024 -- Daily multivitamin-mineral (MVM) supplementation yields cognitive benefits, according to a study published online Jan. 18 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Chirag M. Vyas, M.B.B.S., M.P.H., from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and colleagues examined the effects of MVM supplementation on cognitive change using in-person, detailed neuropsychological assessments and conducted a meta-analysis to assess the MVM effects on cognition within the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS) substudies. A total of 573 participants were included in the clinic subcohort of COSMOS (COSMOS-Clinic) who completed all cognitive tests administered at baseline. Nonoverlapping participants across three COSMOS substudies were included in the meta-analysis (COSMOS-Clinic [573 participants], COSMOS-Mind [2,158 participants], and COSMOS-Web [2,472 participants]).

The researchers found that over two years, there was a modest benefit for MVM versus placebo on global cognition in COSMOS-Clinic, with a significantly more favorable change in episodic memory but not in executive function/attention. Clear evidence of the benefits of MVM on global cognition and episodic memory were seen in the meta-analysis of COSMOS substudies. The magnitude of the effect on global cognition was equivalent to a two-year reduction in cognitive aging.

"These findings will garner attention among many older adults who are, understandably, very interested in ways to preserve brain health, as they provide evidence for the role of a daily multivitamin in supporting better cognitive aging," senior author Olivia Okereke, M.D., also from Massachusetts General Hospital, said in a statement.

The study was partially funded by Mars Edge, Contract Pharmacal Corp., and Pfizer Consumer Healthcare.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted January 2024

Read this next

Self-Administered Gerocognitive Exam Improves Detection of Cognitive Issues in Primary Care

TUESDAY, July 2, 2024 -- A self-administered gerocognitive examination (SAGE) is easily incorporated into primary care provider (PCP) visits, and its use significantly increases...

Emergence of Psychosis in Alzheimer Disease Linked to Elevations in p-tau181

MONDAY, July 1, 2024 -- For individuals with Alzheimer disease (AD), the emergence of psychosis is associated with elevations in levels of plasma tau phosphorylated at threonine...

Lower Cognitive Function in Adolescence Linked to Stroke Risk

FRIDAY, June 28, 2024 -- Lower cognitive function in adolescence is associated with increased risk of early-onset stroke, according to a study published online June 27 in the...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.