A new study from researchers at Mass General Brigham suggests that taking multivitamins daily may help lower the risk of high blood pressure in some older adults—but not everyone.
The study looked at data from the large COSMOS trial, which followed older adults to see if cocoa extract or multivitamins could improve their health.
The overall results showed no big difference in blood pressure or risk of developing high blood pressure between people who took a daily multivitamin and those who took a placebo. But when researchers took a closer look, they found that certain groups did benefit from the multivitamins.
People who had lower-quality diets and normal blood pressure at the start of the study saw small but important improvements in their blood pressure after taking multivitamins regularly. The study was published in the American Journal of Hypertension.
Dr. Rikuta Hamaya, one of the study’s lead authors, explained that healthy eating is an important part of managing blood pressure. For people who don’t get enough nutrients from their food, a multivitamin could help lower their risk of developing high blood pressure.
The study followed nearly 9,000 older adults in the United States who did not have high blood pressure when the study began.
Participants either took a daily multivitamin (Centrum Silver) or a placebo over a period of about 3.4 years. In smaller groups of participants, blood pressure was measured either in a clinic or at home over a period of two years.
For the total group of people in the study, there was no major difference in the number of people who developed high blood pressure.
However, those with poorer diet quality, based on scores like the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) and the Alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMED), saw a reduced risk when they took multivitamins. Also, people who already had normal blood pressure saw small drops in their blood pressure over time.
Dr. Howard Sesso, another senior researcher, noted that a daily multivitamin isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. But it could be helpful for specific people—especially older adults with limited diets or those who want to keep their blood pressure in a healthy range.
The researchers say that more studies are needed to find out if younger adults or people in different health situations might also benefit from taking daily multivitamins to help manage their blood pressure.
In summary, taking a multivitamin every day might not lower blood pressure for everyone, but it could be helpful for some older adults, especially those who don’t get enough nutrients from food. This study highlights the importance of good nutrition and suggests that multivitamins might be one tool to help support heart health in certain groups.
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The study is published in American Journal of Hypertension.
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