Growing older often brings new health challenges, but many people worry most about losing their independence.
Simple activities such as shopping, walking, climbing stairs, or getting dressed can become difficult if physical strength or energy declines. Scientists have now found evidence that a daily multivitamin may help older adults maintain these abilities.
Researchers from Augusta University examined data collected from one of the largest nutrition studies ever performed in older adults.
Their findings will be presented at Nutrition 2026, the flagship scientific meeting of the American Society for Nutrition.
The research included more than 16,000 men and women aged 60 years and older who participated in the COSMOS clinical trial. Volunteers were randomly assigned to receive either a daily multivitamin, cocoa extract, both supplements together, or inactive placebo tablets.
The scientists followed participants for three years. During this time, they measured functional health using a well-established questionnaire that asks about symptoms, physical ability, and how health affects daily life. This approach provides a better picture of everyday wellbeing than simply counting diseases.
Older adults taking a daily multivitamin achieved better functional health scores than those receiving a placebo. They reported fewer symptoms and better physical function, suggesting they found it easier to carry out normal daily activities.
Researchers say these improvements may reflect healthier brain function, improved blood circulation, and better physical stamina. Previous work from the COSMOS project has also suggested that multivitamins may help preserve memory in some older adults, although more research is still needed.
Many older adults struggle to obtain enough vitamins and minerals because of reduced appetite, medical conditions, or changes in digestion. A multivitamin cannot fix every nutritional problem, but it may help fill small nutritional gaps that build up over time.
The study also looked at cocoa extract supplements. Overall, cocoa extract did not improve functional health across the whole study group. However, people living with congestive heart failure appeared to benefit, indicating that its effects may depend on an individual’s health condition.
The researchers emphasise that supplements should never replace healthy eating or exercise. A balanced diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and managing blood pressure remain the most important ways to stay healthy in later life.
Before taking any supplement, older adults should discuss it with their healthcare provider. This is particularly important for people taking medicines because some vitamins and minerals may interact with prescribed treatments.
This study stands out because it focused on maintaining independence rather than simply preventing disease.
The results suggest that a low-risk daily multivitamin could become one part of healthy ageing for some people. However, because the findings have so far been presented at a scientific meeting rather than fully published, they should be viewed as promising but preliminary until confirmed by additional peer-reviewed research.
If you care about nutrition, please read studies about the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease, and vitamin D supplements strongly reduce cancer death.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies about plant nutrient that could help reduce high blood pressure, and these antioxidants could help reduce dementia risk.
Source: Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University.
