Research Suggests Daily Multivitamin May Support Independence in Older Adults
Recent research presented at NUTRITION 2026 by Bayu B. Bekele, PhD, and Yanbin Dong, MD, PhD, from the Georgia Prevention Institute, indicates that daily multivitamin use may help older adults maintain functional health. The study, part of the COcoa Supplement Multivitamins Outcomes Study (COSMOS), involved over 16,000 adults aged 60 and older. Participants were randomly assigned to receive a daily multivitamin, a cocoa extract supplement, both, or a placebo. After three years, those taking multivitamins reported better functional health scores, particularly in symptom burden and physical ability, compared to the placebo group. The findings suggest multivitamins could support cognitive health, circulation, and physical endurance, although they are not substitutes for a balanced diet and exercise. 
