Multivitamin use in women over 50
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Multivitamin Use and Chronic Disease Risk in Women Over 50
Multivitamin Use and Cardiovascular Disease in Older Women
Large studies of women over 50 have found that multivitamin use does not significantly reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death. Both baseline and ongoing multivitamin use showed no association with lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in postmenopausal women and in large prospective cohorts of women aged 45 and older Rautiainen2014Neuhouser2009. However, some evidence suggests that long-term use (over 3 years) of multivitamin-mineral supplements may be linked to a reduced risk of CVD mortality specifically in women, though not in men . Additionally, one study in Swedish women found that long-term multivitamin use (5 years or more) was associated with a lower risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) among women without pre-existing CVD .
Multivitamin Use and Hypertension
Research in middle-aged and older women found no association between multivitamin use and the risk of developing hypertension. Neither starting multivitamins nor continued use over time appeared to affect the likelihood of developing high blood pressure .
Multivitamin Use and Cancer Risk
Studies in large populations of women over 50 have shown that multivitamin use does not significantly reduce the risk of overall cancer or most site-specific cancers, including breast, colorectal, endometrial, lung, and ovarian cancers Lim2021Neuhouser2009. There was a slight reduction in colon cancer risk for both men and women who used multivitamins daily, but no clear evidence of cancer prevention overall. Some studies even noted a slightly higher risk of certain cancers with higher multivitamin use, but these findings were not consistent or strong .
Multivitamin Use and Cognitive Function
Short-term supplementation (16 weeks) with a combined multivitamin, mineral, and herbal formula may improve certain aspects of working memory in elderly women with subjective memory complaints, but did not show benefits for other cognitive processes . Another study found that 12 weeks of multivitamin supplementation in older adults (aged 70+) led to higher feelings of friendliness in women, and reduced stress and loneliness in men, suggesting possible benefits for mood and social wellbeing, though effects on memory and physical health were limited .
Multivitamin Use and Biological Aging
Multivitamin use has been associated with longer telomere length in women, which is considered a marker of slower biological aging. Daily multivitamin users had, on average, 5% longer telomeres compared to non-users, and higher intakes of vitamins C and E from food were also linked to longer telomeres .
Multivitamin Use and Overall Mortality
Recent large-scale analyses suggest that multivitamin use may be linked to a small reduction in overall mortality among middle-aged adults, mainly due to a lower risk of cardiovascular death. However, after adjusting for other health and lifestyle factors, the reduction in mortality risk is very modest .
Conclusion
For women over 50, multivitamin use appears to be safe and may offer some modest benefits, such as improved working memory, mood, and possibly a small reduction in cardiovascular mortality with long-term use. However, the evidence does not support a significant role for multivitamins in preventing major chronic diseases like cancer, hypertension, or overall cardiovascular disease. Multivitamin use is also associated with longer telomeres, suggesting a potential link to slower biological aging. Overall, while multivitamins may provide some small benefits, they should not be relied upon as a primary strategy for chronic disease prevention in women over 50.
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