A Daily Multivitamin May Help Older Adults Maintain Functional Health

National Harbor, Md. (July 27, 2026) — The ability to perform everyday activities free of debilitating symptoms profoundly affects quality of life as we age. In a new study, older adults who took a daily multivitamin had significantly better measures of functional health after 3 years compared with those who took a placebo.

According to researchers, the findings suggest a daily multivitamin can help older people maintain day-to-day functioning by helping to preserve cognitive abilities, and it may also benefit blood circulation and physical stamina.

“What makes this work unique is our focus on functional health, how people actually feel and function in their daily lives—rather than just the prevention of major diseases,” said Bayu B. Bekele, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at the Georgia Prevention Institute of the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. “For older adults, these findings suggest that a daily multivitamin could be a helpful, low-risk addition to a healthy lifestyle to support physical well-being as they age, although it is not a substitute for a good diet or exercise.”

Bekele will present the findings at NUTRITION 2026, the flagship annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, held July 25–28 in National Harbor, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. Bekele conducted the study with Yanbin Dong, MD, PhD, Regents’ Professor of Medicine and Director of the Georgia Prevention Institute of the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University.

The researchers analyzed data from over 16,000 people aged 60 years and older who participated in the COcoa Supplement Multivitamins Outcomes Study (COSMOS). COSMOS participants were randomly assigned to take a daily multivitamin, a cocoa extract supplement, both or neither, with placebos used for the control group and for those taking only one supplement.

After 3 years, participants taking a multivitamin had significantly better functional health than those taking a placebo based on their responses to the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire. The greatest differences were seen in symptom burden and clinical summary score, which reflects an average of symptom burden and physical ability scores. 

“Multivitamin use supporting heart health and overall physical function may help maintain the ability to perform everyday activities such as dressing, bathing, walking, climbing stairs, jogging or hurrying, and completing household chores. These benefits may be particularly relevant for individuals experiencing fatigue, shortness of breath or swelling in the feet, which can limit daily functioning,” said Bekele.

Cocoa extract did not significantly change functional health scores in the overall population, although it provided a significant benefit in the patients with congestive heart failure.

It is important to check with a doctor before taking any new supplements.

Bekele will present this research at 10:42–10:54 a.m. EDT on Monday, July 27, during the Vitamins and Minerals Oral Session in the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center (abstract; presentation details).

This work is supported by grant HL157665 from the National Institutes of Health.

Please note that abstracts presented at NUTRITION 2026 were evaluated and selected by a committee of experts but have not generally undergone the same peer review process required for publication in a scientific journal. As such, the findings presented should be considered preliminary until a peer-reviewed publication is available.