New research from Mass General Brigham suggests that long-term multivitamin supplementation could play a role in reducing hypertension risk and blood pressure among specific groups of older adults. The findings, published in the American Journal of Hypertension, reveal that while overall effects were negligible, certain subgroups experienced significant benefits.
The study, a secondary analysis of data from the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS), found no significant differences in hypertension risk between those taking daily multivitamins and those on a placebo across the entire study population. However, participants with lower dietary quality and normal blood pressure at the study’s outset showed small but significant improvements.
Insights from the COSMOS Study
COSMOS is a large-scale, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial that examined the effects of cocoa extract and multivitamin supplementation on health outcomes in older U.S. adults. The trial involved 8,905 participants who were free of hypertension at the start and took either Centrum Silver or a placebo daily over a median period of 3.4 years. Blood pressure changes were monitored over two years in two groups of 529 and 994 participants, with measurements taken in clinical settings and at home, respectively.
According to the study, multivitamins lowered the risk of hypertension in participants with poorer diet quality, as assessed by the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) and Alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMED) scores. Additionally, those with normal blood pressure at baseline who took a daily multivitamin experienced small, significant reductions in blood pressure over the two-year period.
Expert Opinions and Implications
Dr. Rikuta Hamaya, the study’s corresponding author from the Division of Preventive Medicine at Mass General Brigham, emphasized the role of nutrition in managing blood pressure. “Nutrition is one of the cornerstones for controlling blood pressure and hypertension. We found that a daily multivitamin might be useful for reducing the risk of hypertension in people with poorer nutritional intake,” he stated.
Dr. Howard Sesso, senior author of the study, noted the nuanced implications of the findings. “Our findings suggest that a daily multivitamin may not be a one-size-fits-all solution for controlling blood pressure but could be beneficial for important subsets of older adults,” he said.
The results highlight the potential for targeted nutritional interventions in managing hypertension, particularly for individuals with suboptimal diets. The study authors propose further research to explore the effects of multivitamin supplementation in younger and middle-aged adults, as well as across diverse populations based on nutritional status.
Funding and Disclosures
The COSMOS study received support from Mars Edge, a segment of Mars Incorporated focused on nutrition research, which provided infrastructure support and study materials. Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, now Haleon, also contributed by supplying study pills and packaging. The research was partially funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health.
While Dr. Sesso and Dr. JoAnn E. Manson received investigator-initiated grants from Mars Edge and Haleon, the companies had no role in the trial’s design, conduct, data collection, analysis, or manuscript preparation. Dr. Bernhard Haring, another study author, reported lecture fees from various pharmaceutical companies unrelated to this study.
Looking Ahead
The findings from the COSMOS trial underscore the complexity of nutritional supplementation and its effects on health outcomes. As the study authors suggest, further investigation is needed to fully understand the potential benefits of multivitamins across different demographics and dietary profiles.
As the scientific community continues to explore the relationship between diet, supplementation, and health, these insights could inform future guidelines and recommendations for managing hypertension and promoting cardiovascular health.
