Multivitamins ‘don’t prevent infections in older people’

Multivitamin and mineral supplements don’t appear to prevent infections in older people living at home, a new study has found.

In a study published in the British Medical Journal, researchers from Aberdeen University identified over 900 men and women aged 65 or over who did not take vitamins or minerals.

Participants were then given random samples of daily multivitamin and multimineral supplements and dummy (placebo) tablets for a year.

The participants were then asked to record contacts with primary care for infection, the number of days with infection and quality of life. The team found that supplements did not seem to affect contacts with infection, days infected or quality of life. Researchers said that the results were consistent with the findings of several other studies on the issue.

At least 10% of older people are estimated to have a vitamin or mineral deficiency, which can lead to poor immunity and increased risk of infection. It is estimated that at least 25% of older people in the UK take nutritional supplements.

The authors of the study concluded that regular use of commonly available multivitamin and multimineral supplements is unlikely to reduce the number of self-reported infections or associated use of health services for people living at home.

The team noted that “it remains to be seen” whether those at higher risk of infections, such as older people living in care would benefit from taking supplements.

(KMcA/SP)