Food supplements are not an elixir of youth

Scientists at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Massachusetts have urged people over 50 to ditch “unnecessary” pills and instead focus on exercise and the Mediterranean diet to protect their health.

Herbal medicine vendors claim that supplements can help reduce inflammation and slow age-related muscle loss, a key risk for frailty. But the scientific evidence for this is conflicting, and recent research only proves that they provide little benefit.

Dr. Ariela Orkaby, an expert on aging, said: “We should consider refusing to prescribe unnecessary pills and instead promote a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise and the Mediterranean diet are proven frailty prevention strategies and should be followed by all older adults.”

Dr. Joanne Manson, epidemiologist: “Nutritional supplements are not miracle pills or elixirs of youth.”

In a study published in the journal JAMA Network Open, scientists reanalyzed data from the VITAL study, which looked at whether supplements could fight heart disease or cancer. They recruited 25,000 adults over the age of 50, evenly divided by sex and with a body mass index of about 28, placing them in the overweight group.

Participants were first divided into four groups, a quarter of which received both vitamin D3 and omega-3 fatty acids, others were given only one of the supplements, and one received neither.

Participants were then asked to take a tablet each day, with vitamin D tablets containing 2,000 international units (IU), while others contained 840 micrograms of omega-3 fatty acids. This was above the recommended daily intake. To measure fragility, at the start of the study, they filled out a questionnaire about their physical activity, mood, and underlying health conditions. Participants recompleted the questionnaire six months later and then once a year for the next four years.

The results showed at the start of the study that 3,174 people (12.7 percent) were classified as weak. After another five, 11.3 percent were added to them.

There was no difference between the groups that received the supplements and those that did not.

The scientists concluded: “These results do not support the need for regular intake of vitamin D3 or omega-3 fatty acids in healthy adults.

However, the scientists added that it is possible that the pill could still have a positive effect on populations with serious health problems.

Christina DENISYUK.

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