Daily multivitamin improves functional health in adults over 60, study finds

A large randomized trial involving more than 16,000 participants aged 60 and older – the Cocoa Supplement Multivitamins Outcomes Study (COSMOS) – found that taking a daily multivitamin for three years led to significantly better functional health scores than a placebo. Functional health was assessed with the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire, which measures symptom burden and physical ability. The multivitamin group showed the greatest improvements in symptom burden and the overall clinical summary score, suggesting enhanced ability to perform everyday tasks.

The research was presented by postdoctoral fellow Bayu B. Bekele, PhD, and Director Yanbin Dong, MD, PhD, of the Georgia Prevention Institute at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, at the Nutrition 2026 meeting of the American Society for Nutrition. While the trial also evaluated cocoa extract supplements, those showed no notable impact on functional health in the general cohort. A subgroup analysis indicated that participants with pre‑existing carotid stenosis experienced especially pronounced benefits.

The investigators describe the multivitamin as a low‑risk addition to a healthy lifestyle that may support cognition, circulation and endurance, but they stress it is not a substitute for a balanced diet or regular exercise.