This meta-analysis of three separate cognition studies provides “strong and consistent evidence that taking a daily multivitamin, containing more than 20 essential micronutrients, can help prevent memory loss and slow down cognitive aging,” “The finding that a daily multivitamin improved memory and slowed cognitive aging in three separate placebo-controlled studies in COSMOS is exciting and further supports the promise of multivitamins as a safe, accessible, and affordable approach to protecting cognitive health in older adults.”
“We are not now recommending multivitamin use, but the evidence is compelling that supports the promise of multivitamins to help prevent cognitive decline.”
Multivitamins and Cognition: New Data From COSMOS
Dr. Reinhardt: The most serious flaw in all of these studies was that they did not enroll and study subjects based on their having any nutritional deficiencies, which are very common according to the USDA. That is like doing an antidepressant trial on a random sample including those who are not depressed. In spite of these errors, benefits of supplements reached significance.
“We are not now recommending multivitamin use”: This recommendation should be based on a cost-benefit analysis. Cost: $0.09 per day, no adverse effects/Benefits: “improved memory and slowed cognitive aging”. This might cause one to doubt anything coming out of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.