Multivitamins and the elderly
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
Supplementation with multivitamin formulation can decrease prevalence of suboptimal vitamin status in the elderly and raise micronutrient concentrations to levels associated with reduced risks of chronic disease, Diane McKay, et al., Tufts University, report in the October Journal of the American College of Nutrition. Eight-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial studied 80 adults ages 50 to 87 to determine whether a daily multivitamin can improve micronutrient status, plasma antioxidant capacity and cytokine production. While treatment increased plasma concentrations of vitamins B12, C, D, E, folate and pyridoxal phosphate, it did not affect antioxidant capacity and immune response measures