Why was this study done?
This study is a 10 year follow-up to the Block et al study that showed healthier biomarkers of cardiovascular health as well as lower prevalence of Type 2 diabetes and hypertension in long-term users of multiple dietary supplements (LTMDS) as compared to an NHANES cohort of non-supplement users or single multivitamin users. 235 of the original cohort of 278 enrolled in the study to see if the healthier cardiometabolic status persisted with aging. The LTMDS cohort were now average age 73; the 4 comparison groups from NHANES 2007-2010 were , on average 10 years younger.
What did the study find?
Ten years later, after 30 or more years of multiple supplement usage, these long-term multiple supplement users had better cardiometabolic profiles as compared to a non-supplementing NHANES cohort-including higher HDL cholesterol, lower LDL cholesterol and lower fasting blood glucose levels. For almost all categories, the LTMDS cohort had significantly lower medication usage.
The findings suggest that long-term use of multiple dietary supplements may provide cardiometabolic benefit, consistent with the earlier Block study and support evidence from earlier observational studies on dietary supplement use and improved cardiometabolic risk factors.
A beneficial cardiometabolic health profile associated with dietary supplement use: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Paul F. Jacques,Gail Rogers
Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2021 Mar 1:1-11. doi: 10.1024/0300-9831/a000701. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33646010.