The Study
Effect of multivitamin-mineral supplementation versus placebo on cognitive function: Results from the clinic sub-cohort of the COSMOS randomized clinical trial and meta-analysis of three cognitive studies within COSMOS.
This study looked at lots of older people who took daily vitamins or fake pills (placebo) and then tested their memory and thinking. It found that those who took vitamins might have had a little better memory after two years — but we can't be 100% sure because we didn’t see the full study details.
Analysis score
Maximum 100 for a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Where the score came from
Scientists gave older adults daily vitamin pills for two years and checked their memory and thinking skills.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 552 / 100
Quality score
The highest quality evidence. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses that pool randomized controlled trials, giving the most reliable summary of experimental evidence.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1The improvement is small but statistically meaningful — like being 2 years younger in brain age, which could matter over time.
- 2People who took vitamins had slightly better memory (0.12 points better in one group, 0.06 in another) and slightly better overall thinking (0.07 points).
- 3Their thinking was like someone 2 years younger.
- 4No improvement in focus or planning.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
The American journal of clinical nutrition
Year
2023
Authors
Chirag M. Vyas, J. Manson, H. Sesso, Nancy R. Cook, P. Rist, Alison Weinberg, M. V. Moorthy, Laura D. Baker, M. Espeland, Lok-Kin Yeung, A. Brickman, Olivia I. Okereke
Related Content
Claims (4)
Taking a daily vitamin and mineral pill for two years might help older adults think more clearly and remember things better—like turning back their brain’s clock by two years.
Taking a daily vitamin and mineral pill for two years might help older adults think a little sharper—like their brain is two years younger than it would’ve been without the pills.
Taking a daily multivitamin for two years might help older adults remember things like names or where they put their keys a little better — but the improvement is very small.
Taking a daily vitamin pill every day for two years won’t make your memory, focus, or ability to plan things any better if you’re 60 or older.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.