Effect of multivitamin-mineral supplementation versus placebo on cognitive function: results from the clinic subcohort of the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS) randomized clinical trial and meta-analysis of 3 cognitive studies within COSMOS
In-person, comprehensive neuropsychological examinations have yet to be utilized to investigate the longer-term effects of multivitamin-mineral (MVM) supplementation on late-life cognitive function. Moreover, insufficient data supports healthcare professionals’ recommendations for daily MVM supplementation to halter cognitive deterioration. This study by Vyas et al. (2024) aimed to conduct a meta-analysis within COSMOS (COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study) cognitive substudies to conduct a rigorous evaluation of MVM effects on cognition. Secondly, this study aimed to examine MVM effects on cognitive change utilizing in-person comprehensive neuropsychological examinations. COSMOS is a 2 × 2 factorial study (i.e., which randomizes the same participants twice, each time to answer one of two queries) that aims to prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease in 21,442 adult United States citizens at least 60 years old by utilizing cocoa extract (500 mg flavanols/d) and/or a daily MVM supplement. In the COSMOS-Clinic subcohort, 573 individuals submitted complete baseline cognitive tests. The authors included unique individuals from the three COSMOS cognitive substudies (COSMOS-Mind, n = 2158; COSMOS-Clinic, n = 573; and COSMOS-Web, n = 2472) in the meta-analysis. Over two years, the authors found a small improvement in global cognition in COSMOS-Clinic when MVM was compared to a placebo. There was a substantial improvement in episodic memory but not executive function or attention. The meta-analysis of COSMOS substudies amply demonstrated the advantages of MVM on episodic memory and global cognition; the effect on global cognition was comparable to attenuating cognitive aging by two years. The authors conclude that daily MVM supplementation results in a far more positive 2-year improvement in episodic memory, as seen in COSMOS-Clinic. The meta-analysis conducted as part of the COSMOS cognitive substudies shows that regular MVM substantially improves episodic memory and global cognition. These COSMOS study results provide credence to the advantages of a daily MVM in averting older people’s cognitive impairment. [NPID: Cognition, geriatric, meta-analysis, multivitamin-multimineral supplementation, randomized clinical trial]
Year: 2024
