One affordable 25p pill found in most pharmacies may slow down biological ageing among people over 70 years old, according to a healthcare study.

An economical pill, priced around 25p and available at most pharmacies, might help decelerate the process of biological ageing in individuals over 70, according to recent research.

The study, conducted by Mass General Brigham, a prominent US healthcare provider, focused on the impact of consuming a daily dose of Centrum Silver multivitamin over a span of two years. Researchers evaluated five markers of biological ageing, which pertains to the body’s functional age rather than its chronological age. They discovered that the multivitamin intake corresponded to a biological age reduction of approximately four months. Dr. Howard Sesso, the associate director of preventive medicine at Mass General Brigham’s Department of Medicine in New England, US, stated, “This research opens new avenues for understanding affordable and safe strategies that promote healthier, high-quality ageing.”

The multivitamin is specifically designed for the elderly and comprises an array of nutrients such as B vitamins and lycopene, which are beneficial for heart health, zinc for cognitive support, and vitamins A, C, and E to bolster the immune system.

Researchers compared the multivitamin’s effects against a placebo and a daily cocoa extract by analyzing DNA from blood samples of 958 healthy individuals, averaging 70 years of age. These participants were randomly chosen as part of the Cocoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study.

The findings revealed that those in the multivitamin group experienced a slower ageing process compared to those who took only placebos, with DNA alterations indicating roughly four months less biological ageing throughout the two-year study.

Participants who were biologically older than their chronological age at the beginning of the study seemed to gain the most benefit.

“A daily multivitamin is safe and well tolerated,” said Dr Howard Sesso. “This does not mean that everyone should take a multivitamin, but that, in consultation with your healthcare provider, it could complement a healthy diet and lifestyle.

“Avoid customised, costly speciality multivitamins and keep it simple and broad-based if you take one.”

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A 30-pack Centrum Women 50+ Multivitamins & Minerals costs £7.60 at Boots currently, making each pill 25p.

Dr Laura Sinclair, a healthcare lecturer and postdoctoral researcher at University of Exeter, said supplements may be most useful for people with nutrient deficiencies.

“This study doesn’t recommend going out and buying supplements,” she said. “If someone eats a nutritionally balanced diet, many dietary supplements would probably be unnecessary.

“However, most adults are not eating a nutritionally balanced diet and so probably would benefit from a multivitamin-multimineral.”

Lifestyle and environmental factors can influence biological ageing. Habits such as smoking, poor diet and lack of exercise may accelerate biological ageing, while healthier behaviours can help slow it down.

The researchers now plan to investigate whether the improvements in biological ageing lead to fewer diseases and longer lifespans. Their findings were published in the journal Nature Medicine.