Effect of multivitamin and multimineral supplements on morbidity from infections in older people (MAVIS trial): pragmatic, randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial.

Objective: To examine whether supplementation with multivitamins and multiminerals influences self reported days of infection, use of health services, and quality of life in people aged 65 or over.

Design: Randomised, placebo controlled trial, with blinding of participants, outcome assessors, and investigators.

Setting: Communities associated with six general practices in Grampian, Scotland.

Participants: 910 men and women aged 65 or over who did not take vitamins or minerals.

Interventions: Daily multivitamin and multimineral supplementation or placebo for one year.

Main Outcome Measures: Primary outcomes were contacts with primary care for infections, self reported days of infection, and quality of life. Secondary outcomes included antibiotic prescriptions, hospital admissions, adverse events, and compliance.

Results: Supplementation did not significantly affect contacts with primary care and days of infection per person (incidence rate ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.78 to 1.19 and 1.07, 0.90 to 1.27). Quality of life was not affected by supplementation. No statistically significant findings were found for secondary outcomes or subgroups.

Conclusion: Routine multivitamin and multimineral supplementation of older people living at home does not affect self reported infection related morbidity.

Trial Registration: ISRCTN: 66376460.