Supplements of multivitamins and minerals don't prevent infections in the elderly

Researchers at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, say giving daily supplements of multivitamins and minerals do not prevent respiratory, stomach, skin and other types of infections in the elderly.

It is estimated that around 10 percent of people in their 70's in many countries are thought to have a vitamin or mineral deficiency which could contribute to poor immunity which increases their risk of infection.

However a new study has found that in a group of older people in their 70's, most of whom were living at home, a typical vitamin and mineral supplement had no effect on the number of days of infection they had over the course of a year.

Alison Avenell and her team studied 900 people who were all over 65 years old; half of the group were given a multivitamin and mineral supplement and the remainder were given a placebo each day.

The researchers also looked at the number of hospital admissions and antibiotic prescriptions for both groups.

Over a year the researchers found no difference between the two groups when they compared the number of infections, and their quality of life.

However the scientists said the findings did not mean that multivitamin and mineral supplements would not have an effect on other medical problems, even though they did not seem to prevent infections in the people in the study.

Avenell also says there may be specific medical reasons why people might need to take supplements.

The research is published in the British Medical Journal.