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Clinical Trial
. 2005 Aug 6;331(7512):324-9.
doi: 10.1136/bmj.331.7512.324.

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

Alison Avenell  1 , Marion K Campbell, Jonathan A Cook, Philip C Hannaford, Mary M Kilonzo, Geraldine McNeill, Anne C Milne, Craig R Ramsay, D Gwyn Seymour, Audrey I Stephen, Luke D Vale
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

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

Alison Avenell et al. BMJ. .

Abstract

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.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Flow of participants through trial
Fig 2
Fig 2
Compliance on basis of diaries completed by participants
Fig 3
Fig 3
Compliance with zero intake imputed on non-return of diaries, including withdrawals. Participants who died were included up to point of censoring
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

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