Supplements and OTC

Multivitamins are good for the brain.
Multivitamins are good for the brain.
Multivitamins are good for the brain.

That is, a third study has confirmed that multivitamins have “a statistically significant benefit” on older folks’ cognition and memory."

This latest meta-analysis, done by Mass General Brigham researchers, went a step further than the previous studies; it included in-person assessments like cognitive tests (“Who was Fred Flintstone’s wife?”). With those previous studies, more than 5,000 participants were included, so it’s pretty conclusive evidence.

[I]nvestigators observed a modest benefit for the multivitamin, compared to placebo, on global cognition over two years. There was a statistically significant benefit of multivitamin supplementation for change in episodic memory, but not in

A lot of expectant moms know that folic acid is important for their babies, so they take a supplement to make sure they get enough. Ditto for a multivitamin. But that might not do the trick.

A new study out of Australia found that standard supplements given to expectant moms, even the ones that include folic acid, didn’t give the women as much as they needed, especially riboflavin and vitamins B6 and B12.

An “enhanced” supplement did better — at least keeping the women’s vitamin B12 levels nicely elevated for at least six months after giving birth. (“This is probably important for the mother’s ability to supply her baby with vitamin B12 if she breastfeeds.”)

They found, though, that pregnant women will likely need more than a standard multivitamin, including an extra jolt of riboflavin, B6 and B12, and vitamin D, too.