title: Effect of multivitamin and multimineral supplements on morbidity from infections in older people (MAVIS trial): pragmatic, randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial.
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.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised, placebo controlled trial, with blinding of participants, outcome assessors, and investigators.
  
  
  METHODS
  Communities associated with six general practices in Grampian, Scotland.
  
  
  METHODS
  910 men and women aged 65 or over who did not take vitamins or minerals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Daily multivitamin and multimineral supplementation or placebo for one year.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Routine multivitamin and multimineral supplementation of older people living at home does not affect self reported infection related morbidity.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ISRCTN: 66376460.
authors.affiliation: Health Services Research Unit, School of Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD. a.avenell@abdn.ac.uk
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avenell
authors.forename: Marion K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Jonathan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Philip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hannaford
authors.forename: Mary M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kilonzo
authors.forename: Geraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McNeill
authors.forename: Anne C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Milne
authors.forename: Craig R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Ramsay
authors.forename: D Gwyn
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Seymour
authors.forename: Audrey I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Stephen
authors.forename: Luke D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Vale
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008903:Minerals / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D013607:Tablets; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D013607:Tablets; D014815:Vitamins