A recent study sheds light on the supplements that individuals who reach 100 years of age—or older—commonly take.

Supplement Use Among Centenarians

Using data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), which follows the health and lifestyles of older adults in China, researchers examined supplement usage among a large cohort of centenarians. The analysis included 2,877 individuals—2,169 women and 708 men—who self-reported whether they use dietary supplements.

Interestingly, supplement use was relatively uncommon in this group: only about 10.7% of women and 12.3% of men reported taking any supplements. Among those who did, the most frequently taken were:

• Calcium, used by roughly 7% across both sexes—reflecting its importance for bone health in advanced age.
• Protein supplements, taken by about 5%. Adequate protein intake is essential for preserving muscle strength and overall function as we age.
• Multivitamins, reported by approximately 3% of respondents, suggesting a general desire to ensure nutrient coverage.

Other supplements—like iron, vitamin A/D, and DHA (an omega-3 fatty acid)—were much less common: iron and vitamin A/D were taken by 2% or fewer, while DHA fish oil was used by only about 0.5% of centenarians.

Patterns in Supplement Use

Many of those who took supplements did so consistently, with reported durations ranging from 2 to 10 years. Most centenarians used just one supplement, rather than multiple, indicating a simple, targeted approach rather than a complex regimen.

What This Reveals

Overall, these findings paint a picture of modest and selective supplement use in long-lived individuals: supplementation exists, but is neither widespread nor complex. Instead, centenarians tend to focus on a small number of key nutrients—like calcium and protein—that align with functional health priorities such as bone and muscle maintenance. This differs sharply from trends seen in younger older adults elsewhere, who often engage in more extensive and varied supplement use.