(American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine) -- A daily multivitamin and mineral supplement reduced the incidence of infection and related work absenteeism among healthy people aged 45 or older, according to a new randomized, controlled trial.

Of 130 people over age 45 who took either a multivitamin or a placebo (dummy pill) daily for one year, 43 percent who took the multivitamin reported getting a cold or other minor infections compared to 73 percent who took the placebo.

The results were most significant in people with type 2 diabetes. In this group, only 17 percent of those who took the multivitamin reported getting an infection compared to 93 percent of those who took the placebo.

An editorial notes that although millions of Americans take multivitamin and mineral supplements, few studies have documented the benefits.