Ageing is not driven by a single pathway. It reflects several interacting molecular and cellular processes, which raises an obvious question: could a supplement that targets many of them at the same time have a measurable effect on the body? Researchers at the University of Surrey set out to test a version of that idea, focusing on the blood vessels.

What the researchers tested

The trial was a randomised controlled study of a multi-component supplement called NOVOS Core. According to the university, the formulation combines vitamins and minerals, amino acids and plant-derived bioactive compounds, chosen for their relevance to several biological processes linked to ageing.

In total, 61 participants were recruited. Of these, 33 received the supplement and 28 received a placebo, taken once daily for six months. The team looked at established biomarkers of vascular health rather than heart attacks, strokes or other clinical outcomes.

What they found

Compared with the placebo group, participants taking the supplement showed favourable changes in three measures:

  • Endothelial function. Flow-mediated dilation, which reflects how well the inner lining of blood vessels regulates vessel tone and blood clotting, improved. A change was also seen one hour after the very first dose.
  • Systolic blood pressure. At six months, the adjusted difference between the groups was 6.1 mmHg in favour of the supplement. A difference was also observed one hour after the first dose.
  • Arterial stiffness. Pulse wave velocity was lower in the supplement group, with an adjusted between-group difference of 1.18 m/s at six months. A lower value indicates softer, more flexible arteries.

Blood tests showed no significant changes in cholesterol or other blood lipids. The authors read this as a sign that the vascular changes were not simply the result of lipid lowering. The estimated 10-year cardiovascular risk also decreased modestly, which largely reflected the difference in systolic blood pressure.

Putting the blood pressure result in context

The university’s release points out that earlier large studies have linked a sustained 5 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure to roughly a 10 percent reduction in major cardiovascular events. That comparison gives a sense of scale, but it is borrowed from other research. This trial was not designed to measure clinical outcomes, so it cannot show that the supplement prevents any cardiovascular events.

What this does not show

Several caveats matter when reading these results:

  • Biomarkers are not outcomes. The measures capture complementary aspects of vascular health and are associated with cardiovascular risk, but they are not the same as fewer heart attacks or strokes. Professor Christian Heiss, who led the work, said larger studies are needed to understand the mechanisms and to learn whether these changes translate into longer-term health benefits.
  • The sample is small. With 61 participants in two groups, the results are best treated as preliminary. The paper itself is titled as preliminary findings.
  • A combined formula cannot reveal which part works. Because many ingredients were given together, the trial cannot say which component, or which combination, produced the effects.
  • Industry involvement. The study was investigator-initiated, but NOVOS Labs supplied the supplement and a matching control, and made an unrestricted contribution toward research costs. According to the release, the company had no role in study design, data collection, primary interpretation of the data, or the decision to publish, and the Surrey researchers retained control of the data. The release also quotes the company’s R&D director, so it is worth remembering that the release is a university communication and not an independent review.

Professor Juliet Wright, Founding Dean of the School of Medicine at Surrey, described the findings as an interesting proof of concept, with the key next step being to understand the underlying biology and test whether biomarker changes lead to meaningful long-term benefits.

The takeaway

This is an early, promising signal, not a reason to change what anyone takes. The trial suggests that a multi-target approach to ageing biology can move some vascular markers in a short, small study. Whether it protects hearts over the long term, and whether the effect holds up in larger and independent trials, remains an open question. Anyone considering supplements, especially people with existing heart conditions or on blood pressure medication, should talk to a doctor or pharmacist first.

Note: this summary is based on the University of Surrey press release.

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