The anti-ageing regime of an eccentric American entrepreneur who takes more than 100 pills a day could be harmful if copied, a leading nutritionist has warned.
Millionaire Bryan Johnson’s quest for longevity is captured in the Netflix documentary Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever.
Within the first 10 minutes, a breakdown of the 47-year-old’s routine shows him taking three pills upon waking, 54 at breakfast and 34 more later.
A list shown on screen includes pills for vitamin C, heme iron, zinc, metformin and taurine. Johnson has previously said his full plan includes more than 100 drugs and supplements.
Vicky Pennington, nutritionist at Boots, told the Express Johnson’s regime was “tailored to help achieve his personal goals and includes a blend of many different supplements with some at high levels”.
But she warned: “For most of us, taking too many supplements all at once can be harmful. In addition, your body might not require any additional supplements on top of your daily diet and taking an excess amount could be unsafe.
“For example, taking more than 100mg of vitamin D a day could be harmful, as it can cause calcium to build up in the body, which is known as hypercalcemia. This can weaken the bones and damage the kidneys and the heart.
“Therefore, it’s important to follow the instructions on the packaging for any supplements that you wish to take and consult a healthcare professional for personalised advice.”
Johnson’s daily “Blueprint” routine begins at 4.30am and includes more than 100 steps to keep his body “in its ideal state”.
Others include electromagnetic stimulation of his abdomen, wearing a laser cap to promote hair growth and something called “penis shockwave therapy”.
Johnson explains in the documentary: “By doing Blueprint, one of the key objectives is to achieve the lowest possible biological age. Just like a tree has rings, we all have a signature inside our body of our age.
“After doing Blueprint now for two years, I have reversed my biological age [by] 5.1 years…and my speed of ageing is 0.69, which means for every 12 months [lived], I age eight months.
“In terms of how far this goes, it’s open-ended – we have no idea. But I want to take my speed of ageing to the lowest possible number.”
Ms Pennington said most people can get all the nutrients they need by eating a varied and balanced diet, although supplements can support this if a particular nutrient is lacking.
She added: “If you decide to take any supplement it should always be taken following the instructions on the packaging.
“One supplement that all adults should consider taking is vitamin D. The Government recommends that we should all consider taking 10 micrograms of vitamin D daily throughout the winter months and some people should consider taking it all year round.”
Sunlight is the main natural source of vitamin D and our bodies can struggle to make enough between March and October.
Vitamin B12 is another supplement that may benefit people with a vegan or plant-based diet who do not get it from eating meat, fish, poultry, eggs or dairy, Ms Pennington said.
She added: “For many other vitamins and minerals, a supplement should only be considered if we don’t feel we are getting enough from our diet.
“Everyone’s dietary needs differ, and supplements can impact our bodies in different ways, so you may wish to speak to a healthcare professional such as a pharmacist or a GP if you are unsure or need any advice. There is also information on supplements available on Boots Health Hub.
“A multivitamin product is a really easy way to get a range of nutrients in one, but if you wish to take another supplement alongside a multivitamin, make sure you’re not doubling up on any nutrients, to avoid taking too much. Taking too much of certain nutrients may not be safe.”
