Editing Multivitamin (section)

== Uses ==
For certain people, particularly for older people, supplementing the diet with additional vitamins and minerals can have health impacts; however, the majority will not benefit.<ref>[http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/supplements/NU00198 Dietary supplements: Using vitamin and mineral supplements wisely] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012053245/http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/supplements/NU00198 |date=2013-10-12 }}, Mayo Clinic</ref> People with dietary imbalances may include those on restrictive diets and those who cannot or will not eat a nutritious diet. Pregnant women and elderly adults have different nutritional needs compared to other adults, and a multivitamin may be indicated by a physician. Generally, medical advice is to avoid multivitamins during pregnancy, particularly those containing vitamin A, unless they are recommended by a health care professional. However, the [[National Health Service|NHS]] recommends 10μg of Vitamin D per day throughout the pregnancy and while breastfeeding, and 400μg of folic acid during the first trimester (first 12 weeks of pregnancy).<ref name="nhs vitamins pregnancy">{{cite web|url=http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/vitamins-minerals-supplements-pregnant.aspx#close|title=Vitamins and nutrition in pregnancy|last=National Health Service|publisher=NHS|work=NHS Choices|access-date=10 January 2014|archive-date=10 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110171041/http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/vitamins-minerals-supplements-pregnant.aspx#close|url-status=live}}</ref> Some women may need to take iron, vitamin C, or calcium supplements during pregnancy, but only on the advice of a doctor.

In the 1999–2000 [[National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey]], 52% of adults in the United States reported taking at least one dietary supplement in the last month and 35% reported regular use of multivitamin - multimineral supplements. Women versus men, older adults versus younger adults, non-Hispanic whites versus non-Hispanic blacks, and those with higher education levels versus lower education levels (among other categories) were more likely to take multivitamins. Individuals who use dietary supplements (including multivitamins) generally report higher dietary nutrient intakes and healthier diets. Additionally, adults with a history of prostate and breast cancers were more likely to use dietary and multivitamin supplements.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Rock CL | title = Multivitamin-multimineral supplements: who uses them? | journal = The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition | volume = 85 | issue = 1 | pages = 277S–279S | date = January 2007 | pmid = 17209209 | doi = 10.1093/ajcn/85.1.277S | doi-access = free }}</ref>