Vitamin supplement use in a hospital-based population

Vitamin supplement histories were taken from a sample of approximately 3,600 individuals (2,461 men and 1,181 women) from a hospital-based population. Multivitamin preparations were the most commonly used vitamin supplements (32% of men, 37% of women) followed by vitamins C (men 11%; women 16%) and E (men 17%; women 23%). The most common combination of supplements among the multi-users was vitamins C and E. Vitamin supplement use was positively associated with education in both sexes. Among women, there was a negative association between vitamin supplement consumption and Quetelet index. No association was found between vitamin use and smoking status or alcohol use or amount of alcohol consumed.