Do You Need a Multivitamin Supplement?

Have you ever thought that you might need to take a multivitamin supplement? If you are not sure, take this short quiz to help determine if you are a candidate for a supplement…
On most days do you:

1. Eat 6 to 11 servings of grains (bread, cereal, pasta, and rice)? One serving equals 1 slice of bread, ½ c. rice or pasta, 1 oz. dry cereal, ½ bagel or english muffin.
   If your answer is yes, give yourself 3 points. If your answer is no, give yourself 0 points.
2. Eat at least 2 servings of fruit? One serving equals ½ c. chopped or canned fruit, ¾ c. fruit juice, 1 med. piece of fresh fruit.
   Yes= 3. No= 0.
3. Eat at least 3 servings of vegetables a day? One serving equals ½ c. cooked, 1c. raw, leafy vegetables, ¾ c. vegetable juice.
   Yes= 3. No= 0.
4. Generally eat the same foods every day?
   Yes= 0. No= 3.
5. Eat 2 or more servings of dairy foods a day? One serving equals 1 c. milk or yogurt, 1 ½ oz. natural cheese, 2 oz. processed cheese.
   Yes= 3. No= 0.
6. Eat 2 to 3 servings of lean meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, or nuts each day? One serving equals 3 oz. cooked meat, poultry, or fish, one egg, ½ c. cooked beans, 2 T. peanut butter.
   Yes= 3. No= 0.
7. Frequently skip meals or miss out on one or more food groups for the entire day?
   Yes= 0.No= 3.

If you scored:
15 points or more: You know how to make wise food choices and get the variety of foods important for a healthy eating plan.

9-12 points: You could be getting more nutrients by fine tuning your food choices. Try to add the servings of foods that you are missing.

0-6 points: By making changes you will be able to gradually improve your eating pattern. While food is the best way to obtain vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, you may benefit from a multivitamin/mineral supplement.

Other people who may benefit from a multivitamin/mineral supplement are:

• People who lead a hectic lifestyle and cannot eat according to the food guide pyramid.
• If you are on a very low calorie weight loss diet.
• If you are elderly and are not eating as well as you used to.
• If you are a strict vegetarian.
• If you can’t drink milk or other dairy foods.
• If you are a woman of childbearing age who doesn’t get enough folate in her diet.

Adapted from the American Dietetic Association.

Each year, Medical College of Wisconsin physicians care for more than 180,000 patients, representing nearly 500,000 patient visits. Medical College physicians practice at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, and many other hospitals and clinics in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.