The Practice and Opinions of the Applicants of a University Health Center on Multivitamin/Mineral Use, Ankara-Turkey

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the nutritional status, knowledge on multivitamin/mineral supplements and their use among individuals who applied to an outpatient clinic and to evaluate the factors related to multivitamin/mineral preparations (MVM) use. Subjects and Method: This descriptive study was conducted at outpatient clinics (serving for hospital staff and health sciences faculty students) between May-June 2019 with 1650 (≥18 years of age) applicants and one out of four individuals (n=415) were asked to participate in the study. A total of 289 people accepted to participate. The data were collected via face-to-face questionnaire. Results: Of the participants, 66.8% were women; 58.9% were between the ages of 20-34 years; and MVM use was 36.3%. Participants stated their economic status as “good” (p<0.001); physically inactive subjects (p<0.001); and current smokers (p=0.008) were using MVMs more than the others. Almost half of them (46.0%) thought that they had adequate and balanced diet and were using MVMs less (p<0.001). While purchasing MVMs, 61.9% of the users pay attention to price, 47.6% to the brand, 39.0% to the naturality and 32.4% to content. Conclusion: In line with these results, in order to increase the level of awareness of people education should be provided to raise awareness on healthy nutrition and use of food supplements, at an early age, and public awareness should be ensured through mass media and social media projects.