title: Multivitamins/multiminerals in Switzerland: not as good as it seems.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multivitamin/multimineral (MVM) supplements are commonly consumed by the general population, but little is known regarding their composition and compliance with local regulations. We assessed the composition and compliance with regulations [no indication in the label of vitamin/minerals amounting <15% of the acceptable daily intake (ADI)] of MVM available in Switzerland.
  
  
  METHODS
  The composition of vitamin/minerals supplements was obtained from the Swiss drug compendium, the Internet, pharmacies, parapharmacies and supermarkets. MVM was defined as the presence of at least 5 vitamins and/or minerals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 254 vitamin/mineral supplements collected, 95 (37%) were considered as MVM. The most frequent vitamins were B₆ (73.7%), C (71.6%), B₂ (69.5%) and B₁ (67.4%); the least frequent were K (17.9%), biotin (51.6%), pantothene (55.8%) and E (56.8%). Approximately half of MVMs provided >150% of the ADI for vitamins. The most frequent minerals were zinc (66.3%), calcium (55.8%), magnesium (54.7%) and copper (48.4%), and the least frequent were fluoride (3.2%), phosphorous (17.9%), chrome (22.1%) and iodine (25%). More than two thirds of MVMs provided between 50 and 150% of the ADI for minerals, and few MVMs provided >150% of the ADI. While few MVMs provided <15% of the ADI for vitamins, a considerable fraction did so for minerals (32.7% for magnesium, 26.1% for copper and 22.6% for calcium).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a great variability regarding the composition of MVMs available in Switzerland. Several MVM do not comply with Swiss regulations, which calls for monitoring and corrective measures.
authors.forename: Nadège
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Droz
authors.affiliation: CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland and Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (IUMSP), Lausanne University Hospital, Biopole 2, Route de la Corniche 10, Lausanne CH-1010, Switzerland. Pedro-Manuel.Marques-Vidal@chuv.ch.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marques-Vidal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D013557:Switzerland; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D014815:Vitamins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D014815:Vitamins