Respondents were first asked, "For what specific health problems or conditions did you take [fill: 1st vitamin]?" (See VIT1MOST for the first vitamin/mineral supplement taken most often by the respondent.) Sample adults could report that they had used a first vitamin/mineral supplement to treat any of 82 health problems or conditions--81 specific conditions plus 1 residual "other" category--recognized by the 2007 NHIS. See VIT1TADD for the full list of conditions.

If the respondent indicated that the first vitamin/mineral supplement was used to treat more than one condition (VIT1TCONNO), he or she was asked the question for VIT1TCONMOST: "For which one of these health problems or conditions did you take [fill: 1st vitamin] the most?" Interviewers were instructed, "If respondent cannot choose one condition, probe for condition most important for using [fill: 1st vitamin]."

With respondents who had taken more than one vitamin/mineral supplement during the past 30 days (i.e., for whom VITMOSUPNO was greater than 1) to treat specific health problems (VIT2TREAT), interviewers pursued a similar line of questioning about the specific health problems or conditions treated by a a second vitamin/mineral supplement (e.g., see VIT2TCONMOST).

Researchers interested in the conditions most treated by other modalities of complementary and alternative medicine may wish to consult these summary variables:

• Acupuncture (ACUTCONMOST)

• Ayurveda (AYUTCONMOST)

• Biofeedback (BIOTCONMOST)

• Chelation (CHETCONMOST)

• Chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation (COMTCONMOST)

• Special diets (DITTCONMOST)

• Energy healing (EHTTCONMOST)

• Folk medicine (FOKTCONMOST)

• Homeopathic treatment (HOMTCONMOST)

• Hypnosis (HYPTCONMOST)

• Massage (MASTCONMOST)

• Movement techniques (MOVTCONMOST)

• Naturopathy (NATTCONMOST)

• Relaxation techniques (RELTCONMOST)

• Yoga, Tai chi, or Qi gong (YTQTCONMOST)

• Herbal supplements (HER1TCONMOST, HER2TCONMOST)

Researchers interested in the conditions prevented by vitamin/mineral supplements may wish to consult the following summary variables:

• Condition for which 1st vitamin supplement was taken to prevent most (VIT1PMOST)

• Condition for which 2nd vitamin supplement was taken to prevent most (VIT2PCONMOST)

For more information on the full range of variables related to vitamin/mineral supplements in 2007, see VITMO. For information on vitamin/mineral variables from other years, see VITYR and VITANY.