A study to estimate utilization pattern of vitamins, minerals and trace elements in clinical practice

Background: Vitamins, minerals and trace elements are essential micronutrients widely prescribed in clinical practice for prevention and treatment of deficiencies and various disease conditions. However, their increasing use is often empirical and not always evidence based, leading to concerns about irrational prescribing, inappropriate dosing and unnecessary combinations. Methods: Prospective, observational study was conducted in OPD pharmacy of Goa Medical College and two Private pharmacies of North Goa from August 2022 to August 2024. Approval was obtained from Institutional Ethics Committee. The prescriptions were photographed only after getting the patient's consent and then returned to them. Patient details were kept confidential. Prescriptions that had legible writing, prescribed by only allopathic doctors were included in this study. Results: Among the 765 vitamin and mineral preparations analyzed, 406 (53.1%) were single preparations and 359 (46.9%) were combinations. Brand-name preparations accounted for 51.0% of the total, while 40.0% were not included in either the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) 2022 or the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines 2023. Drug interaction analysis identified 638 distinct potential interactions from 202 of the 392 prescriptions. Cost analysis revealed that single mineral formulations contributed the largest share of expenditure (33%), followed by vitamin–mineral combinations (32%). Conclusions: This study highlights the need for rational multivitamin use, emphasizing evidence-based prescribing, generic names and adherence to the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) and WHO Model List. It also improves understanding of prescribing patterns, interactions and costs, supporting safer, cost-effective practices.