Are vitamin supplements necessary? Considerations plus options for tracking in MyNetDiary

You eat whole foods and track your macros, but wonder if vitamins and other supplements are necessary for optimal health. Here’s an easy way to keep track of your supplements, as well as several situations where you may need to include a supplement.

Vitamin supplements are necessary for certain situations

Pregnancy and folic acid

It is vital to take folic acid supplements before and during pregnancy. Folic acid helps to prevent neural tube defects, such as spina bifida.

Supplements are usually considered necessary when it is challenging to get enough of the nutrient in your foods alone. Folate is one of those. Experts recommend 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid daily in addition to eating foods rich in folate, such as leafy greens, beets, and legumes. Breakfast cereals are fortified with folic acid, making them a significant source of this essential nutrient.

Women and iron

Did you know that iron is the most common nutrient deficiency worldwide? This mineral is essential for transporting oxygen in the body. While it can affect many different groups, women are especially at risk of not getting enough iron.

During childbearing years (the RDA is 18 milligrams (mg) per day), women lose iron each month during their period. Iron needs further increase during pregnancy.

Diabetes and vitamin B12

Metformin (or Glucophage) is a common medication to lower blood sugar in individuals with diabetes or prediabetes. Yet, long-term use of this medication is associated with a higher risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency. The recommended daily allowance for adults is 2.4mcg/day. Discuss testing for B12 deficiency with your doctor to determine if you need a supplement.

Vitamin D

A fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin D is vital for healthy bones, proper immune function, and glucose metabolism. However, receiving an adequate amount of vitamin D from food alone can be difficult. Adults need 15mcg/day.

Multivitamin

Multivitamins may be beneficial for individuals taking a GLP-1 medication. GLP-1s significantly reduce appetite, so it can be challenging to ensure you’re meeting nutrient requirements. A multivitamin can help you meet nutrient needs despite consuming less food.

Note: These are general targets for vitamins and minerals. MyNetDiary provides the flexibility to plan and modify vitamin and mineral targets according to your individual needs.

Dietary supplements are not regulated in the same way as prescription drugs. Talk with your doctor first to determine which, if any, supplements are necessary.

What to look for when purchasing a supplement

Take these considerations into account when deciding which supplement to purchase.

• Choose supplements that are third-party tested. Third-party testing helps ensure that the product you get contains the ingredients listed in the specified amounts on the package. It also checks for contamination, providing an additional layer of security.
• Opt for supplements that list ingredient amounts. You want to know what you’re getting with a supplement, so make sure to choose ones that list the amounts of all ingredients.
• Avoid supplements with proprietary blends. Supplements containing proprietary blends often don’t list the amounts of these ingredients, so you don’t know how much you may be consuming.

It’s good practice to always consult your healthcare provider before starting a new supplement to ensure it's safe for you. Many supplements can interact with medications, thereby reducing the drug’s effectiveness. Conversely, some medications may enhance ingredients in the supplement.

Track supplements in MyNetDiary–You’ve got options!

Option 1: Track supplements as food

Log your vitamins, minerals, and other supplements as regular foods to be included in your daily totals. As with any food, you must find your supplement brand or generic choice in the database. Remember to add to your “Favorites" by tapping the star in the upper right-hand corner for easy recall.

You can enter the supplement using the PhotoFoods feature if it is not currently in the database.

Option 2: Create a “My Meal” for your supplements

If you typically take several supplements at the same time every day, consider this time-saving option. After you choose a meal from the dashboard to log, such as lunch, tap “+,” then swipe tabs to select “Meals”>"Create Meal." Next, use the barcode scanner or search the database to locate your supplements.

Option 3: Create a custom tracker

Track your supplements, sleep, hunger, and more by creating individual custom trackers accessible from your dashboard.

Option 4: Notes feature

Utilize this feature on your dashboard as an easy and informal way to track your supplements. Just look for "Notes" and the paperclip icon. After documenting your supplements as a note, you’ll see a checkmark on your dashboard (see below).

Option 5: Use the Vitamins & Supplements feature

Utilize the Vitamins and Supplements feature to track supplements. Go to “Configure Dashboard,” then select “Customize Dashboard. Look for the option to add “Vitamins and Supplements” to your dashboard. Then, start tracking supplements. This option utilizes the notes feature, but creates a separate category for tracking vitamins and supplements. Note: If you want vitamin and supplement amounts tracked with your daily nutrient intake, you must include them as part of your meals.

While supplements are never a substitute for a healthy and balanced diet, there may be situations when supplements are necessary. Easily track your food, activity, supplements, and more in MyNetDiary. Cheers to meeting your health goals!

Related Content

Can you take too many supplements? Why you might need to ditch the multivitamin

Essential nutrients for vegans: Meeting your needs on a plant-based diet

Updated by Amy Brownstein, MS, RDN on November 17, 2025

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Nutrients->Supplements