Nutritional supplements have recently become just another investment for OU students' everyday routine.

Spanish senior Lauren Fowler said she enjoys sharing her vitamin experience with friends during weekly mixers.

Fowler, an independent distributor of AdvoCare, said this catalog-based company sells various vitamins and nutritional supplements that promote energy, appetite suppression and overall health.

Fowler said during a three-month period without using the vitamins, she noticed that her hair became drier and that she was extremely tired in the afternoon.

"When I began to take them consistently, there was a definite difference in my energy level," Fowler said. "I come home and want to keep going for the rest of the day. I am a lot more productive."

Kimberly Davis, a registered and licensed dietitian for OU Health Services, sees the prevalence of vitamins and supplements in a different light.

Davis said vitamins do not necessarily give people a boost on energy like they might be led to believe. She said she normally does not recommend vitamins for the average person.

University College freshman Christina Evans said she remembers taking Flintstones vitamins as a child. She said that since she has come to college, her father has been pressuring her to begin taking vitamins again.

"My dad always calls and asks, 'Have you gone to Wal-Mart yet and gotten some vitamins?''' Evans said.

Davis, who works at Goddard Health Center, said many people do not really need vitamins. She said she recommends vitamins only in specific cases, such as vegetarians or pregnant women who might lack certain vitamins in their diet.

A number of nutrition and health stores scatter several small shopping centers around Norman.

Nutritional science senior Josh Brown has worked at Dodson's Nutritional Food Center for a year and a half.

"Don't over do it," Brown said. He said he encourages people to stay within the recommended dosage when dealing with vitamins.

Large amounts of vitamins can be dangerous and some may lead to toxicity symptoms, Davis said. She said staying within the recommended daily allowance, the RDA percentage on vitamin containers, should be a main concern for anyone using vitamins and supplements.

"A high level of Vitamin C can even create intestinal problems, kidney stones or diarrhea," Davis said.

Davis said she recommends a nutrition checkup to analyze a person's eating habits.

Angela Harrison, a registered and licensed dietitian at Midwest Regional Medical Center, said, "If you have a healthy diet, you really don't need supplements."

Brown said it is very important for college students to always have a well-balanced diet.

"Surprisingly, people don't know much about nutrition. Vitamins are something they just take and don't take to replace other things," Brown said.
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