[Use of vitamin supplements among university students in São Paulo, Brazil].

With the purpose of determining the prevalence of vitamin consumption, a survey was conducted in a sample of 894 private university freshmen in São Paulo. It revealed that 30.4% of the students consumed vitamin supplements within the preceding 3 months -23.1% on a regular basis and 6.0% sporadically. Vitamin C and multivitamin supplements were the most consumed products. The regular consumption of vitamin supplements was related to the frequency of physical exercises. "To stay healthy" was the most cited reason for supplementation.