When Kari Franson was working with older psychiatry patients, she noticed many of them turned to supplements to slow symptoms of dementia. She said these patients wanted a quick fix that regular prescriptions couldn’t provide. 

Recognizing the growing need for supplements, Franson — a professor at the Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences — sought the expertise of other pharmacists to launch a free, on-campus clinic.

Located within the pharmacy at King Hall, the pharmacist-led supplements clinic is open to the USC community Tuesdays at no cost beginning Oct. 28. The clinic offers free 20-minute consultations where patients can ask questions about supplements and essential nutrition. Patients can scan a QR code on flyers in the pharmacy to set up an appointment.  

From there, the team assesses each individual and educates them about supplement usage and how to maximize supplements they may already be using. Franson said she established the clinic to promote awareness about supplement use among all types of people.

“I do think that patients … want more information, so we are literally just stepping up and providing the population and society with what they’re asking for,” Franson said. “We just have to get the word out there that we’re available, and we are developing this expertise that they can tap into.” 

According to Franson, nearly three-quarters of American adults use some form of dietary supplement, and she attributed this explosive growth to social media.

“[Influencers] are employed by selling something, and, unfortunately, social media is full of people getting kickbacks on what they’re promoting,” Franson said. “Dietary supplements exist for a reason. We want to have optimal health. So, instead of saying, ‘Lay off,’ how about we just do it smarter?”

In interviews with the Daily Trojan, students who took supplementals said they mainly got information from their own research or from people they knew.

“My parents are both in the medical field, so they’ve recommended it to me,” said Isaiah  Villegas, a sophomore majoring in dance. “[Supplements] do make a difference in my body. When I don’t take them, I feel like crap.” 

Vikram Sagar, a sophomore majoring in arts, technology, and the business of innovation, said YouTube has a lot of information about supplements, but he said he’s not sure if they have had an impact or if it’s solely the placebo effect.  

Melanie Miadelets, a freshman majoring in music production, said she does not regularly take supplements, but she would be open to them. 

“If I saw proof that there were plenty of benefits of just taking supplements on a daily basis, I might be prone to take them more,” Miadelets said.  ​

However, for students such as Gabrielle Bravo — a freshman majoring in aerospace engineering — the clinic could help bridge the gap in knowledge.  

“Through that clinic, it would make supplements more accessible to me, and I would be more willing to use them,” Bravo said.​

Jonathan Lyder, a freshman majoring in legal studies, said professional advice could make a big difference in his use of supplements.

“It would help me select more effective supplements and get them from better sources because not all supplements are created equal, even if they’re supposed to be the same substance,” Lyder said.

​The clinic also serves as a course for pharmacy students to learn more about therapeutic drugs and dietary supplements, Franson said. Graduating pharmacists may also join to gain this knowledge and implement it in their pharmacies. The clinic is also looking to partner with the USC physical therapy group to help patients with physical limitations.

​“I’m hoping that this is the beginning of pharmacists harnessing this information and this service for patients, so patients see pharmacies not just as a place to pick up your prescriptions but to really get help on optimizing their health,” Franson said.