I've been taking vit. D for awhile now and ALA and Milk Thistle. I've also started taking Creatine. I'll have a lot more to say about it because it's turned out to be a miracle for me! It's not just for body builders!
>A substantial body of research has found that creatine may have a wide variety of uses. In fact, creatine is being studied as a supplement that may help with diseases affecting the neuromuscular system, such as muscular dystrophy (MD). Recent studies suggest creatine may have therapeutic applications in aging populations for wasting syndromes, muscle atrophy, fatigue, gyrate atrophy, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and other brain pathologies. Several studies have shown creatine can reduce cholesterol by up to 15% and it has been used to correct certain inborn errors of metabolism, such as in people born without the enzyme(s) responsible for making creatine. Some studies have found that creatine may increase growth hormone production.
There are also studies suggesting that creatine can cause or exacerbate (make worse) kidney disease, so if you have kidney disease or a history of kidney stones, you would be well advised to avoid it (creatine). The various brain pathologies respond best in patients who are vegetarians or who consume very little red meat in their diet, since meat is a primary dietary source of creatine. In clinical trials patients who consumed at least 6 oz of meat in their daily diet demonstrated no improvement in mental acuity by taking creatine.
Creatine Ethyl Ester (CEE), though touted as having a higher absorption rate and a longer serum half-life, actually has no scientific studies conclusively substantiating these claims. In contrast, a study presented at the 4th International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) in 2007 demonstrated the opposite. The researchers concluded that creatine ethyl ester is actually inferior to regular creatine monohydrate as a source of creatine.
Possible side effects of creatine use include leg pain, especially after moderate exercise. Tests in mice also showed a rise in allergic lung reactions. Though no human trials were conducted for lung disorders, patients with asthma or who are prone to getting chest colds or who suffer shortness of breath should not use creatine as a dietary supplement. Patients contemplating surgery are cautioned to advise their doctors of their creatine (and all other over-the-counter meds) use before having surgery.