{"id":599982,"date":"2026-08-21T08:04:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T08:04:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/599982\/"},"modified":"2026-08-21T08:04:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T08:04:12","slug":"doctors-highlight-vitamin-d-and-creatine-as-essential-yet-overlooked-supplements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/599982\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctors Highlight Vitamin D and Creatine as Essential Yet Overlooked Supplements"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are tons of supplements<\/a> lining the shelves of grocery stores everywhere, but that hardly means you need to be taking all of them. In many cases, the best way to figure out whether you need to take a particular supplement is through blood work that can identify potential deficiencies. But don\u2019t write off supplements altogether, because doctors say two in particular deserve more attention when it comes to healthy aging: vitamin D and creatine monohydrate.<\/a><\/p>\n

No, the suggestions aren\u2019t anything flashy. Creatine has a strong reputation in the gym for supporting muscle growth and exercise performance, while vitamin D<\/a> is best known for its connection to bone health. But their benefits may extend beyond these familiar uses. We asked several doctors why they consider these two supplements underrated, and who may benefit most from taking them. Here\u2019s what they had to say.<\/p>\n

Medical disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Talk with your doctor before starting any new supplement.<\/p>\n

Related: We Asked Doctors the 2 Most Overrated Supplements. They All Said the Same Thing<\/a><\/p>\n

Underrated Supplements, According to DoctorsVitamin D<\/p>\n

The main appeal of vitamin D lies in its ability to build strong bones and support the immune system. It\u2019s a fat-soluble vitamin, so while doctors agree it\u2019s important and often overlooked, that doesn\u2019t mean everyone should start blindly taking high doses. Too much vitamin D can lead to hypercalcemia and other health issues. But research<\/a> has also highlighted vitamin D\u2019s broader role in health, particularly for people who are deficient.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a podiatrist, I think about vitamin D often because it supports calcium absorption, bone mineralization, and muscle function,\u201d says Mikel Daniels<\/a>, DPM, President and Chief Medical Officer at WeTreatFeet Podiatry. \u201cThose things matter when I\u2019m treating an older patient with foot pain, a slow-healing fracture, balance problems, or general weakness. I\u2019ve had patients who were doing everything right with their shoes and physical therapy, but their vitamin D level was very low. Correcting a true deficiency was one piece of a much larger plan.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stronger bones and normal muscle function are foundational, especially as we get older when one bad fall can change everything. But vitamin D can be hard to get from food alone, which is why supplementation is often advised. Fatty fish and fortified dairy products help, but many people don\u2019t eat enough of either in their daily diets. Factors like aging, obesity, certain digestive conditions, and prior gastric bypass surgery can also contribute to lower vitamin D levels.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose who live in the northern hemisphere don\u2019t synthesize adequate vitamin D during the winter months,\u201d says Theresa DeLorenzo, DCN, RD, founder and owner of Nutrition for Optimal Performance<\/a>. \u201cVitamin D deficiency causes inflammation, linking it with almost every disease we know of. It\u2019s advisable to know your vitamin D level and titrate your supplement dose based on how low it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related: Does Creatine Actually Cause Hair Loss? We Asked an Expert to Explain the Science<\/a><\/p>\n

Creatine Monohydrate<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve spent enough time in the gym, you\u2019re probably already riding the creatine train. Though it\u2019s gained much more attention in recent years, creatine monohydrate has been extensively studied for its exercise performance and strength-boosting benefits. It\u2019s affordable, widely available, and may even offer benefits beyond workouts. Growing research has shown potential cognitive benefits, particularly during periods of increased cognitive demand or sleep deprivation.<\/p>\n

\u201cCreatine is still thought of primarily as a bodybuilding or gym supplement, but I increasingly think of it as a healthy aging supplement,\u201d says Kenneth Ro<\/a>, MD, a double board-certified Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine physician. \u201cWe naturally lose muscle mass and strength as we age, and preserving both becomes increasingly important for metabolic health, physical function, resilience, and independence later in life.\u201d<\/p>\n

While much of the research on creatine and brain health is still emerging, the evidence so far is promising. One systematic review<\/a> found that creatine supplementation may improve memory and certain intelligence-related tasks, with potential benefits appearing more pronounced in people experiencing stress or age-related changes. Another small study<\/a> of 20 people with Alzheimer\u2019s disease found that eight weeks of creatine supplementation increased brain creatine levels by 11 percent and was associated with improvements on several measures of cognitive function.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s one of the most studied, cheapest, and safest things you can find at your local vitamin shop and it\u2019s overlooked because people think it\u2019s only for \u2018lifters,’\u201d says Carol Eisenstat, MD, board-certified physician and founder of Line Eraser MD<\/a>. \u201cCreatine monohydrate, plain as the stuff your body makes, three to five grams per day. No need for fancy formulations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related: Magnesium vs. Melatonin: Which Supplement is Better for Improving Sleep Quality?<\/a><\/p>\n

Experts<\/p>\n

Mikel Daniels<\/a>, DPM, President and Chief Medical Officer at WeTreatFeet Podiatry<\/p>\n

Kenneth Ro<\/a>, MD, a double board-certified Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine physician<\/p>\n

Carol Eisenstat, MD, board-certified physician and founder of Line Eraser MD<\/a><\/p>\n

Sources<\/p>\n

Effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive function of healthy individuals: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Experimental Gerontology<\/a>, 2018<\/p>\n

This story was originally published by Men’s Journal<\/a> on Aug 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the Health<\/a> section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There are tons of supplements lining the shelves of grocery stores everywhere, but that hardly means you need…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":599983,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[103,61,60,446],"class_list":["post-599982","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nutrition","tag-health","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-nutrition"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/599982","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=599982"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/599982\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/599983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=599982"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=599982"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=599982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}