NOW Foods Cal-Mag DK 180 Capsules

What Cal-Mag DK is

NOW Foods Cal-Mag DK is a dietary supplement in capsule form that pairs two minerals, calcium and magnesium, with vitamin D3 and vitamin K2. The bottle holds 180 capsules, which the Supplement Facts panel divides into 90 servings of two capsules each. The panel names NOW Foods of 395 S. Glen Ellyn Rd., Bloomingdale, Illinois as the manufacturer, and states that the product is "made and quality tested in the USA with globally sourced ingredients."

The "DK" in the name points to the two vitamins listed alongside the minerals: D3 as cholecalciferol and K2 as menaquinone-7. The front of the bottle carries the NOW wordmark, a Non-GMO badge, a circled K kosher mark and the words "Dietary Supplement". You can see how it sits beside other mineral products in Minerals.

What's inside

The panel lists four nutrients, each with a named source compound. Everything else in the capsule is an excipient rather than an added active.

Calcium, 266 mg elemental (from calcium citrate)

Calcium citrate is calcium bound to citric acid, the acid that gives citrus fruit its sharpness. Calcium is the mineral the human body carries most of by weight, and in food it turns up in dairy, canned fish eaten with the bones, tofu set with calcium salts, and certain leafy greens. A two-capsule serving supplies 266 mg of elemental calcium, which the panel puts at 20% of the Daily Value. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements fact sheet on calcium gives general background on the mineral and on the different salt forms used in supplements.

Magnesium, 133 mg elemental (from magnesium oxide)

Magnesium oxide is magnesium combined with oxygen, one of the more concentrated magnesium salts by weight. Dietary magnesium turns up in pumpkin seeds, almonds, spinach, black beans and whole grains. This serving provides 133 mg of elemental magnesium, listed at 32% of the Daily Value — exactly half the calcium figure, so the formula runs a 2:1 calcium-to-magnesium ratio by weight. The NIH fact sheet on magnesium covers food sources and the salt forms commonly sold.

Vitamin D3, 8.3 mcg / 333 IU (as cholecalciferol)

Cholecalciferol is the D3 form of vitamin D, the same form skin produces on exposure to sunlight and the form found in oily fish, egg yolks and fortified milk. The panel lists 8.3 mcg, gives the equivalent in older units as 333 IU, and puts the serving at 42% of the Daily Value. Background on the vitamin, on why labels now lead with micrograms, and on its food sources is set out in the NIH fact sheet on vitamin D.

Vitamin K2, 30 mcg (as menaquinone-7)

Menaquinone-7, usually shortened to MK-7, is a long-chain member of the vitamin K2 family, and the panel identifies the specific ingredient as MenaQ7®, a registered trademark of Lesaffre et Compagnie of France. In food, MK-7 is associated with fermented products; natto, the fermented soybean dish, is its best-known dietary source. The panel lists 30 mcg per serving and marks that row with a dagger, noting that a Daily Value has not been established for it.

The rest of the capsule

The Other Ingredients line reads, in full: hypromellose (cellulose capsule), stearic acid (vegetable source), maltodextrin, silicon dioxide, modified starch, sucrose, corn oil, tocopherol and sodium ascorbate. The capsule shell is hypromellose, a cellulose-derived material, and no gelatin appears anywhere on the ingredient line.

How to use it

The label's suggested usage is two capsules twice daily with food. That comes to four capsules across a day, or two of the panel's 90 servings, which works out to a 45-day supply from a full bottle.

Storage is straightforward: the label says to store the product in a cool, dry place after opening. The same panel notes that natural color variation may occur in this product, so a difference in capsule shade between one bottle and the next is something the manufacturer has flagged in advance.

Who it's for

The label restricts this product to adults, stating plainly "For adults only." Beyond that, it suits an adult who wants a measured amount of calcium and magnesium in a fixed 2:1 ratio, with D3 and K2 included in the same capsule rather than bought as separate bottles. Because a serving covers 20% of the Daily Value for calcium and 32% for magnesium, it contributes a portion of a day's intake alongside food rather than standing in for it.

The four-capsule daily usage is worth weighing before you buy: some people prefer a one-or-two-capsule routine, and this is not that product. If you already take a multivitamin or a separate vitamin D supplement, it is worth reading both panels side by side so you know what your combined daily figures actually are. Other options are grouped under Supplements and Health & Wellness.

Good to know

The bottle carries its own caution, allergen and origin statements, reproduced here as printed on the package.

• Caution, as printed: For adults only. Consult physician if pregnant/nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children.
• Allergens: the label states the product is not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut or sesame ingredients, and that it is produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.
• Marks on the bottle: a Non-GMO badge and a circled K kosher mark on the front, and a GMP Quality Assured seal on the panel. The seal on the bottle itself does not name a certifying body.
• Origin: "Made and quality tested in the USA with globally sourced ingredients," per the panel. The bottle also carries the line "Family owned since 1968."
• Packaging: the label states the bottle is made from 100% PCR (post-consumer recycled) resin.
• Proposition 65: no Prop 65 warning is printed anywhere on this package.

General guidance on choosing and using supplements, including how to read a Supplement Facts panel, is available from the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements in Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many capsules are in the bottle, and how many days does it cover?

The bottle holds 180 capsules, which the panel counts as 90 two-capsule servings. At the label's suggested usage of two capsules twice daily, a full bottle is a 45-day supply. The count is printed on the front of the bottle and the servings figure sits at the top of the Supplement Facts panel.

Are the capsules vegetarian, or are they gelatin?

The capsule shell is hypromellose, a cellulose-derived material, and gelatin is not listed anywhere on the label. The Other Ingredients line names hypromellose explicitly as the capsule material.

Which form of vitamin K2 does Cal-Mag DK use?

It uses menaquinone-7 (MK-7), listed on the panel as MenaQ7®, at 30 mcg per two-capsule serving. MenaQ7 is a registered trademark of Lesaffre et Compagnie of France. The panel marks this row with a dagger and notes that a Daily Value has not been established for vitamin K2.

Why does a serving only cover 20% of the Daily Value for calcium?

Because 266 mg of elemental calcium is a fifth of the 1,300 mg Daily Value used on US supplement labels. The panel is stating arithmetic, not a shortfall: at the suggested usage of two servings a day the figure doubles to 532 mg, and the remainder of a day's calcium would come from food.

How is my order packaged?

Orders ship in plain, unmarked outer packaging with no description of the contents on the outside. It will not show the Gear Isle name.

Product information compiled and reviewed by the Gear Isle product team. We transcribe supplement facts directly from manufacturer packaging. Found an error? Tell us.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Dietary supplement for adults 18 and over. Consult a licensed healthcare professional before use, especially if you have a medical condition, heart concerns, or take prescription medication (including nitrates). Keep out of reach of children.