NOW Foods Coral Calcium Plus 250 Capsules

What it is

NOW Foods Coral Calcium Plus is a dietary supplement in a 250-capsule bottle that puts calcium from fossilized coral together with magnesium and vitamin D in one capsule. The panel sets a serving at two capsules and counts 125 servings in the bottle, which works out to a 125-day supply at one serving a day. It is shelved with our minerals range inside the wider supplements catalog.

The packaging is the standard NOW presentation: a white bottle with a deep purple cap, an orange label banded in teal, and a "Minerals" tab across the top. The front prints the count, the words "A Dietary Supplement", a Non-GMO badge and a K kosher symbol; the maker's line on the panel reads "Manufactured by NOW FOODS, 395 S. Glen Ellyn Rd., Bloomingdale, IL 60108, USA", alongside the note "Family owned since 1968." The bottle itself is printed as being made from 100% PCR (post-consumer recycled) resin.

What's inside

Each two-capsule serving declares four lines on the panel: vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, and the fossilized coral calcium that the calcium is drawn from. The full "Other ingredients" list runs to two entries, which is unusually short for a multi-mineral capsule.

• Fossilized Coral Calcium — 1.43 g (1,430 mg): the raw material, listed with a dagger because no Daily Value has been established for it. The label is specific about where it comes from: NOW states this coral calcium "is not harvested from living coral reefs or even from the ocean environment, but from above-ground sources in an ecologically friendly manner", and describes it as carrying naturally occurring trace minerals. The 1,430 mg figure and the 500 mg figure above it are not two different ingredients — 1,430 mg of the coral material is what yields 500 mg of elemental calcium, roughly 35% by weight.
• Calcium (elemental) — 500 mg, 38% DV: "elemental" is the part of the compound that is actually calcium, as opposed to the total weight of the calcium-bearing material. It is the number worth comparing between products. General background on the mineral is published in the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements calcium fact sheet.
• Magnesium (elemental) — 250 mg, 60% DV: drawn from three compounds rather than one — magnesium oxide, magnesium citrate and magnesium aspartate. Blending forms is common in mineral formulas; the panel does not break down how much comes from each. The NIH fact sheet on magnesium covers the mineral in general terms.
• Vitamin D (as D₂ Ergocalciferol) — 10 mcg (400 IU), 50% DV: worth reading closely, because the panel specifies D₂. Ergocalciferol is the form derived from plant and yeast sources, and it is a different molecule from the D₃ (cholecalciferol) that most supplements use. The NIH vitamin D fact sheet explains how the two forms are measured and why doses appear in both mcg and IU.
• Other ingredients — hypromellose (cellulose capsule) and ascorbyl palmitate: that is the entire list. Hypromellose is the cellulose-derived material the capsule shell is made from. Ascorbyl palmitate is a fat-soluble ester of ascorbic acid, commonly used in supplement formulas as an antioxidant. No binders, colors or flow agents beyond these two are printed on the panel.

The asterisks running through the front of the bottle are not decoration. They mark statements made under the structure/function rules the FDA sets out for dietary supplement labels, which is a different standard from the one applied to medicines — the agency explains the distinction on its structure/function claims page.

Supplement Facts

How to use it

The label's suggested usage is two capsules daily, preferably before mealtime with water. That is the whole of the printed direction — there is no loading period, no split-dose instruction and no timing window beyond "before mealtime" on this bottle.

For storage, the panel says to store in a cool, dry place after opening. The label also notes that natural color variation may occur in this product, so capsules from two bottles need not look identical.

Who it's for

This is a product for adults who already know they want a calcium capsule and would rather have magnesium and vitamin D in the same one than run three separate bottles. The 250-capsule count is the practical argument for it: it is the value size in this line, which suits someone taking it steadily rather than sampling it. Anyone who prefers a smaller first bottle should start there instead.

Two details narrow the fit. The vitamin D here is D₂ ergocalciferol, so anyone specifically looking for D₃ should check the panel before ordering. And the capsule shell is hypromellose rather than gelatin, which is worth knowing either way. You can browse related items in health and wellness.

Good to know

The bottle's own caution reads: "For adults only. Consult physician if pregnant/nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children."

• Allergens: the panel 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.
• Origin: "Made and quality tested in the USA with globally sourced ingredients" is printed on the panel.
• Seal on the bottle: a GMP Quality Assured mark appears at the foot of the label panel.
• Checking a label yourself: the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database archives panels from thousands of marketed products if you want to compare this one against others.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the coral calcium taken from living coral reefs?

No. The bottle states plainly that NOW Coral Calcium is not harvested from living coral reefs or from the ocean environment, but from above-ground sources in an ecologically friendly manner. The material is described on the panel as fossilized coral calcium.

How many servings does the 250-capsule bottle hold?

The bottle holds 125 servings, because the label sets a serving at two capsules. At one serving a day that is a 125-day supply, which is the reason this size exists alongside smaller bottles.

Which form of vitamin D does Coral Calcium Plus use?

It uses vitamin D₂ as ergocalciferol, at 10 mcg (400 IU) per two-capsule serving, or 50% of the Daily Value. D₂ is the plant- and yeast-derived form and is chemically distinct from D₃ cholecalciferol, so it is worth checking against your own preference.

What is the capsule made of?

The capsule shell is hypromellose, a cellulose-derived material, as printed in the panel's "Other ingredients" line. The only other listed ingredient is ascorbyl palmitate, so the shell and that single additive are the entire non-active list.

How is the order packaged for delivery?

Orders ship in plain, unbranded 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.