NOW Foods Indole-3-Carbinol I3C 200mg 60 Veg Capsules

What this product is

NOW Foods Indole-3-Carbinol (I3C) 200 mg is a dietary supplement sold as a bottle of 60 vegetarian capsules. The Supplement Facts panel declares two ingredients, and both sit at the same amount: 200 mg of indole-3-carbinol and 200 mg of flax seed lignan extract per capsule. The front marks the product Vegetarian/Vegan and prints "With Flax Lignan Extract" beneath the product name.

The serving size printed on the panel is one veg capsule, so the two amounts above are also the per-capsule amounts. The panel prints no servings line, so the figure in the table below is derived rather than transcribed: 60 capsules divided by one capsule per serving gives 60 servings. The band across the top of the back panel reads "General Health", and the item is listed here under supplements.

What is in it

Two actives, declared at the same 200 mg, but described on the panel in two completely different ways — and the difference tells you what kind of material each one is.

Indole-3-Carbinol (I3C) — 200 mg. The panel names a compound and nothing else: no plant, no botanical name, no plant part — because indole-3-carbinol is an isolated phytochemical rather than a plant extract. It occurs in cruciferous vegetables, and the bottle's usage panel names cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower as examples. In chemistry terms I3C is the parent compound of diindolylmethane, usually shortened to DIM — DIM is formed from it. That relationship is a statement about the molecules, not about anything the capsule does once swallowed.

Flax Seed Lignan Extract (Linum usitatissimum) (Seed Coat) — 200 mg. This row is written the opposite way round. It names a plant extract, gives the botanical binomial, and specifies the exact part of the plant the material comes from: the seed coat, the outer layer of the flax seed rather than the oil pressed from its kernel. Flax is a long-established cultivated crop, grown both for linen fiber and as an oilseed, and lignans are a class of plant compounds concentrated in that outer coat. Naming the part matters, because "flax" on its own could mean the oil, the whole ground seed or the coat — three different materials.

Both rows carry a double asterisk pointing to the footnote "Daily Value not established." That is the standard notation for an ingredient with no official reference intake — a statement about the regulatory record, not about potency.

The panel's Other Ingredients line reads: Hypromellose (cellulose capsule), Rice Bran, Silicon Dioxide and Magnesium Stearate (vegetable source). Hypromellose is the capsule shell itself, a plant-derived cellulose material, and it is what the front panel's Vegetarian/Vegan marking rests on. The panel assigns no role to the other three, so neither do we — they are listed as present, and that is the whole of what the label says about them.

Supplement Facts

Every row above is transcribed from the panel photographed on this listing, with the one derived figure marked as such. General background on how plant-derived supplements are labeled is available from the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements botanical background sheet, a general reference that does not refer to this product.

How to use it and how to store it

The label's Suggested Usage reads: "Take 1 capsule 1 to 2 times daily with food." That is a range, not a fixed dose, so the daily intake is either 200 mg or 400 mg of each ingredient depending on which end you follow. Follow the label, and your own healthcare professional's advice, over anything written here.

Because the usage is a range, so is the supply: one capsule a day makes it a 60-day bottle, two a day a 30-day one — both worked out from the printed count and usage, not quoted from the bottle.

Storage is spelled out on this bottle. The label states: "Refrigeration recommended after opening." It then explains why, in its own words — "Natural color variation may occur in this product. Product may turn slightly pinkish but does not affect product quality." The label then repeats its refrigeration advice at the end of that notice and ties it directly to keeping the color stable — so the shift toward pink is flagged by the manufacturer itself as cosmetic.

Who it is for

This is a product for adults aged 18 and over who are looking for indole-3-carbinol in capsule form at a declared 200 mg, paired with flax seed lignan extract at the same amount. The label restricts it to adults: the caution block opens "For adults only."

The capsule shell is hypromellose, so the format suits anyone who prefers a plant-derived capsule, and the bottle is a plain 60-count. It is filed here under health and wellness.

It is not a medicine or a substitute for one. The NIH's "Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know" is a neutral consumer starting point, and is general guidance rather than a comment on this item.

Good to know

The caution block is printed on the bottle and is reproduced here as it appears: "For adults only. Consult physician if pregnant/nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition. This product may cause digestive upset in some sensitive individuals. If you experience any gastrointestinal discomfort after using this product, reduce dosage or discontinue use. Keep out of reach of children."

The allergen statement reads: "Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut or sesame ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens." If you manage a serious allergy, the second sentence matters as much as the first — it describes the facility, not just the formula.

On origin and maker, the panel reads "Manufactured for NOW FOODS, 395 S. Glen Ellyn Rd., Bloomingdale, IL 60108, USA" and "Made and quality tested in the USA with globally sourced ingredients." That phrasing is more specific than a bare country of origin: the finished product and its testing are placed in the United States, the raw materials are not.

No California Proposition 65 warning is printed anywhere on this packaging; background on when one is required is published by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment at its Prop 65 warnings site. For general safety guidance, the NCCIH page on dietary and herbal supplements is a neutral reference; neither source refers to this product.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many capsules are in the bottle, and how long is that?

The bottle holds 60 veg capsules. The panel prints a serving size of one capsule but no servings line, so the duration has to be worked out: at the label's rate of one capsule daily it is a 60-day supply, and at two capsules daily it is a 30-day supply.

Is this suitable for vegetarians and vegans?

Yes — the front of the bottle is marked Vegetarian/Vegan. The capsule shell is listed on the panel as hypromellose, a plant-derived cellulose material, and the magnesium stearate is noted as vegetable source.

Why does the label recommend refrigerating it after opening?

To keep the color stable, according to the bottle itself. The label states that natural color variation may occur, that the product may turn slightly pinkish, and that this does not affect product quality — then ties its refrigeration advice directly to that color change.

What exactly is the flax seed lignan extract, and which part of the plant is it from?

It is an extract of the seed coat of flax, and the panel says so precisely: "Flax Seed Lignan Extract (Linum usitatissimum) (Seed Coat)", at 200 mg. The seed coat is the outer layer of the seed, a different material from flaxseed oil.

How is the order packaged for delivery?

Orders ship in plain 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.