NOW Foods Magnesium & Calcium 100 Tablets

What it is

NOW Foods Magnesium & Calcium is a mineral dietary supplement in a 100-tablet bottle, delivering 800 mg of elemental magnesium and 400 mg of elemental calcium in a three-tablet serving. The front panel describes the formula as a "Reverse 2:1 Ratio": most combination mineral tablets lead with calcium and put magnesium second, and this one inverts that proportion so magnesium is the larger of the two figures. Zinc and vitamin D-3 are built into the same tablet. NOW files the product under its Minerals line, and it sits with the rest of our Minerals range.

The bottle is a white plastic jar with a purple cap, and NOW notes on the side panel that the bottle itself is made from 100% PCR (post-consumer recycled) resin. The tablet is an oblong, scored caplet; NOW's tablet-size guide shows it measuring just under one inch against a printed ruler, with the caveat on that guide that size and color shown may vary from the actual product.

What's inside

Four nutrients are declared on the Supplement Facts panel, and each one names the specific raw material it is drawn from rather than hiding behind a blend.

• Magnesium, 800 mg elemental (190% Daily Value) — drawn from five different sources: magnesium oxide, magnesium glycinate, magnesium taurinate, magnesium citrate and Aquamin® Seaweed Derived Minerals. Magnesium is an essential dietary mineral also found in foods such as nuts, seeds, legumes and leafy greens; the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements fact sheet on magnesium gives general background on the mineral and on intake levels.
• Calcium, 400 mg elemental (31% Daily Value) — from Aquamin® Seaweed Derived Minerals and calcium citrate. Aquamin is a seaweed-derived mineral source, as the panel names it, and a registered trademark of Marigot Limited. General background on the mineral itself is in the NIH fact sheet on calcium.
• Zinc, 15 mg elemental (136% Daily Value) — from L-OptiZinc® Monomethionine, a zinc form bound to the amino acid methionine. L-OptiZinc is a Lonza trademark registered in the USA. The NIH fact sheet on zinc covers the mineral in general terms.
• Vitamin D, 25 mcg / 1,000 IU (125% Daily Value) — as D3 cholecalciferol, the form the body makes in skin on sun exposure and the one most commonly used in supplements. See the NIH fact sheet on vitamin D for general information.

The non-active ingredients are listed in full on the label: microcrystalline cellulose, a vegetarian coating (polydextrose, hypromellose (cellulose), calcium carbonate and medium-chain triglycerides), maltodextrin, croscarmellose sodium, stearic acid from a vegetable source, magnesium stearate from a vegetable source, and silicon dioxide. A coating of this kind is used to make a large tablet easier to swallow, and croscarmellose sodium is a standard disintegrant included to help the tablet break up after it is swallowed. NOW also prints that natural color variation may occur in this product, which is ordinary for a tablet built largely from mineral salts and seaweed-derived minerals.

Supplement Facts

How to use it

The label's Suggested Usage reads: take 3 tablets daily, preferably in divided doses, with food or at bedtime. That is the whole of the printed direction. Three tablets make up one serving, and splitting them across the day or taking them in the evening are both options the pack offers explicitly.

At three tablets a day, the 100-tablet bottle gives 33 servings, which the panel states directly. Store in a cool, dry place after opening, as printed on the side panel.

Who it's for

This is a product for adults who already know they want a magnesium-forward mineral tablet rather than a conventional calcium-led one. The label restricts it to adults, and the reverse ratio is the entire point of the formula — if you want a standard calcium-dominant combination, this is not that product. The four-nutrient format suits someone who would otherwise be keeping magnesium, calcium, zinc and vitamin D in four separate bottles and would rather carry one. Browse related products in Supplements or across Health & Wellness if you are comparing formats.

The panel itself prints 190% of the Daily Value for magnesium, so this is a deliberately high-magnesium product. Read the NIH magnesium fact sheet linked above and speak to a healthcare professional about whether that amount suits your own diet and circumstances before you start.

Good to know

• Caution, as printed on the label: for adults only; consult a physician if pregnant or nursing, taking medication, or managing a medical condition; keep out of reach of children.
• Allergen statement, as printed: not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or sesame ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.
• Origin, as printed: manufactured by NOW Foods, 395 S. Glen Ellyn Rd., Bloomingdale, IL 60108, USA. Made and quality tested in the USA with globally sourced ingredients.
• Marks on the bottle: the front panel carries a kosher certification mark (a K within a triangle), and the side panel carries a GMP Quality Assured seal.
• Codes on the bottle: the printed UPC is 733739012777 and the side panel carries the code 1277E.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tablets do I take, and how many are in the bottle?

Three tablets daily is the serving stated on the NOW Foods Magnesium & Calcium label, and the bottle holds 100 tablets. The label suggests taking them in divided doses, with food or at bedtime, which works out to 33 servings from a full bottle.

What makes this a "reverse" ratio?

It means the magnesium figure is double the calcium figure rather than the other way round — 800 mg of elemental magnesium to 400 mg of elemental calcium in each three-tablet serving. Conventional combination tablets usually declare more calcium than magnesium, so NOW prints "Reverse 2:1 Ratio" on the front panel to set this formula apart from those.

What forms of magnesium and calcium does it use?

The magnesium is drawn from five sources — magnesium oxide, glycinate, taurinate, citrate and Aquamin® Seaweed Derived Minerals — and the calcium from Aquamin® Seaweed Derived Minerals plus calcium citrate. Aquamin is a seaweed-derived mineral source and a registered trademark of Marigot Limited; the zinc is L-OptiZinc® Monomethionine, a Lonza trademark.

Does it contain gluten, dairy or soy?

The label states that the product is not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or sesame ingredients. It also states that it is produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens, so anyone with a severe allergy should weigh that shared-facility line rather than reading the first sentence on its own.

How is this order packaged?

Your order ships in plain outer packaging, with no product imagery, no brand marks and nothing on the outside describing the contents. 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.