NOW Foods Magnesium & Calcium 250 Tablets

What this is

NOW Foods Magnesium & Calcium is a four-nutrient mineral tablet sold in a 250-tablet bottle, built on what the front of the pack calls a reverse 2:1 ratio — magnesium is the larger figure and calcium the smaller one, which is the opposite of how most cal-mag products are put together. A serving is 3 tablets and the bottle holds 83 servings, so one bottle covers an 83-day supply at the label's suggested amount. The tablets are made by NOW Foods of Bloomingdale, Illinois, and the panel states they are made and quality tested in the USA with globally sourced ingredients.

The 250-count bottle is the larger of the two sizes this formula comes in. Because a serving here is three tablets rather than one, a bottle is consumed faster than the tablet count first suggests — 250 tablets works out to roughly twelve weeks, or about four restocks a year for someone taking it daily. If you are browsing the wider range, this item sits in Minerals alongside the rest of our single-nutrient and combination mineral supplements.

What is in the tablets

Four nutrients are listed on the Supplement Facts panel, and each one is declared as elemental weight. That word does real work: it means the number in the table is the weight of the mineral itself, not the weight of the larger salt or compound carrying it. A tablet containing 800 mg of elemental magnesium contains considerably more than 800 mg of magnesium compounds in total.

• Magnesium, 800 mg elemental — from five separate forms. The panel lists magnesium oxide, magnesium glycinate, magnesium taurinate, magnesium citrate and Aquamin® Seaweed Derived Minerals. Oxide is a simple magnesium-and-oxygen salt and the most concentrated of the group by weight; glycinate and taurinate are magnesium bound to the amino acids glycine and taurine; citrate is magnesium bound to citric acid, the acid that gives citrus fruit its sharpness. Magnesium itself is a dietary mineral found in everyday foods including pumpkin seeds, almonds, spinach, black beans and whole grains. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements fact sheet on magnesium gives general background on the mineral.
• Calcium, 400 mg elemental — from Aquamin® and calcium citrate. Aquamin® is a registered trademark of Marigot Limited and is described on the panel as seaweed derived minerals, meaning the mineral content originates in marine algae rather than mined rock. It appears twice on this panel, supplying part of both the calcium and the magnesium. Dietary calcium is found in dairy, in canned fish eaten with the bones, in tofu set with calcium salts and in some leafy greens; the NIH fact sheet on calcium covers the mineral in general terms.
• Zinc, 15 mg elemental — from L-OptiZinc® Monomethionine. L-OptiZinc® is a Lonza trademark registered in the USA, and monomethionine means the zinc is bound to methionine, an amino acid. Zinc occurs in foods such as oysters, beef, pumpkin seeds and chickpeas. General information is available in the NIH fact sheet on zinc.
• Vitamin D, 25 mcg (1,000 IU) — as D3 cholecalciferol. The panel prints both units, which is standard on modern labels: 25 micrograms and 1,000 International Units describe the same amount. D3 is the form found in oily fish and egg yolks and is the form most often used in supplements. The NIH fact sheet on vitamin D provides background.

One detail worth reading off the panel yourself: three of the four nutrients here sit above a full Daily Value — magnesium at 190%, zinc at 136% and vitamin D at 125% — while calcium sits at 31%. If you already take a multivitamin or another mineral product, it is worth putting both panels side by side before adding this one, because the overlap matters more than the individual figures.

Supplement Facts

Other ingredients: Microcrystalline Cellulose, Vegetarian Coating [polydextrose, hypromellose (cellulose), calcium carbonate, medium-chain triglycerides], Maltodextrin, Croscarmellose Sodium, Stearic Acid (vegetable source), Magnesium Stearate (vegetable source) and Silicon Dioxide.

How to use it

The label's suggested usage is 3 tablets daily, preferably in divided doses, with food or at bedtime. "Divided doses" means splitting the three tablets across the day rather than swallowing them together — the label offers both that option and an evening serving, and does not require one over the other. Store the bottle in a cool, dry place after opening.

The manufacturer's tablet size card shows an oblong, center-scored tablet against inch and centimeter rules, and notes on its own face that size and color shown may vary from the actual product. Three tablets a day is the commitment this formula asks for, and it is worth knowing that before buying a bottle of this size.

Who it is for

This is a general adult mineral supplement, and the 250-tablet bottle suits someone who has already settled on this formula and wants to buy it less often. The smaller size is the more sensible first purchase if you have not taken it before; this one is the restocking size. It is sold for adults 18 and over.

On dietary suitability, the label is specific rather than general. The bottle carries a Kosher mark. The allergen statement reads: 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. The coating is stated as vegetarian and both stearates as vegetable source. No gelatin of any kind appears in the ingredient list.

Good to know

The label's own caution reads: for adults only; consult a physician if pregnant or nursing, taking medication, or if you have a medical condition; keep out of reach of children. The panel also notes that natural color variation may occur in this product, which is why the tablets in one bottle may not exactly match the tablets in the next.

The bottle carries a GMP Quality Assured seal and the line "Family owned since 1968". NOW states the bottle itself is made from 100% PCR, or post-consumer recycled, resin. For general orientation on choosing and using supplements of any kind, the NIH publishes a consumer guide on what you need to know about dietary supplements.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many servings are in this bottle?

There are 83 servings in this bottle. The panel sets a serving at 3 tablets and the bottle holds 250 tablets, which is an 83-day supply for one person taking the suggested amount once per day.

What does "reverse 2:1 ratio" mean on this label?

It means the magnesium figure is twice the calcium figure by weight, rather than the other way round. This panel lists 800 mg of elemental magnesium against 400 mg of elemental calcium; the more common arrangement in combination mineral products puts calcium in the larger position.

Are these tablets vegetarian, and do they contain gelatin?

The label lists no gelatin and specifies a vegetarian coating. The Other Ingredients line gives both stearic acid and magnesium stearate as vegetable source, and the full coating composition is set out in the panel above. The bottle also carries a Kosher mark.

Do I have to take all three tablets at once?

No — the label suggests taking them in divided doses if you prefer. The printed suggested usage is 3 tablets daily, preferably in divided doses, with food or at bedtime, which leaves the timing to you within those bounds.

How is this order packaged for delivery?

Orders ship in plain outer packaging with no indication 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.