NOW Foods Magnesium Citrate 180 Softgels

What it is

NOW Foods Magnesium Citrate Softgels is a dietary supplement supplying 400 mg of elemental magnesium per three-softgel serving, and this bottle holds 180 softgels — 60 servings. The magnesium is drawn from four compounds used together: magnesium citrate, magnesium glycinate, magnesium malate and magnesium oxide, suspended in a rice bran oil base inside a soft gelatin shell. The front panel carries a Non-GMO mark, and the category strip on the back reads “Minerals” — see also Minerals and Supplements.

What “elemental” means on this panel

The 400 mg figure is the weight of the magnesium itself, not the weight of the compounds carrying it. Magnesium is never put into a supplement as a pure metal — it is always bound to a partner molecule, and that partner accounts for most of the raw material's weight. Printing the elemental figure is what lets one magnesium product be compared against another without doing the chemistry first, and it is why the panel reads “Magnesium (elemental)” rather than naming one compound and its total weight. Measured against the 420 mg Daily Value used for magnesium, 400 mg comes to 95% — the figure printed in the % Daily Value column.

The four magnesium forms

Four magnesium compounds are named in the panel's source list, and what separates them is the partner molecule, not the mineral: the magnesium atom is identical in all four. The panel gives one combined total of 400 mg for the group rather than a separate figure for each.

• Magnesium citrate — magnesium paired with citric acid, the acid that gives citrus fruit its sharpness. It is the compound the product is named after.
• Magnesium glycinate — magnesium bound to glycine, the smallest of the amino acids that build protein. Because the mineral sits held between two organic molecules, compounds of this class are described as chelates.
• Magnesium malate — magnesium paired with malic acid, which occurs naturally in apples and is what makes an unripe one taste tart.
• Magnesium oxide — magnesium bound simply to oxygen. It is the most compact of the four by weight, carrying more magnesium per gram of raw material than the organic forms, which is why it is commonly formulated alongside them.

General background on the mineral is set out in the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements magnesium fact sheet, which describes magnesium in the diet generally and has no connection to this product.

Why this one is a softgel

A softgel is a sealed shell of gelatin holding a liquid or a suspension, and that construction accounts for most of the rest of the label. The magnesium compounds here are carried in rice bran oil rather than pressed dry into a tablet, and the remaining ingredients exist to make that oil suspension work. Beeswax thickens the oil so the mineral particles stay distributed through it rather than settling at the bottom of the shell, and sunflower lecithin is an emulsifier that holds the oil and the solids together. The shell is listed as bovine gelatin (BSE-free), glycerin and water — gelatin forms the film, glycerin keeps it flexible rather than brittle, and water lets the shell be formed and dried.

The oil base is also why this product carries a calorie line at all, which is unusual on a mineral supplement. The panel lists 20 calories and 2 g of total fat per three-softgel serving, the fat at 3% of its Daily Value; that comes from the rice bran oil, not from the magnesium. The side panel's note that “natural color variation and oil separation may occur in this product” follows from the same format, since an oil suspension is not a clear solution and can look slightly different from one bottle to the next.

Supplement Facts

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

How to use it

The printed direction is to take 3 softgels daily, preferably in divided doses, with food — that is, split across the day rather than swallowed together. Storage guidance appears on the same panel: store in a cool, dry place after opening. The bottle is made from 100% PCR (post-consumer recycled) resin, and the back panel records that NOW has been family owned since 1968.

Who it's for

This is a dietary supplement for adults 18 and over who want magnesium in a swallowable oil-based softgel rather than a tablet, a capsule or a mixable powder. Format is the main thing separating it from the rest of the shelf: a smooth shell, and no scoop to measure. One dietary point matters before buying — the shell is bovine gelatin, so this product is not vegetarian or vegan. The front of the bottle prints the words “Contains Gelatin” directly beneath its kosher “K” mark. Anyone avoiding animal-derived ingredients should look to a capsule, tablet or powder magnesium format instead. Broader guidance on choosing and using supplements is available from the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, and more of this category can be found under Health & Wellness.

Why the 180-softgel bottle

At the label's three-softgel serving, 180 softgels works out to 60 servings, or roughly a two-month supply for one person taking it once daily. That is the practical difference from the smaller counts in the range: fewer reorders once the format suits you. A bottle open across two months also makes the printed storage line worth following, because softgel shells are sensitive to warmth and humidity and can soften or stick together — a cool, dry cupboard suits them better than a bathroom shelf.

Good to know

• Printed caution: For adults only. Consult physician if pregnant/nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children.
• Allergen statement: 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 second half of that sentence is the part that matters if you are highly sensitive.
• Origin: the panel reads “Made and quality tested in the USA with globally sourced ingredients”, and the product is manufactured for NOW Foods, 395 S. Glen Ellyn Rd., Bloomingdale, IL 60108, USA.
• Reading the asterisk: the asterisk beside certain statements on the front and side panels marks a structure/function claim. The FDA explains what that category of claim is and why it must appear with the disclaimer shown below.
• Looking up a label: the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database collects label records for this category. None of the agencies linked here reviews, tests or endorses this product.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this product vegetarian?

No — the softgel shell is made from bovine gelatin, which is animal-derived. The panel lists the shell as “bovine gelatin (BSE-free), glycerin, water”, and the front of the bottle prints “Contains Gelatin” beneath its kosher “K” mark. A capsule, tablet or powder magnesium is the format to look at instead if you avoid animal ingredients.

How many softgels are in the bottle, and how many servings is that?

There are 180 softgels, which the panel counts as 60 servings of 3 softgels each. Taken once daily as directed, that is roughly a two-month supply for one person.

What are the four magnesium forms on the label?

Magnesium citrate, magnesium glycinate, magnesium malate and magnesium oxide. All four supply the same element and differ in what the magnesium is bound to — citric acid, the amino acid glycine, malic acid and oxygen respectively.

How is the order packaged?

Orders ship in plain, unmarked outer packaging with 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.