NOW Foods Magnesium Transporters 180 Veg Capsules

What it is

NOW Foods Magnesium Transporters is a dietary supplement in veg capsule form that supplies 120 mg of elemental magnesium per capsule, drawn from five different magnesium compounds. The bottle holds 180 veg capsules and the panel's serving size is one capsule. NOW places the product in its Minerals line, and the front of the bottle carries a Non-GMO seal, a kosher K mark and the wording "Vegetarian/Vegan".

The product name describes how the formula is built rather than what it does. Instead of one magnesium salt, the Supplement Facts panel lists magnesium citrate, taurinate, malate, glycinate and aspartate together, adding up to a single 120 mg elemental figure. You can see the rest of the range in Minerals.

What's inside

Each capsule carries 120 mg of elemental magnesium, which the panel puts at 29% of the Daily Value. "Elemental" is the number worth comparing between magnesium products: it counts the magnesium itself rather than the combined weight of the magnesium plus the acid or amino acid it is bound to, so the same compound can look very different depending on which figure a label prints.

• Magnesium citrate — magnesium bound to citric acid, the acid that gives citrus fruit its sharpness. It is one of the most widely used magnesium forms in consumer mineral supplements.
• Magnesium taurinate — magnesium paired with taurine, an amino sulfonic acid that the human body also makes for itself.
• Magnesium malate — magnesium bound to malic acid, a fruit acid named after the apple (Latin malum) and found in apples, pears and many other fruits.
• Magnesium glycinate — magnesium chelated to glycine, the smallest of the amino acids that make up dietary protein.
• Magnesium aspartate — magnesium bound to aspartic acid, another amino acid present throughout everyday protein foods.

Magnesium is a dietary mineral found in foods such as leafy greens, nuts, seeds, beans and whole grains. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements publishes a consumer fact sheet on magnesium covering dietary sources and intake reference values; it is general background on the mineral and is not a statement about this or any other product.

Four other ingredients are printed on the panel, and nothing beyond them: Hypromellose (cellulose capsule), Microcrystalline Cellulose, Ascorbyl Palmitate and Silicon Dioxide. Hypromellose is the plant-derived cellulose the capsule shell is made from, which is what puts this product in the vegetarian and vegan column rather than the gelatin one. Microcrystalline cellulose is a purified plant fiber used as a bulking agent, ascorbyl palmitate is a fat-soluble antioxidant used to protect the blend, and silicon dioxide is a flow agent that keeps powder moving cleanly through filling machinery.

Supplement Facts

The panel prints no figure for the number of servings, so none is stated here. The bottle front gives the count: 180 veg capsules.

How to use it

The label's Suggested Usage reads: take 1 capsule 1 to 3 times daily. That is the entire printed direction — the panel names no particular time of day and does not direct that the capsule be taken with food. Anyone weighing where in that range to sit should raise it with a healthcare professional rather than work from a product page.

For storage the bottle says: "Store in a cool, dry place after opening." Across the label's stated range of one to three capsules daily, 180 capsules work out to a 60- to 180-day supply.

Who it's for

This is an everyday mineral supplement for adults, and the label restricts it plainly: "For adults only." It suits someone who already knows they want magnesium and would rather buy a 180-capsule bottle than a small one, and who wants the flexibility of a one-capsule serving that can be taken up to three times a day rather than a fixed single dose.

The packaging also answers two specific purchasing questions. The capsule shell is hypromellose and the front of the bottle prints "Vegetarian/Vegan", so it is relevant to people who avoid gelatin capsules. The bottle carries a kosher K mark and a Non-GMO seal. Other options across the store's Supplements range differ in form and count, so it is worth comparing the elemental figure and the serving size rather than the headline number alone.

Good to know

The label's allergen statement reads, in full: "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." The second sentence matters as much as the first — the facility handles those allergens even though this formula is not made with them.

The printed caution is: "For adults only. Consult physician if pregnant/nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children." The bottle adds that "Natural color variation may occur in this product."

The panel gives the manufacturer as NOW Foods, 395 S. Glen Ellyn Rd., Bloomingdale, IL 60108, USA, and states that the product is "Made and quality tested in the USA with globally sourced ingredients." A GMP Quality Assured seal appears on the bottle. For general guidance on choosing and using supplements safely, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health publishes an overview of dietary and herbal supplements, and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements has a short what you need to know primer.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much magnesium is in one capsule?

One capsule supplies 120 mg of elemental magnesium, listed on the panel at 29% of the Daily Value. That 120 mg comes from five magnesium compounds combined — citrate, taurinate, malate, glycinate and aspartate — and the panel gives the total rather than a separate weight for each of the five.

Is this product vegetarian and vegan?

Yes — the front of the bottle prints "Vegetarian/Vegan", which covers the formula as a whole. The capsule shell is hypromellose, a plant-derived cellulose rather than gelatin, and the panel's three remaining other ingredients are microcrystalline cellulose, ascorbyl palmitate and silicon dioxide.

Does it contain gluten, soy or dairy?

The label states it is not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut or sesame ingredients. It also states that it is produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing those allergens, which is the relevant detail for anyone with a severe allergy.

How many capsules are in the bottle?

The bottle holds 180 veg capsules, and the panel's serving size is one capsule. Since the label's Suggested Usage spans one to three capsules daily, that count works out to somewhere between a 60-day and a 180-day supply depending on where in the range you sit.

How is my 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. You can browse related items in Health & Wellness.

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.