NOW Foods Melatonin 3mg 180 Veg Capsules

What it is

NOW Foods Melatonin 3 mg is a dietary supplement supplied as 180 vegetarian capsules in a single bottle, with a serving size of one capsule. The front of the bottle states the strength as 3 mg and the count as 180 Veg Capsules, and carries a Non-GMO badge and the line "Vegetarian/Vegan". The back panel bands the product "General Health" and prints the company line "Family owned since 1968."

This is the 180-capsule format of the bottle. The Supplement Facts panel declares a single active row at a single strength, so the thing worth knowing about this listing is the format itself: one strength, one capsule per serving, and a bottle holding 180 of them. The panel does not print a servings line, so the figure given below is derived from the two numbers that are printed.

It is listed under Supplements and Health & Wellness on this store.

What's in it

The panel declares one active ingredient and two other ingredients, transcribed here exactly as printed.

• Melatonin, 3 mg. Melatonin is a compound the body produces in the pineal gland. The panel marks the 3 mg figure with an asterisk and states "Daily Value not established", which is the notation used when no Daily Value has been set for an ingredient.
• Rice Flour and Hypromellose (cellulose capsule). These are the two other ingredients, in the order the panel lists them. Hypromellose is identified on the panel itself as the capsule material; the panel assigns no role to the rice flour, so neither do we.

That is the whole of the printed composition — the transcription above reproduces the panel in full rather than summarizing it. For general background on how supplement labels are structured and what the panel conventions mean, the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and the NIH ODS guide Dietary supplements: what you need to know are both useful references. Neither source refers to this product.

Supplement Facts

How to use it

The label's Suggested Usage reads, in full: "Take 1 capsule near bedtime with water." That is the entire direction printed on the bottle — the label sets no other frequency, no cycling schedule and no instruction about food.

Storage is printed on the same bottle: "Store in a cool, dry place after opening." On a 180-capsule bottle that line is worth acting on, because the bottle stays open across many servings rather than a handful. The panel also prints "Natural color variation may occur in this product", so capsules drawn from different points in the bottle need not look identical to each other.

Who it's for

This is a dietary supplement for adults 18 and over, in the 180-count size. The bottle's printed caution restricts it further — see the section below — and those restrictions, not a lifestyle description, are what determine whether this product is appropriate for a given person.

On format alone: a 180-capsule bottle suits someone who already knows this is the strength and form they want, and who prefers to buy a bottle with more capsules in it. Each capsule is pre-measured at a fixed 3 mg, so there is nothing to scoop, count out or divide.

Good to know

Caution, printed on the bottle verbatim: "For adults only at bedtime. Not for pregnant or nursing women. May cause drowsiness. Do not use in conjunction with alcoholic beverages, when driving a vehicle, or while operating machinery. Consult physician if taking medication (especially sedatives and anti-depressants) or have a medical condition (including depression, high blood pressure and epilepsy). Keep out of reach of children."

Allergen statement, printed on the panel verbatim: "Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, corn, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or tree nut ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens." Both sentences belong together — the second one qualifies the first, and anyone avoiding one of those nine ingredients for medical reasons should read them as a pair.

The panel gives the company address as NOW FOODS, 395 S. Glen Ellyn Rd., Bloomingdale, IL 60108, USA, and the web address nowfoods.com. The bottle carries a GMP certification roundel. If you take prescription medication or have an existing medical condition, the NIH NCCIH page Dietary and herbal supplements and the FDA's questions and answers on dietary supplements cover the general questions worth raising with a clinician. Neither page refers to this product.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The bottle holds 180 vegetarian capsules, and the panel's serving size is one capsule, which works out at 180 servings. That servings figure is derived rather than printed — the Supplement Facts panel on this bottle carries no servings row, so it comes from dividing the printed count by the printed serving size.

What is in the capsules besides melatonin?

Rice flour and hypromellose are the other ingredients the panel declares. Hypromellose is named on the panel as the cellulose capsule material, and rice flour is listed without a stated role. The other-ingredients line reads exactly as transcribed in the table above.

Is this bottle marked as suitable for a vegetarian or vegan diet?

Yes — the front of the bottle is printed "Vegetarian/Vegan", and the capsule itself is a hypromellose (cellulose) shell rather than gelatin. The front panel also carries a Non-GMO badge. These are the markings as printed on this bottle.

How should the bottle be stored once it is open?

Store it in a cool, dry place after opening, which is the instruction printed on the label. The panel separately notes that natural color variation may occur in the product, so capsules need not all match in shade over the life of the bottle.

How will the order be packaged?

Orders ship in plain outer packaging. 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.