NOW Foods Melatonin 5mg 180 Veg Capsules

What it is

This is NOW Foods Melatonin 5 mg, a dietary supplement supplied as 180 veg capsules in a single white bottle with a purple cap. The Supplement Facts panel sets the serving size at one veg capsule, and that one capsule supplies 5 mg of melatonin. The front of the bottle is marked Non-GMO and Vegetarian/Vegan, the manufacturer bands the product "General Health", and the panel records that NOW Foods has been family owned since 1968.

Because the serving is a single capsule, the arithmetic on this bottle is plain: one capsule is one serving, so the 180 capsules printed on the front are also 180 servings. That figure is derived from the capsule count rather than quoted — this panel prints no servings line of its own, so we have not invented one. Every figure in the table below is already a per-capsule figure, with nothing to divide, convert or scale.

The listing sits in our Supplements department.

What's inside

The Supplement Facts panel declares exactly one active row: Melatonin, 5 mg. Melatonin is a compound the body produces in the pineal gland. NOW Foods lists the substance by name alone, and the 5 mg figure is the complete declaration the label makes for it.

Beside that 5 mg the panel prints a double asterisk rather than a percentage, and the footnote directly underneath reads "** Daily Value not established." That is the whole of the right-hand column on this label. A Daily Value is a reference figure set by regulators; where one has not been established for a substance, there is no percentage to print, and the panel says so in those words instead of leaving the space blank. The NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database holds label records of this kind for reference; it is a general archive and does not refer to this product.

Under the panel, the "Other ingredients" line reads: Microcrystalline Cellulose, Hypromellose (cellulose capsule) and Ascorbyl Palmitate. The panel names these three as ingredients and assigns no role to any of them, so neither do we — what follows is chemistry and origin only. Microcrystalline cellulose is a purified plant cellulose. Hypromellose is a cellulose derivative, and the label itself identifies it as the capsule shell by writing "(cellulose capsule)" beside it. Ascorbyl palmitate is a fat-soluble ester of ascorbic acid and palmitic acid.

For general background on how supplement labels are read, the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements publishes a consumer guide to dietary supplements. It is general reference material and makes no statement about this item.

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 instruction printed on the pack — NOW Foods gives no clock time, no dosing window and no instruction to vary the amount, and we have not supplied any of those.

For storage, the panel prints "Store in a cool, dry place after opening." It also notes that "Natural color variation may occur in this product." Both lines are printed on the same panel as the ingredient list, directly beneath the allergen statement.

Who it's for

This is a product for adults 18 and over, and the pack's own caution restricts it further — read the section below before buying. The panel is a single-capsule panel, so every figure on it applies to one capsule regardless of how many the bottle holds; the 180-count format changes how many of those single-capsule servings arrive in one order, and nothing about the serving itself.

The product is Non-GMO and carries a Vegetarian/Vegan mark on the front of the bottle. The listing is also filed under Health & Wellness.

Good to know

The pack prints a caution block, and it is specific. Reproduced as printed: "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."

The allergen statement reads: "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 for anyone managing a serious allergy.

The panel gives the maker as NOW FOODS, 395 S. Glen Ellyn Rd., Bloomingdale, IL 60108, USA, and states "Made and quality tested in the USA with globally sourced ingredients." The bottle itself is described on the pack as "made from 100% PCR (post-consumer recycled) resin", and a GMP Quality Assured seal appears beside the panel. The NCCIH publishes general guidance on supplement safety, and the FDA explains the regulatory basis for structure/function claims and the asterisked disclaimer that follows them. Neither source refers to this product.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The bottle holds 180 veg capsules, which is 180 servings. The Supplement Facts panel sets the serving size at one veg capsule, so the capsule count and the servings figure are the same number; the panel itself prints no servings line, so that figure is derived from the count rather than quoted from the label.

What are the other ingredients in these capsules?

Three are declared: Microcrystalline Cellulose, Hypromellose (cellulose capsule) and Ascorbyl Palmitate. The panel assigns no function to any of them. By chemistry, microcrystalline cellulose is a purified plant cellulose, hypromellose is the cellulose material the label identifies as the capsule shell, and ascorbyl palmitate is an ester of ascorbic acid and palmitic acid.

What does the double asterisk next to 5 mg mean?

It points to the panel's own footnote, which reads "** Daily Value not established." No Daily Value reference figure has been set for melatonin, so the panel has no percentage to print in that column and says so explicitly rather than leaving it empty.

Is this product vegetarian?

The front of the bottle carries a Vegetarian/Vegan mark, printed by the manufacturer alongside a Non-GMO mark. Both appear on the front panel of the bottle photographed in the listing images.

How is this order packaged for delivery?

It ships in plain, unmarked outer packaging. The outer box carries the delivery address and the carrier's own barcode and nothing else — 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.