NOW Foods Inositol Powder Vegetarian 8 oz

What it is

NOW Foods Inositol Powder Vegetarian 8 oz is a single-ingredient dietary supplement powder supplying 730 mg of inositol in each 1/4 level teaspoon, in a bottle holding a net weight of 8 oz (227 g) and about 311 servings. The form used is myo-inositol, which the label identifies as the most abundant form of this nutrient. The Supplement Facts panel lists the other ingredients as "None" — there are no fillers, binders, sweeteners or flow agents in the jar, only the powder itself.

The front of the bottle marks it "A Dietary Supplement" and "Vegetarian/Vegan", and carries a Non-GMO badge. The panel gives the company as NOW Foods, 395 S. Glen Ellyn Rd., Bloomingdale, IL 60108, USA, states that the product is packaged and quality tested in the USA, and prints the line "Family owned since 1968" along the top of the label. You will find it in Supplements and under Vitamins in this store.

What's inside

Inositol is a non-essential member of the B-complex family, and the label notes that it has dietary sources from both animal and plant foods. "Non-essential" here is a nutritional classification rather than a comment on how useful something is: it means the body makes the compound itself, so no dietary requirement has been set for it. That is also why the Supplement Facts panel carries a double asterisk against the 730 mg figure with the footnote "Daily Value not established" — there is no official reference intake for inositol, so there is no percentage to compare the serving against, and the panel reports the weight on its own.

Myo-inositol is one of several structural arrangements the molecule can take, and it is the one in this bottle. Because the ingredient list is a single line, the whole panel can be read in a few seconds, which is unusual for a supplement and is the main practical argument for a plain powder over a blend — the serving contains one thing, and nothing has to be worked back out of a proprietary blend total.

For general background on how supplement labels are put together and what the wording on them means, the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements publishes Dietary supplements: what you need to know, and the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database holds label records for products across the category. The asterisk printed beside the statements on this package is a regulatory convention explained by the FDA in its guidance on structure/function claims. None of these sources refers to this product; they are general references on the category.

Supplement Facts

The three printed figures corroborate each other: 730 mg across about 311 servings comes to roughly 227 g, which is the net weight printed on the front of the bottle.

How to use it

The label's suggested usage is to take 1/4 level teaspoon daily dissolved in water or other suitable beverage. "Level" is doing real work in that sentence — a heaped quarter-teaspoon of a fine powder can be a good deal more than 730 mg, so level the spoon off against the rim if you want the serving to match the panel. The powder is intended to be dissolved rather than taken dry.

After opening, store the bottle in a cool, dry place. Two further lines are printed on the package and are worth knowing before the bottle arrives: this product is sold by weight not volume, so the jar is filled to 227 g rather than to the brim and some headspace is normal; and natural color variation may occur in this product between batches. A freshness packet is enclosed in the bottle, and the label instructs that it is not to be eaten.

Why the 8 oz size

At one serving a day, an 8 oz bottle works out at roughly ten months of daily servings — about 311 of them — which makes it the format for someone who has already settled on inositol powder rather than someone sampling it. The practical consequences are about the calendar: a bottle that stays open for the better part of a year wants a cool, dry cupboard rather than a spot beside the stove or a steamy window, and the lid is worth closing firmly each time, because a fine powder picks up ambient moisture more readily than a tablet does.

The trade-off runs the other way for anyone who wants to try the powder first or who takes it only occasionally, where a smaller jar is finished while it is still fresh. Against a capsule, this format's argument is that you set the measure with a spoon and there is no shell involved; against a smaller jar of the same powder, that it is restocked far less often.

Who it's for

This is a product for adults aged 18 and over who want a plain, single-ingredient inositol powder and are comfortable measuring a serving with a spoon. It suits people who prefer a powder to a capsule, people avoiding capsule shells for dietary reasons — the bottle is marked Vegetarian/Vegan — and anyone who wants a supplement whose ingredient list can be read in one line. Because the panel is a single compound with no added flavor, it mixes into water or another beverage without bringing anything else with it. Other single-nutrient products sit alongside it in Health & Wellness.

Good to know

The label's 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. Do not eat the freshness packet enclosed.

The allergen statement on the panel is printed in two halves and both matter. The product is not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut or sesame ingredients — and it is produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing those allergens. If you avoid an allergen strictly, the second half is the part to weigh.

The packaging carries a Non-GMO badge and a K kosher symbol, and the manufacturer publishes an Intertek GMP certification covering its supplement manufacturing process, including laboratory and testing methods for stability, potency and formulation. NOW also publishes a list of things it excludes from its products; the list shown with this item names aspartame, sucralose and acesulfame potassium, artificial colors, parabens and hydrogenated oils.

General safety background on supplements, including questions worth raising with a healthcare professional before starting one, is available from the NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health at Are supplements safe?

Frequently Asked Questions

How many servings are in the 8 oz bottle?

About 311 servings, at the label's serving size of 1/4 level teaspoon (730 mg). The bottle holds a net weight of 8 oz (227 g), which at one serving a day is roughly a ten-month supply.

What form of inositol is in this powder?

Myo-inositol, which the label describes as the most abundant form of this nutrient. Each 1/4 level teaspoon serving supplies 730 mg of inositol powder, and the panel lists no other ingredients.

Does the powder contain fillers, sweeteners or flavoring?

No — the Supplement Facts panel lists "Other ingredients: None". It is unflavored and unsweetened loose powder, which is why the label suggests dissolving it in water or another suitable beverage rather than taking it on its own.

How should I store it after opening?

Store the bottle in a cool, dry place after opening, as printed on the label. A freshness packet is enclosed and should not be eaten, and natural color variation may occur in the powder — the label notes this as normal.

How is this order packaged for delivery?

Orders ship in plain outer packaging with no product imagery and no brand marks, and nothing on the outside describes 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.