Formula · 8.5

Brand · 8.8

NOW Foods · bisglycinate (chelate) · US

NOW Foods Magnesium Glycinate 200 mg

NOW Foods Magnesium Glycinate 200 mg
8.5

LabReadAI label score

How the score is calculated
  • Effect and evidence1.0Effect supported by studies
  • Absorbed dose vs reference intake0.748 % of the intake per serving; by the absorption curve — 73 % of what the intake would deliver
  • Completeness for the purpose0.7For “sleep, stress, cramps” — 71 %; without B6 — magnesium works, but B6 helps retain it in cells; could be added without conflict: vitamin b6; a formula with one main purpose
  • Safety and purity1.0No excess doses or debatable ingredients; excipients: 5
  • adults
  • pregnancyask a doctor
  • childrenage-based dose, with a doctor
Free from:
  • wheatone of the common food allergens
  • glutenmatters for coeliac disease and gluten intolerance
  • soya common allergen; soy lecithin is often in coatings
  • milkmatters for milk-protein allergy and lactose intolerance
  • egga common allergen, especially in children
  • fishan allergen; fish gelatin appears in some capsules
  • shellfisha strong allergen; glucosamine is often made from shells
  • tree nutsa strong allergen
  • sesamean allergen, mandatory on US labels since 2023
  • artificial sweeteners · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “acesulfame potassium, aspartame, sucralose” group — a calorie-free sweetener, usually paired with sucralose or aspartame for taste. Permitted, a preference question.
  • colorants E102/E120/E150 · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “caramel colour, carmine, tartrazine” group — a brown colour from caramelised sugar: it tints syrups and coatings and does not affect the action.
  • carrageenan · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “carrageenan” group — a thickener from red seaweed. It is permitted but debated: in animal studies the degraded form irritated the gut, so people with inflammatory bowel disease are sometimes advised to avoid it. For food-grade carrageenan there is no such proof.
  • gelatin · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “gelatin (capsule)” group — capsule shell of animal gelatin (usually bovine or fish) — not for vegetarians; for halal/kosher the source must be confirmed with the maker
  • magnesium stearate · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “magnesium stearate” group — tablet-pressing lubricant; contains negligible magnesium, not counted as the element; in powders — a slip agent; does not clog pores
  • soy lecithin · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “soy lecithin” group — an emulsifier from soy: it binds fats with water and keeps a capsule from separating. With a soy allergy it is a reason to check the list.
  • titanium dioxide (E171) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “titanium dioxide (E171)” group — white coating pigment; banned as a food additive in the EU since 2022, permitted in Russia and the US
What for: Magnesium helps the nervous system and muscles relax: calmer sleep, fewer night cramps and less irritability when magnesium is low.
When:
  • evening
  • with food
in the evening or with food
When to expect an effect: sleep and cramps — 1–2 weeks; blood level — 4–6 weeks
What is normal: softer stools in the first days, especially with citrate and oxide

Ingredients — 6 components · 1 works

What works: 1 of 6 ingredients: magnesium. Magnesium helps the nervous system and muscles relax: calmer sleep, fewer night cramps and less irritability when magnesium is low.

Strengths: effect and evidence, safety and purity

What lowers the score: absorbed dose vs reference intake: 48 % of the intake per serving; completeness for the purpose: for “sleep, stress, cramps” — 71 %

Questions: no debatable ingredients in the formula

  • Supplement Facts label wording · the heading of the label’s facts table — the per-serving numbers follow
  • Serving Size 2 Tablets label wording · serving size: how many tablets or capsules count as one serving; all numbers below are per serving
  • Servings Per Container 90 label wording · servings per container — how many days the pack lasts
  • Magnesium (elemental) 200 mg works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: bisglycinate (chelate)
  • 48% Daily Value (from 2,000 mg Magnesium Bisglycinate (Albion works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: bisglycinate (chelate)
  • Other Ingredients: Citric Acid base: coating, fillers · acidity regulator
  • Hydroxypropyl Cellulose base: coating, fillers · binder and coating; in cosmetics — a thickener; does not clog pores
  • Stearic Acid (vegetable source base: coating, fillers · in tablets — a pressing lubricant, in creams — a thickener and soap component; rarely clogs pores in leave-on face products
  • Silicon Dioxide and Vegetarian Coating (hydroxypropyl cellulose base: coating, fillers · binder and coating; in cosmetics — a thickener; does not clog pores
  • stearic acid (vegetable source base: coating, fillers · in tablets — a pressing lubricant, in creams — a thickener and soap component; rarely clogs pores in leave-on face products
  • sunflower lecithin base: coating, fillers · emulsifier in the coating
  • triethyl citrate base: coating, fillers · a citric acid ester: in tablets a coating plasticiser, in deodorants it slows the bacterial enzymes that make sweat smell
  • sunflower oil base: coating, fillers · a light emollient oil rich in linoleic acid (in tablets — a coating component); does not clog pores
  • Not manufactured with wheat label wording · a “free of” claim: the maker states these allergens are absent, including on the line
  • gluten label wording · an allergen (gluten) — matters for coeliac disease and gluten intolerance; the label says it is absent
  • soy label wording · an allergen (soy) — a common allergen; soy lecithin is often in coatings; the label says it is absent
  • milk label wording · an allergen (milk) — matters for milk-protein allergy and lactose intolerance; the label says it is absent
  • egg label wording · an allergen (egg) — a common allergen, especially in children; the label says it is absent
  • fish label wording · an allergen (fish) — an allergen; fish gelatin appears in some capsules; the label says it is absent
  • shellfish label wording · an allergen (shellfish) — a strong allergen; glucosamine is often made from shells; the label says it is absent
  • tree nut or sesame ingredients label wording · an allergen (tree nuts) — a strong allergen; the label says it is absent

NOW Foods Magnesium Glycinate 200 mg is magnesium as bisglycinate (chelate): 200 mg per serving of 2 tablets. That is 48 % of the adult daily intake, within the upper level for supplements (250 mg). The form absorbs well and usually does not loosen stools. The formula has 6 ingredients, 1 of which does the work; the rest is coating and fillers. Magnesium helps the nervous system and muscles relax: calmer sleep, fewer night cramps and less irritability when magnesium is low. Per the label, free from wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, sesame. By the list, no artificial sweeteners, colorants E102/E120/E150, carrageenan, gelatin, magnesium stearate, soy lecithin, titanium dioxide (E171). Suitable for: adults. pregnancy, children — ask a doctor. kidney disease — not without a doctor. Use: in the evening or with food. When to expect an effect: sleep and cramps — 1–2 weeks; blood level — 4–6 weeks. Label score — 8.5 out of 10 (48 % of the intake per serving; by the absorption curve — 73 % of what the intake would deliver; for “sleep, stress, cramps” — 71 %; without b6 — magnesium works, but b6 helps retain it in cells; could be added without conflict: vitamin b6; a formula with one main purpose). Magnesium from supplements in chronic kidney disease — only with a doctor. A 200 mg serving is below the EFSA upper level for supplements (250 mg/day); 4 tablets a day (the seller's stated maximum) is 400 mg, above it. This restates the norms and the leaflet, not an assessment.

Who it does not suit

  • kidney diseaseonly with a doctor

When to stop: diarrhoea or nausea — lower the dose; kidney disease — doctor only

Per the maker's leaflet: Magnesium from supplements in chronic kidney disease — only with a doctor. A 200 mg serving is below the EFSA upper level for supplements (250 mg/day); 4 tablets a day (the seller's stated maximum) is 400 mg, above it. This restates the norms and the leaflet, not an assessment.

Is this supplement right for you?

The score describes the product, not you: whether you need this magnesium, iron or vitamin D is decided by your blood tests. Tell us about yourself, upload your CBC and blood chemistry, answer a few questions — we will go through every ingredient by its chemistry and biology and say whether the product suits you and at what dose.

Supplement matchDecode my tests

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