Nature's Measure Ginseng 500 mg

Our assessment

The evidence shows that this product contains only one listed ingredient, Calcium, at an unspecified dosage. As a clinical pharmacist, I advise you to be cautious: without a specific dose on the label, it is impossible to determine if this product provides a meaningful amount of calcium or if it could lead to excessive intake. The data supports calcium's role in bone health, but this product's labeling makes it difficult to recommend for a specific purpose [NIH ODS].

How it works

Think of calcium as a structural building block for your bones and a key regulator for your nerves and muscles. It supports bone density through a process called bone mineralization, and it helps your muscles relax and your nerves send signals properly [NIH ODS].

Safety profile

FDA has received a total of 592,059 adverse event reports across all supplements, but specific data for this product is not available. For calcium itself, the data shows that high intakes might increase the risk of heart disease and prostate cancer. Very high levels of calcium in the blood and urine can cause poor muscle tone, poor kidney function, low phosphate levels, constipation, nausea, weight loss, extreme tiredness, frequent need to urinate, abnormal heart rhythms, and a high risk of death from heart disease [NIH ODS].

Our recommendation

I recommend you choose a calcium supplement with a clearly labeled dose, such as 500 mg of elemental calcium. Because calcium can reduce the absorption of medications like bisphosphonates, tetracycline antibiotics, fluoroquinolone antibiotics, levothyroxine, and phenytoin, take it at a different time of day from those drugs [NIH ODS]. Data not available on the specific benefits or risks of this "Ginseng" product, so it is best avoided until you can confirm the exact ingredient amounts with the manufacturer.

Supplement labels contain several key sections regulated by the FDA:

• Serving Size — The recommended amount per dose. Always check this — some products require multiple capsules per serving.
• Amount Per Serving — Shows the quantity of each nutrient in the product, typically in IU (International Units), mg (milligrams), or mcg (micrograms).
• % Daily Value (%DV) — Indicates how much a nutrient in a serving contributes to a daily diet. 5% DV or less is low; 20% DV or more is high.
• Other Ingredients — Lists inactive ingredients like fillers, binders, and capsule materials (e.g., gelatin, cellulose, magnesium stearate).
• Suggested Use — The manufacturer's recommended directions for taking the supplement, including timing and dosage.

Source: FDA Dietary Supplement Labeling Guide