The label lists 80 mg of magnesium and a 575 mg proprietary blend that names six ingredients without giving each amount inside it. We do not guess the amounts. Research on these ingredients is still developing, so we describe them as nutritional ingredients and never as treatments.†
AriaLiefMagnesium Glycinate
Essential mineral, bound to glycine. Magnesium is an essential mineral involved in nerve and muscle function and in hundreds of reactions in the body. Glycinate means it is bound to the amino acid glycine, a form often chosen because it tends to be gentle on the stomach. The Supplement Facts panel lists 80 mg of magnesium per capsule, which is 19% of the daily value.
AriaLiefFood sources include nuts, seeds, beans, leafy greens and whole grains, and many adults take in less than they need.
Good to know: High amounts can cause loose stools. Ask first if you have kidney disease or take certain antibiotics, bisphosphonates or diuretics.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
A naturally occurring antioxidant. Alpha lipoic acid is an antioxidant that the body makes in small amounts and that is also found in foods such as spinach, broccoli and organ meats. It is sold as a supplement.
It has been studied in many settings, mostly in specific groups of people, and results are mixed, so it is best seen as a nutritional ingredient and never as a treatment.
Good to know: It can lower blood sugar, so ask first if you take diabetes medicine or insulin. It may also affect thyroid hormone levels, so ask first if you take thyroid medicine.
Butcher's Broom Root Extract
An evergreen shrub with a long herbal history. Butcher's broom, Ruscus aculeatus, is a low evergreen shrub of Europe and the Mediterranean with spiny, leaf-like stems. The label lists an extract of its root.
It has traditionally been used in European herbal practice for circulation in the legs. Research is limited.
Good to know: It can cause stomach upset. It may interact with some blood pressure medicines, including alpha-blockers, and with MAOI antidepressants. Avoid it in pregnancy, and ask first if you take medicine for prostate enlargement.
L-Carnitine
A compound the body uses for energy. L-carnitine is an amino-acid-like compound the body makes. It helps carry fatty acids into the mitochondria, the cell's energy plants. It is found in meat, fish and dairy.
It is a common ingredient in energy and wellness supplements, and research on specific uses is mixed.
Good to know: It can cause nausea or a fishy body odor. It may increase the effect of warfarin and may reduce the effect of thyroid hormone, and people with seizure disorders should ask first.
Turmeric Rhizome Extract (95% Curcuminoids)
The golden spice. Turmeric, Curcuma longa, is the golden root-like rhizome behind the spice used in curries. The label lists an extract standardized to 95% curcuminoids, the yellow compounds that give turmeric its color.
Curcuminoids have been studied for their antioxidant role and for everyday comfort, with mixed results, and a spice in the kitchen is very different from a concentrated extract.
Good to know: It may interact with blood thinners and diabetes medicine, can upset the stomach and may affect the gallbladder, so ask first if you have gallstones or bile duct problems. Rare liver problems have been reported with concentrated extracts.
Coenzyme Q10 (as Ubiquinone)
A cell-energy compound. Coenzyme Q10 is a compound found in nearly every cell, where it takes part in energy production. The label lists the ubiquinone form. Food sources include meat, fish and nuts, and levels in the body decline with age.
It is a popular supplement ingredient, and research on its effects is mixed.
Good to know: It may lower blood pressure slightly and may reduce the effect of warfarin. Ask first if you take blood pressure medicine, blood thinners or chemotherapy.
Other Ingredients
Hypromellose (vegetable capsule), microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, stearic acid and silicon dioxide.
Check Before You Start
See the safety check and the written-out Supplement Facts.
What the label lists. Illustration.
*†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.