Natrol
Natrol supplements from Los Angeles: 5-HTP, biotin, magnesium and single herbs in tablets, gummies and liquids. We explain what the range covers in the UK, why melatonin is not part of it, and who each format suits.Read more →
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What the Natrol range covers in the UK
Natrol is an American supplement brand from Los Angeles, founded in 1980. The name comes from "natural control", after the weight management products the company began with. Its best known areas today are sleep, mood and stress, brain, beauty and immunity. The brand sells in more than 60 countries, and since 2022 it sits under the same parent company as Jarrow Formulas.
The UK range is not the same as the American one
Most people know Natrol for melatonin. In Britain you will not find it here, and that has nothing to do with stock. The MHRA treats melatonin as a prescription-only medicine, so it cannot be sold as a food supplement in any dose or format. We prefer to say that plainly rather than let you keep looking. What we do carry are the Natrol products that fit UK food supplement rules, next to the rest of the brands we stock.
The products you will actually see
- 5-HTP, from the seed of Griffonia simplicifolia, in plain and time release tablets. Compare it in the 5-HTP category.
- Biotin at higher strengths, usually 5,000 or 10,000 mcg per tablet.
- Magnesium as glycinate, citrate and taurate.
- Single herbs such as milk thistle and ashwagandha.
Format is where Natrol differs most from European brands. The same ingredient often comes as a fast dissolve tablet, a gummy, a liquid or a time release tablet. Fast dissolve suits people who dislike swallowing tablets. Time release spreads the dose across the evening. Gummies are easy to take but hold less per piece, so check how many count as one serving. If you are weighing up the mineral itself rather than the brand, start with the different magnesium forms.
Why we stock Natrol
We judge a brand on three things: the form of the ingredient, the dose, and whether a combination makes sense. Natrol earns its place by doing the simple things properly: single-ingredient tablets at clear strengths, non-GMO ingredients, no artificial sweeteners or flavours, and production under cGMP rules, with several products certified by USP. We buy directly from the brand, so batches are authentic and current. Our compliance team checks every label before it goes live, we test products ourselves, and independent labs spot-check batches. You can read how we select brands.
Who this brand suits
Natrol fits you if you want one nutrient at a stated strength, without a long ingredient list, and you value having a choice of formats. Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and normal skin. Magnesium contributes to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue. It fits you less well if you prefer low-dose European formulas, or if melatonin was the reason you came looking.
Be realistic about timing. With biotin or magnesium, give it two to three weeks of daily use before you draw a conclusion, because these nutrients work by topping up your daily intake rather than acting the same evening. That is also why a smaller daily dose you actually keep taking beats a large one you abandon after five days. Products made for the American market carry US wording on the label, so read the UK label and the serving size, not the front of the bottle.
Sister brand Jarrow Formulas covers the more clinical end, with probiotics and researched ingredient forms, if that is closer to what you need.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of brand is Natrol?
Natrol is a supplement brand founded in Los Angeles in 1980 by Elliott Balbert. The name is short for "natural control", after the weight management products it started with. It grew into a large vitamins and minerals brand focused on sleep, mood and stress, brain, beauty and immunity, and it now sells in more than 60 countries. Production runs under cGMP rules, and part of the range is certified by USP.
Can I buy Natrol melatonin in the UK?
No. In Great Britain melatonin is a prescription-only medicine, so it cannot legally be sold as a food supplement, no matter the strength or format. That applies to tablets, gummies and liquids alike. Ordering it from abroad is not a workaround either: medicines posted to a UK address can be seized at the border. If sleep is your reason for shopping, look at the options under sleep and rest support, and speak to your GP about melatonin.
Which Natrol format should I choose?
Choose on how you take supplements, not on which sounds strongest. The dose per serving is what matters, and it differs per format.
| Format | How it behaves | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Tablet | Swallowed whole | Straightforward daily use |
| Fast dissolve | Melts in the mouth | Trouble swallowing |
| Time release | Spread over hours | Evening routines |
| Gummy | Less per piece | People who dislike pills |
| Liquid | Dose easy to adjust | Small or split doses |
Check the label for how many pieces make one serving.
Are Natrol supplements free from artificial sweeteners and suitable for vegetarians?
Natrol states that its products are non-GMO and made without artificial sweeteners or artificial flavours. Suitability for vegetarians and vegans varies per product, because some capsules and gummies use gelatin and some do not. The only reliable answer is the individual label, which lists the capsule material and any gelatin. If you follow a strict diet, check the ingredient list on the product page before ordering rather than assuming it applies to the whole brand.
How long does it take before I notice anything?
Expect two to three weeks of consistent daily use for nutrients such as biotin and magnesium. They work by filling a gap in your daily intake, so the effect builds rather than arrives overnight. Hair and nails change even more slowly, because you only see newly grown material after a couple of months. Taking your dose at a fixed moment each day, for example with breakfast, makes it far easier to keep going long enough to judge it fairly.
How much biotin is safe to take from supplements?
Natrol biotin tablets are sold at high strengths, so it helps to know the UK reference points. The NHS gives guidance on amounts from supplements that are unlikely to cause harm.
| Nutrient | From supplements per day |
|---|---|
| Biotin | 0.9 mg (900 mcg) or less |
| Vitamin B12 | 2 mg or less |
| Folic acid | 1 mg or less |
| Thiamin | 100 mg or less |
Source: NHS
High-dose biotin can also skew some laboratory blood tests, so tell your doctor if you take it.
How much magnesium do adults need, and what is the upper limit?
Useful context if you are comparing Natrol magnesium glycinate, citrate and taurate: the elemental magnesium per tablet is what counts, not the total weight of the compound.
| Group | Magnesium per day |
|---|---|
| Men 19 to 64 | 300 mg |
| Women 19 to 64 | 270 mg |
| From supplements | 400 mg or less |
Source: NHS
Above roughly 400 mg from supplements, loose stools are the usual first sign. Glycinate tends to be the gentlest option on the stomach.
Who owns Natrol, and is it related to Jarrow Formulas?
Yes, indirectly. Natrol was listed on the stock market in 1998, then owned by Plethico and later Aurobindo Pharma, before New Mountain Capital acquired it in late 2020. In 2022 Natrol and Jarrow Formulas were brought together under one parent company, Vytalogy Wellness. Both brands still operate under their own names and keep their own formulas, so a Natrol product is not a rebadged Jarrow Formulas product. We buy from the brands directly in either case.
Why does the packaging carry claims I never see on British labels?
Because much of Natrol's material is written for the United States, where the rules differ. Wording such as "number one drug free sleep aid brand" rests on American retail sales data and says nothing about a product's effect. In Great Britain, only claims on the official nutrition and health claims register may be used, which is why our product pages stick to approved wording such as biotin contributing to the maintenance of normal hair. When the two differ, the UK label is the one to read.
