IO Genix ZMA Plus

What is ZMA Plus by IO Genix?

IO Genix ZMA Plus is an evening capsule that pairs the classic ZMA base with two sleep-related ingredients. One capsule provides 15 mg of zinc, 200 mg of magnesium, 2 mg of vitamin B6, 500 mg of L-tryptophan and 1.9 mg of melatonin. The bottle holds 60 capsules, which is two months at one a day.

The initials ZMA originally stand for a simple combination: zinc, magnesium, vitamin B6. It has been sold in bodybuilding circles for decades, with standardised doses and clear European claims. The "Plus" version adds melatonin and tryptophan, which shifts the product from recovery towards sleep.

The real active ingredient in this formula is melatonin. The 1.9 mg per capsule are not there for show: it is the only ingredient in the bottle whose effect on falling asleep is recognised at European level, and it is also what dictates the precautions set out on this page. The rest of the Spanish brand's range can be browsed in our IO Genix section, and the other products in the category in our ZMA section.

What is in one ZMA Plus capsule?

The 1.9 mg of melatonin are worth pausing on, because that figure is not chosen at random. In France, a melatonin-based food supplement remains within the food category as long as it does not exceed 2 mg per daily intake; beyond that, it becomes a medicine. This dose therefore sits just under the limit, and it comfortably exceeds the 1 mg threshold that unlocks the authorised claim: melatonin contributes to the reduction of time taken to fall asleep. A second claim exists and is also met: melatonin contributes to the alleviation of subjective feelings of jet lag.

The three minerals and vitamins in the ZMA base each carry authorised claims, and we stick to the official wordings. Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood, to normal protein synthesis and to the normal function of the immune system. Magnesium contributes to normal muscle function, to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue and to the normal functioning of the nervous system. Vitamin B6 contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity and to normal protein metabolism.

One honest reservation about the magnesium, because it is worth knowing before you buy: the form used here is the oxide. It is the least well absorbed of the magnesiums on the market, the one that offers the most magnesium per gram but the least magnesium actually taken up. It is also the most likely to have a laxative effect. If magnesium is your main goal, this is not the right product: take a look instead at our magnesium section, where the bisglycinate and citrate forms are better tolerated.

L-tryptophan, at 500 mg, is an essential amino acid that acts as a precursor to serotonin and then to melatonin. No claim is authorised in Europe for tryptophan, and that should be said rather than left to be assumed: its presence in the formula follows a logic of composition, not a demonstrated effect at this dose.

Ingredients list

L-tryptophan, magnesium oxide, bulking agent (microcrystalline cellulose), zinc picolinate, anti-caking agent (magnesium stearate), melatonin, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride). Capsule shell: GELATINE and colouring. No added sugar, no sweetener, no preservative, no lactose.

May contain traces of GLUTEN, EGGS, MILK, FISH and SOYA.

How should ZMA Plus be taken?

Dose: 1 capsule. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime, on an empty stomach or at least two hours after the last meal. Frequency: one intake a day, in the evening only. Duration: a 6 to 8 week course, then one to two weeks off.

The instruction to take it away from meals is not a nicety. Tryptophan is an amino acid, and it uses the same transporter as several other amino acids to cross the barrier between the blood and the brain. Taken in the middle of a protein-rich meal, it ends up competing with them and no longer gets through. Two hours after dinner, the way is clear.

The 30 to 60 minute window before bed corresponds to the time melatonin needs to be absorbed and take effect. Taking it as you get into bed delays the effect by just as much. Conversely, taking it far too early can send you to sleep in front of the television.

Do not drive or operate machinery after taking this capsule. The manufacturer says so, and rightly: melatonin causes drowsiness, which is precisely what it is there for. Residual drowsiness on waking is possible in some people; if it happens, bring the time of intake forward rather than reducing the dose, as the capsule cannot be split.

The one to two week break after six to eight weeks of use is good practice, and above all it has the merit of forcing you to check whether the product is still of any use to you. Avoid caffeine in the six hours beforehand: it is probably the most effective lever on this whole page, and it is free. A dark, cool bedroom does the rest. For a different approach to the same subject, our GABA section is built on another molecule.

Who is ZMA Plus for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at an adult who takes a long time to fall asleep, who is dealing with jet lag, or whose training schedule disrupts their sleep pattern.

It is strictly contraindicated for anyone on antidepressant treatment, because of the known interaction between L-tryptophan and those medicines. The manufacturer prints this in capitals on the packaging, and it is the most important warning attached to this product. It is also not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, nor for children and adolescents.

The French national agency for food safety also recommends caution with melatonin for people with inflammatory or autoimmune diseases, epilepsy or asthma, as well as for those on any drug treatment. In all these cases, the question should be put to a doctor before buying. Never combine this capsule with another source of melatonin or tryptophan: the doses add up.

The capsule shell is made of gelatine: the product is suitable for neither vegetarians nor vegans.

What you should not expect from it. Melatonin reduces the time taken to fall asleep — it does not extend the night and it does not prevent waking during it. It does not treat chronic insomnia: if you have not been sleeping for months, it is a doctor you need to see, not a supplement. And ZMA does not build muscle: zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels, which means avoiding a drop caused by a deficiency, not raising a level that is already normal.

ZMA Plus or melatonin on its own?

A common question in the shop, and the answer depends on exactly what you are looking for.

Melatonin on its own does one thing and does it well: it reduces the time taken to fall asleep, from 1 mg upwards. It comes in various doses, as sublingual tablets or as drops, often for a modest budget, and it brings nothing else. If your only problem is taking too long to drop off, that is the most direct choice and our melatonin section answers it.

ZMA Plus makes sense when you wanted a ZMA anyway. An athlete already taking zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6 in the evening gains by bringing it all together in one capsule rather than swallowing three. In that case the melatonin comes on top of a routine that is already in place, and the product is fully justified.

When is neither the answer? If magnesium is your priority. The oxide used here is poorly absorbed, and 200 mg cover only 53 % of the reference value. A dedicated magnesium, in a better form, will give you more. Likewise, if it is zinc alone that interests you, a dedicated product costs less and can be taken at any hour, without causing drowsiness.

Frequently asked questions

How much melatonin per capsule?

1.9 mg, just under the 2 mg threshold above which melatonin is no longer classed as a food supplement in France. That is almost double the 1 mg threshold that gives entitlement to the claim about reducing the time taken to fall asleep, and it is a straightforward dose for this type of product.

Why take it away from meals?

Because of the tryptophan. This amino acid uses the same transporter as other amino acids to reach the brain; taken during a protein meal, it ends up competing with them. The manufacturer therefore asks for it to be taken on an empty stomach or at least two hours after dinner.

Can it be taken with an antidepressant?

No. This is a strict contraindication printed on the packaging, linked to the interaction between L-tryptophan and those treatments. If you are on antidepressant treatment, do not take this product and talk to your doctor about your sleep.

Does it cause drowsiness the next morning?

It is possible in some people, and the manufacturer flags it. If it happens to you, bring the time of intake forward rather than trying to cut the capsule, which cannot be split. Do not drive or operate machinery after the evening dose.

Is magnesium in oxide form a good choice?

It is the least well absorbed form on the market and the most likely to have a laxative effect. It is acceptable here because magnesium is not the formula's main active. If your goal is a magnesium intake, choose a dedicated product in bisglycinate or citrate form.

Does this product increase testosterone?

No. The authorised claim for zinc is that it contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood. Maintaining is not increasing: zinc prevents a drop caused by an insufficient intake, it does not raise a level that is already normal in someone who is not short of it.

Can it be taken every night without a break?

The manufacturer provides for 6 to 8 week courses followed by one to two weeks off. Beyond that, and especially if the difficulty falling asleep persists after several courses, the right move is not to carry on indefinitely but to speak to a doctor about it.

Where can you buy ZMA Plus by IO Genix?

The 60-capsule bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. In the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, the first question we ask about this product concerns current medication: the contraindication with antidepressants is real and many customers are unaware of it. The second concerns the afternoon coffee, which accounts for a good deal of insomnia. The rest of the range can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection, and B vitamin intakes in our vitamin B section.