NOW Foods 5-HTP 100mg 120 Veg Capsules

What this is

NOW Foods 5-HTP 100 mg is a dietary supplement in veg capsule form, supplying 100 mg of 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) in each capsule, in a bottle of 120 veg capsules. The bottle is white with a dark purple cap and an orange label, and the front panel prints the words "A Dietary Supplement", a Non-GMO mark, a circled K and "Vegetarian/Vegan". A grey banner across the shoulder of the label reads "Amino Acids".

The Supplement Facts panel declares one active row and nothing else: 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) 100 mg, with the source given in brackets as Griffonia simplicifolia Extract (Seed). The side panel adds the manufacturer's own plain description of what the compound is — "the intermediate metabolite between the amino acid L-tryptophan and serotonin", extracted from the seed of an African plant. Those are the sentences on the pack that describe the material itself rather than what anyone should expect from it, and they are the ones reproduced here.

What's inside

This is a single-compound formula with a two-item excipient line, so the whole ingredient list is short enough to read in full.

• 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan), 100 mg per capsule, from Griffonia simplicifolia Extract (Seed). Griffonia simplicifolia is a woody climbing shrub native to West and Central Africa, and the panel names the seed as the plant part the extract is drawn from. The panel marks this row with an asterisk and footnotes it "* Daily Value not established", meaning no Daily Value has been set for this compound, so no percentage can be shown beside it. NIH's background page on botanical dietary supplements explains how plant extracts are described and standardized in general terms; it does not refer to this product.
• Rice Flour. Listed first under "Other ingredients" on the panel. The label does not state what role it plays in the capsule, so none is claimed for it here.
• Hypromellose (cellulose capsule). The shell itself, named on the panel in exactly those words — the parenthesis "(cellulose capsule)" is the label's own wording, not a gloss added here.

There is nothing else on the ingredient line: no sweetener, color or flavoring is declared anywhere on the label. The bottle does print "Natural color variation may occur in this product", so the shade of the capsules themselves is not fixed. For general background on how supplement labels are laid out and what a panel carries, NIH ODS publishes a consumer guide to dietary supplements. It does not refer to this product.

How to use it

The label's Suggested Usage reads, in full: "Take 1 capsule daily, preferably on an empty stomach at bedtime." That is one capsule, once a day, and the timing is part of the printed direction rather than an extra suggested on top of it. The caution panel adds one qualifier to the empty-stomach part — "Take with food in case of GI upset" — so food is named on the label as the fallback if the capsule does not sit well, not as the usual way to take it.

For storage, the bottle says "Store in a cool, dry place after opening." Do not exceed the serving printed on the label.

Who it's for

This is a product for adults 18 and over, and the bottle is explicit that it is "For adults only" and "Not recommended for pregnant/nursing women". At one capsule a day, a 120-capsule bottle covers 120 servings, which suits someone who has already settled on this form and this 100 mg strength and would rather restock less often.

The front of the bottle is printed "Vegetarian/Vegan", and the only ingredients declared anywhere on the panel are the Griffonia simplicifolia seed extract, Rice Flour and the hypromellose capsule shell. The pack also carries a circled K; no certifying agency is named beside it, so it is described here as a mark that appears on the label and nothing further is claimed for it. On this store the item is listed under Amino Acids, Supplements and Health & Wellness.

Good to know

The caution paragraph is printed on the side of the bottle and is reproduced here word for word: "For adults only. Not recommended for pregnant/nursing women. Consult physician if taking medications (especially antidepressants), or have a medical condition. May cause drowsiness and mild transient GI symptoms. Take with food in case of GI upset. Keep out of reach of children."

The allergen statement on the panel reads: "Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or tree nut ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens." That covers what the facility handles as well as what the formula contains, which is the distinction that matters if you avoid an allergen strictly.

The bottle carries a "GMP Quality Assured" roundel and the line "Family owned since 1968." NCCIH's general guidance on dietary and herbal supplements is a reasonable starting point if you are weighing a supplement alongside prescription medication; it does not refer to this product. The Dietary Supplement Label Database indexes manufacturers' label panels as published.

The front of this bottle carries an asterisk beside its headline wording, pointing to the FDA disclaimer at the foot of this page. The FDA explains what that asterisk marks on its structure/function claims page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many capsules are in this bottle, and how many servings is that?

There are 120 veg capsules in the bottle, and that is 120 servings. The panel sets the serving size at 1 Veg Capsule and prints no servings row of its own, so the figure follows directly from the capsule count at one capsule per serving — at the labeled once-daily serving, a 120-day supply.

What is in these capsules besides the 5-HTP?

Two things: Rice Flour and Hypromellose (cellulose capsule). Those are the only entries on the panel's "Other ingredients" line, and the hypromellose is the capsule shell. No sweetener, color or flavoring is declared anywhere on the label.

When does the label say to take it?

Once a day, preferably on an empty stomach at bedtime — that is the Suggested Usage exactly as printed on the bottle. The caution panel names food only as the fallback "in case of GI upset", and the label also warns that the product may cause drowsiness, which is worth knowing before driving.

What does "Daily Value not established" mean on this panel?

It means no Daily Value has been set for 5-HTP, so the panel cannot show a percentage next to the 100 mg figure. The asterisk on the 5-HTP row points to that footnote. It is a statement about the reference figures available for the compound, not about the amount in the capsule, which is declared as 100 mg.

How is this order packaged for delivery?

Your order ships in plain, unmarked outer packaging. It will not show the Gear Isle name. The sealed manufacturer's bottle travels inside that outer packaging.

Product information compiled and reviewed by the Gear Isle product team. We transcribe supplement facts directly from manufacturer packaging. Found an error? Tell us.

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. Dietary supplement for adults 18 and over. Consult a licensed healthcare professional before use, especially if you have a medical condition, heart concerns, or take prescription medication (including nitrates). Keep out of reach of children.