NOW Foods 5-HTP 50mg 90 Veg Capsules

What this is

NOW Foods 5-HTP 50 mg is a dietary supplement in a bottle of 90 veg capsules, with one capsule making up a full serving. The label's single active entry is 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) at 50 mg per capsule, drawn from a Griffonia simplicifolia extract made from the seed. The side band on the bottle is printed "Amino Acids". The front also carries a Non-GMO mark, a kosher mark, and the words "Vegetarian/Vegan" and "A Dietary Supplement".

This is the 90-capsule size. At the one-capsule serving printed on the label, a bottle works out to a 90-day supply, which is what distinguishes it from the smaller bottles of this formula: the serving itself does not change, only how many servings are in your hand when the box arrives. You can find other single-ingredient products of this kind in Amino Acids.

What is in each capsule

The formula is unusually short: one active ingredient and two other ingredients, with no proprietary blend and nothing in the capsule the panel does not name.

• 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan), 50 mg — the panel sources this from Griffonia simplicifolia Extract and specifies the seed as the plant part used. The bottle's own side panel describes the compound in plain biochemical terms: 5-HTP is "the intermediate metabolite between the amino acid tryptophan and serotonin", and it "is extracted from the seed of an African plant". The panel marks the 50 mg figure with an asterisk and footnotes it "Daily Value not established", which means no reference intake has been set for this compound.
• Rice Flour — finely milled rice, a plant-derived powder commonly used as a bulking agent in capsule supplements. It is named first in the Other Ingredients line on the panel.
• Hypromellose (cellulose capsule) — the capsule shell itself. Hypromellose is derived from cellulose, which is plant material, and the panel glosses it that way in brackets. This is what makes the capsule a "veg capsule" rather than a gelatin one, and it is consistent with the "Vegetarian/Vegan" wording printed on the front.

Griffonia simplicifolia is a botanical ingredient, and the extract is the only botanical in the product. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements publishes general background on botanical dietary supplements covering how plant extracts are prepared and standardized; it is a general reference and does not refer to this product.

Supplement Facts

How to use it

The bottle's Suggested Usage reads: "Take 1 capsule daily, preferably on an empty stomach at bedtime." That is the whole of the printed instruction — one capsule, once a day, with a stated preference for an empty stomach and for the evening. The label does not describe a second daily serving, a loading period, or a different amount for anyone.

One qualification appears in the caution text rather than the usage text: "Take with food in case of GI upset." On this label, taking the capsule with food is the remedy if the empty-stomach instruction does not sit well, not the default way to take it.

For storage, the panel says: "Store in a cool, dry place after opening."

Who it is for

This is a single-ingredient supplement for adults, and the bottle states "For adults only." It suits someone who has already settled on 5-HTP specifically and wants it without other active ingredients alongside it — the panel here lists one active and two other ingredients in total.

The 90-capsule size suits a steady routine rather than a first try. The hypromellose capsule and the "Vegetarian/Vegan" marking on the front make it workable for people avoiding gelatin, and the allergen statement is reproduced in full below. See also Supplements and Health & Wellness.

Good to know

The bottle prints a caution paragraph, 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 antidepressant line and the drowsiness line are both printed on the pack. The NCCIH publishes general guidance on what to consider about the safety of dietary and herbal supplements, including talking to a healthcare provider about interactions with prescription medicines; it is general guidance and does not refer to this product.

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." The panel also prints "Natural color variation may occur in this product."

On the bottle itself, NOW prints a "GMP Quality Assured" seal, a Non-GMO mark, a kosher mark, and the line "Family owned since 1968." The distributor block on the panel reads "NOW FOODS, 395 S. Glen Ellyn Rd. Bloomingdale, IL 60108, USA".

The asterisks on the front of this bottle point to the standard FDA notice reproduced at the foot of this page. The FDA explains the rules behind structure/function claims and the disclaimer that must accompany them, and the NIH maintains a searchable Dietary Supplement Label Database of label panels. Neither reference is an endorsement of this product. The NIH also publishes a consumer primer on what to know about dietary supplements generally.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many capsules come in this bottle?

Ninety veg capsules. The Supplement Facts panel sets the serving size at 1 Veg Capsule, so at the serving printed on the label a bottle is a 90-day supply. The panel itself prints no servings row, so that figure is arithmetic from the capsule count rather than a printed one.

When does the label say to take it?

Once a day, preferably on an empty stomach at bedtime — that is the Suggested Usage printed on the bottle, quoted in full. The label gives one capsule daily and no second serving. If an empty stomach causes GI upset, the caution text says to take it with food instead.

Is the capsule suitable for vegetarians and vegans?

The capsule shell is hypromellose, which is cellulose-derived rather than gelatin, and the front of the bottle is printed "Vegetarian/Vegan". The only other ingredient besides the extract is rice flour. The panel's allergen line states the product is not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or tree nut ingredients.

What is Griffonia simplicifolia?

It is the plant the 5-HTP in this product is extracted from, and the panel names the seed as the part used. The bottle describes it simply as "an African plant". The extract is the only botanical ingredient in the formula.

How is this order packaged?

Your order ships in plain, unmarked outer packaging. It will not show the Gear Isle name. Inside, the product is in the manufacturer's own bottle.

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.