NOW Foods Amino Complete 120 Veg Capsules

What this product is

NOW Sports Amino Complete is a dietary supplement in capsule form, sold in a 120-capsule bottle. The front of the pack carries the NOW Sports wordmark, the Amino Complete name, the category line "Amino Acids", and three roundels reading "Protein Blend", "20 Aminos" and "With Vit. B-6". The Supplement Facts panel sets a serving at 4 capsules and lists 30 servings, which accounts for all 120 capsules in the bottle.

It is listed in our Amino Acids & BCAAs range. What the panel declares is not a single isolated amino acid but a blend of whole protein sources together with three specific free amino acids and one vitamin.

What is inside

The panel declares a 2.8 g (2,800 mg) blend per 4-capsule serving, described on the label as "Blend of peptide-bound Amino Acid sources (Whey Protein Isolate, Soy Protein Isolate, Sodium Caseinate) plus Amino Acids (L-Glutamine, L-Arginine, L-Ornithine)". Those two halves are different things, and the label's own wording is precise about it.

• Whey protein isolate, soy protein isolate and sodium caseinate are the peptide-bound portion. Whey and caseinate are both fractions of milk; soy protein isolate is made from defatted soybean. In a peptide-bound ingredient the amino acids arrive still joined together as protein chains rather than as separate molecules.
• L-Glutamine, L-Arginine and L-Ornithine are the three named free amino acids. The panel lists them separately because they are added in isolated form rather than being supplied by the protein sources.
• Vitamin B-6 has its own row on the panel at 13 mg, derived from pyridoxine hydrochloride, and marked 765% of the Daily Value. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements consumer fact sheet on vitamin B-6 gives general background on this nutrient; it is reference material and does not refer to this product.
• Other ingredients, printed in full on the panel, are Hypromellose (cellulose capsule), Hydroxypropyl Cellulose, Stearic Acid (vegetable source) and Silicon Dioxide. Hypromellose is the capsule shell material; the remaining three are processing aids.

The panel also declares 10 calories and 2 g of protein per serving, the protein at 4% of the Daily Value.

Supplement Facts

The typical amino acid profile

The side panel prints a second table headed "Typical Amino Acid Profile (example) (per serving)", and the label frames it carefully: the figures carry a footnote reading "subject to natural variability", and the heading itself calls them an example. They indicate what a 4-capsule serving typically supplies rather than stating a declared quantity. Twenty entries are listed, which is where the front-of-pack "20 Aminos" roundel comes from. In nutrition an amino acid is called essential when the body does not make it on its own and it has to come from food; the panel sorts its list into exactly those two columns.

Three of the nine essential entries — isoleucine, leucine and valine — carry the label's own footnote marking them as branched-chain amino acids, the group usually abbreviated BCAA. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements overview of supplements marketed for exercise and athletic performance is general reading on this category; it is independent reference material and does not refer to this product. Labels of this kind can also be looked up in the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

How to use it

The label's suggested usage is "Take 4 capsules daily, preferably with juice." The panel adds a storage instruction: "Store in a cool, dry, dark place after opening." Follow the directions printed on the bottle you receive.

Who it is for

This is a general dietary supplement for adults aged 18 and over, and the printed caution restricts it to that group. It is listed in our Sports Nutrition range, matching the NOW Sports branding and the Informed Sport seal on the front of the bottle. At the label's 4-capsule serving the bottle holds 30 servings, so the format is built around daily rather than occasional use. The serving being four capsules rather than one is a practical detail worth checking before you order.

Good to know

This product contains milk and soy. The panel prints the allergen statement "Contains milk and soy." in plain language, which follows from the whey protein isolate, sodium caseinate and soy protein isolate in the blend. Anyone avoiding dairy or soy should not take it.

The panel's manufacturing statement reads: "Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut or sesame ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens." That is the manufacturer's wording in full, including the shared-facility part.

The bottle's printed caution reads: "For adults only. Consult physician if pregnant/nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children." The usage panel also notes "Natural color variation may occur in this product", so the capsules will not always look identical from bottle to bottle.

The panel names the maker as NOW Foods of Bloomingdale, Illinois, and states "Made and quality tested in the USA with globally sourced ingredients." The bottle carries a "GMP Quality Assured" roundel, an Informed Sport seal, a "Steroid Tested" mark, a kosher mark and a Non-GMO mark. The panel also notes that the bottle is made from 100% post-consumer recycled resin. The FDA disclaimer at the foot of this page appears for the reason the FDA sets out in its guidance on structure/function claims, and the NCCIH page on dietary and herbal supplement safety is a reasonable general starting point before adding anything new to a routine. Neither source refers to this product. Our Health & Wellness section is the wider department this item sits in.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many capsules are in the bottle?

There are 120 capsules in the bottle. The Supplement Facts panel sets a serving at 4 capsules and lists 30 servings, so the bottle holds a 30-serving supply at the label's suggested usage.

Does Amino Complete contain dairy or soy?

Yes — the panel prints "Contains milk and soy." The declared blend includes whey protein isolate and sodium caseinate, both milk fractions, and soy protein isolate. The same panel states that the product is not manufactured with wheat, gluten, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut or sesame ingredients, in a facility that also handles those allergens.

Are the amino acid amounts in the second table exact?

No — the label presents them as a typical example rather than a declared quantity. The heading reads "Typical Amino Acid Profile (example)" and the figures carry a footnote reading "subject to natural variability", because they come from whole protein sources whose composition shifts slightly between batches.

How is Amino Complete taken?

The label's suggested usage is 4 capsules daily, preferably with juice. It also says to store the bottle in a cool, dry, dark place after opening, and the printed caution restricts the product to adults.

Is this order packaged discreetly?

Yes. Orders ship in plain outer packaging with no description of the contents on the outside. It will not show the Gear Isle name.

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.