NOW Foods L-Tryptophan Powder 2 oz

What it is

NOW Foods L-Tryptophan Powder is a free-form amino acid powder sold in a 2 oz (57 g) bottle, supplying 950 mg of L-tryptophan in each 1 g serving. The front of the bottle describes it as "A Dietary Supplement" and carries a Non-GMO badge alongside a Vegetarian/Vegan line, while the panel face is headed with NOW's own "Amino Acids" shelf banner. On this site you will find it filed under Amino Acids. It comes as a loose powder in a white bottle with a purple cap and an orange label wrap, with a freshness packet enclosed inside.

What's inside

There is one active ingredient and one other ingredient, so the panel is unusually short. Each 1 g serving provides L-Tryptophan (Free-Form) 950 mg, and the panel marks that figure with a footnote reading "Daily Value not established", meaning no reference intake has been set for this amino acid.

The words "free-form" on the panel describe the raw material rather than a grade or a quality mark. A free-form amino acid stands on its own as a single molecule instead of being bound into a longer peptide or protein chain, which is simply how this ingredient has been supplied. Tryptophan itself is one of the amino acids the body does not build for itself. The bottle states this plainly: "L-Tryptophan is an essential amino acid; therefore, it is not synthesized by the body and must be obtained from the diet." In an ordinary diet it turns up in everyday protein foods, which is the context most people will already know it from.

The single other ingredient is cellulose. The Supplement Facts panel lists it without assigning it a role, so neither do we — it appears on the label as "Other ingredient: Cellulose." and nothing further is printed about it. That one line is the whole of the non-tryptophan content; no flavoring, sweetener or coloring is listed anywhere on the panel.

Supplement Facts

How to use it

The Suggested Usage printed on the bottle reads: "Take one or two 1/4 level teaspoons 2 to 3 times daily on an empty stomach, with final dose at bedtime, or as directed by your physician." Two of those 1/4 level teaspoon measures together make the 1 g serving the Supplement Facts panel is based on, so the printed usage also allows a single 1/4 teaspoon measure — half a panel serving — for anyone who wants to start smaller. No mixing liquid is specified anywhere on the label, and the bottle gives no instruction to combine it with any particular drink or food.

Two further printed notes are worth knowing before you open it. The first is "This product is sold by weight not volume" — the 57 g net weight is the measured quantity, and the teaspoon figures are measures of that powder rather than a fill level. The second is a storage line: "Store in a cool, dry place after opening." A freshness packet sits inside the bottle, and the label is explicit that it is not edible: "Do Not Eat Freshness Packet Enclosed." The bottle also carries a "Please Recycle." note.

Who it's for

This is a product for adults 18 and over who want a plain, single-ingredient amino acid powder rather than a pre-measured unit. The powder format is the main practical difference: because the serving is scooped with a 1/4 level teaspoon, the label's own usage range runs from one measure to two, which a pre-measured dosage form cannot offer. It will suit anyone who prefers to read a short panel and know exactly what is in the bottle, and anyone keeping a supplement routine who would rather measure than count. The Vegetarian/Vegan line on the front means it is formulated without animal-derived ingredients, and the Non-GMO badge appears beside it.

Good to know

The caution printed on the bottle reads, in full: "For adults only. Consult physician if pregnant/nursing, taking medication (especially antidepressants such as SSRIs and MAOIs), or have a medical condition. May cause drowsiness. Do not use with alcoholic beverages or while operating heavy machinery. Keep out of reach of children." That wording is the manufacturer's own and we have neither shortened nor expanded it — the two medication classes named on the label are SSRIs and MAOIs, and no others are printed.

The allergen statement is printed directly beneath the ingredient line: "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 second sentence matters if you are highly sensitive — it is a shared-facility statement rather than an allergen-free claim, and it is the manufacturer's own wording. The panel also carries the line "Family owned since 1968." and gives the company address as NOW Foods, 395 S. Glen Ellyn Rd., Bloomingdale, IL 60108, USA.

For general background on how dietary supplements are labeled and regulated in the United States — none of which refers to this product specifically — the FDA's questions and answers on dietary supplements and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements guide Dietary supplements: what you need to know are both useful starting points. Panels for marketed supplements can also be searched in the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much L-tryptophan is in one serving?

Each serving supplies 950 mg of free-form L-tryptophan. The Supplement Facts panel defines that serving as two 1/4 level teaspoons, which it gives as approximately 1 g of powder, and marks the 950 mg figure "Daily Value not established".

What else is in the powder besides L-tryptophan?

Cellulose is the only other ingredient listed. The panel records it as "Other ingredient: Cellulose." with no further description, and no flavoring, sweetener or coloring appears anywhere on the label.

How many servings does the 2 oz bottle hold?

The panel states about 57 servings. That is consistent with the printed net weight of 2 oz. (57 g) and a serving size of approximately 1 g of powder.

Is this powder suitable for vegetarians and vegans?

Yes — the front of the bottle carries a "Vegetarian/Vegan" line. A Non-GMO badge is printed beside it, and the allergen statement notes the product is not manufactured with milk, egg, fish or shellfish ingredients.

How will my order be packaged?

Your order ships in a plain outer carton 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.