NOW Foods L-Tryptophan

Name: NOW Foods L-Tryptophan
Brand: NOW Foods
SKU: 733739001696
Price: 22.29 GBP
Availability: InStock

Brands: NOW Foods

£22.29

NOW Foods' L-Tryptophan, in a tablets format that is easy to keep to session after session.

What it is

An essential amino acid the body cannot make for itself
Most often taken in the evening

How to use

Take as directed on the pack.

Good to know

Choose from 2 sizes: 1000mg Double Strength - 60 tablets / 500mg - 120 vcaps
Format: tablets
Caffeine free

A food supplement, not a substitute for a varied diet and healthy lifestyle. Do not exceed the stated dose. Keep out of reach of children.

Size: 1000mg Double Strength - 60 tablets

Variant

Quantity

Free Shipping on Orders of £40

Flexible and secure payment

Questions? Our UK team is here to help

Guarantee Safe & Secure Checkout

Categories : Amino Acids & Recovery Supplements, Caffeine-Free Supplements, Everyday Health Supplements, NOW Foods, Sleep Supplements, Supplements for Sleep, Vegetarian Supplements, Vitamins & Supplements, Workout Recovery Supplements

SKU: 733739001696

At a glance

Insufficient

evidence for l-tryptophan

Our honest take

L-tryptophan, an essential amino acid, as 1,000 mg double-strength tablets or 500 mg capsules, usually taken in the evening. Most people already get around a gram a day from food, studies of supplements for sleep and mood are small and dated, and there are no authorised claims, so we make no claims about sleep or mood. It must not be combined with antidepressants or other serotonin-raising products.

You are a healthy adult on no regular medication who wants to try L-tryptophan
You want a well-known brand with a choice of strengths
You take antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs), triptans, tramadol, 5-HTP or St John's wort (risk of serotonin syndrome)
You are pregnant or breastfeeding
You have low mood or ongoing sleep problems that your GP has not assessed

The science

L-tryptophan· evidence: Insufficient

L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid found in protein foods such as milk, poultry, eggs, oats and seeds. The body uses it to make serotonin and melatonin, which is why it is sold for evening use.

Most people get plenty from their diet. Studies of tryptophan supplements for sleep and mood are small and dated, with mixed results. There are no authorised health claims for L-tryptophan, so we make no claims about what it does. If you have ongoing sleep problems or low mood, speak to your GP.

Typical dose: Supplements typically give 500 to 1,000 mg a day; a normal diet provides around 1 g a day.

Safety: Do not combine with antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs), triptans, tramadol, 5-HTP or St John's wort, because of the risk of serotonin syndrome. Can cause drowsiness, so avoid driving if affected and avoid alcohol and sedatives. Not for use in pregnancy or breastfeeding. In 1989 a contaminated batch from one manufacturer was linked to a serious illness (eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome), so buy from established brands.

Research we looked at:
Fernstrom JD (2012). Effects and side effects associated with the non-nutritional use of tryptophan by humans. Journal of Nutrition 142(12):2236S-2244S.
Turner EH, Loftis JM, Blackwell AD (2006). Serotonin a la carte: supplementation with the serotonin precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan. Pharmacology & Therapeutics 109(3):325-338.

Ingredients & nutrition

Per 1 g dose: L-tryptophan (free form) 1,000 mg, as 1 double-strength tablet or 2 x 500 mg capsules. 60 tablets = 60 doses; 120 capsules = 60 doses.

Other ingredients: Tablets: croscarmellose sodium, stearic acid, magnesium stearate, vegetarian coating, silicon dioxide. Capsules: hypromellose (cellulose capsule), rice flour, ascorbyl palmitate, stearic acid. Suitable for vegetarians.

Always check the pack you receive, as manufacturers sometimes update recipes.

How to use

Label directions: 1 g once a day, on an empty stomach, ideally at bedtime; the label allows more, but we would not go beyond 1 g without medical advice. Do not exceed the stated daily dose. Do not take with antidepressants, migraine triptans or other serotonin-raising medicines or supplements, or if pregnant or breastfeeding.

Food supplements should not replace a varied, balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. General information, not medical advice. Speak to your GP or pharmacist first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition or take medication.