The proteins in our diet are made up of twenty amino acids. Nine of them are called essential: the body cannot make them and has to get them from food. Tryptophan is one of them, just like leucine, lysine or methionine. It is also the scarcest of them in everyday proteins, where it accounts for only about 1% of the amino acids.

It is found in protein-rich foods: eggs, dairy products, poultry, fish, pulses, pumpkin or sesame seeds, soya and oat flakes. A varied diet supplies it every day, together with the other amino acids.

The “L” in L-tryptophan refers to the form found in nature and in dietary proteins. That form, and that form alone, is the one Nutripure uses in this supplement.

Biochemists know tryptophan for one specific reason: it is the starting point of two molecules made by the body. A first conversion turns it into 5-hydroxytryptophan, known as 5-HTP, which then becomes serotonin. Serotonin is in turn the precursor of melatonin, produced mainly by the pineal gland.

This is what is meant when tryptophan is described as the “precursor” of these two molecules: it supplies the raw material. Only a small share of the tryptophan we consume follows this pathway. Most of it is used to build proteins, and another part goes towards the production of vitamin B3.

Tryptophan should not be confused with its derivatives. Nutripure’s L-Tryptophan is neither melatonin nor 5-HTP: it is the original amino acid, as found in food, with no promise of any particular effect.

The L-tryptophan in this supplement is obtained by fermentation. Micro-organisms grown on plant materials produce the amino acid, which is then separated and purified. This is now the standard production route for many food-grade amino acids, and it uses no raw materials of animal origin.

Nutripure highlights a process that uses no harsh chemical solvents. In its traceability file, the brand states the origin of each ingredient: L-tryptophan from outside the European Union, calcium citrate from Europe and French sunflower oil supplied by the Huilerie Émile Noël.

The L-tryptophan comes in free form, meaning as an isolated amino acid rather than bound to others within a protein. This is what makes it possible to state a precise dose, 220 mg, in every capsule. In our shop in Paris 12th, the question of origin is often the first one customers ask: this file gives a clear answer.

The formula has just four ingredients. L-tryptophan is the only active ingredient. The capsule is made of pullulan, a polysaccharide that is also obtained by fermentation and replaces animal gelatine. Calcium citrate acts as a bulking agent so that each capsule is filled evenly, and a small amount of sunflower oil, 0.8%, makes encapsulation easier.

Nutripure states that the product contains no silicon dioxide, no titanium dioxide, no microcrystalline cellulose and no nanoparticles. It is vegan, free from declarable allergens, GMO-free and non-irradiated.

The dose is designed to be taken once a day: one capsule provides 220 mg of L-tryptophan, and the pot of 90 capsules covers three months. This simple routine is one of the ways this product differs from formulas that call for several capsules a day. In Paris, customers looking for a single amino acid, with no added plant or vitamin, appreciate this clarity.

Nutripure recommends one capsule a day, swallowed with a glass of water, away from meals. The reason is simple: in the body, tryptophan shares the same transporters as other amino acids that are plentiful in a protein-rich meal. Taking it apart from a protein meal avoids this competition.

The brand leaves the timing up to you, afternoon or evening, depending on your routine. It also notes that a small source of carbohydrate, a piece of fruit for example, can go with the capsule if you take it close to a meal.

The suggested duration is three months, exactly one pot. If tryptophan is also present in another supplement you take, for example an evening complex such as Nutripure’s Pure Zen, which already contains 220 mg, do not combine the two without talking to a healthcare professional. You will find other products in our sleep and anti-stress sections.

Nutripure was founded in 2017 by Christophe Carrio, five-time world champion in artistic karate and holder of a diploma in dietetics, and by his brother Florent, an engineer. The company is based in Haute-Garonne, near Toulouse, and has its products made in France.

For every product, the brand publishes a traceability sheet stating the country of manufacture, the guarantees and the origin of each raw material. L-Tryptophan also complies with the EN 17444 anti-doping standard, a useful reference for athletes subject to testing. The pot is fully recyclable and goes in with household packaging.

We chose to stock Nutripure in our shop in Paris 12th for this transparency, alongside brands such as Dynveo, Novoma and Nutrimuscle. Several of its capsule and powder products are on our shelves.

This supplement is for adults only. Do not take more than one capsule a day, and keep the pot out of reach of children. A food supplement should be used as part of a healthy lifestyle and is not a substitute for a varied, balanced diet.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask a healthcare professional before taking it. As tryptophan is involved in the production of serotonin, it must not be combined without medical advice with antidepressant medication (SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs, tricyclics) or any medicine acting on serotonin, nor with other 5-HTP or St John’s wort supplements. L-Tryptophan is a food supplement, not a medicine: it is in no way a replacement for medical follow-up.

Keep the pot tightly closed in a cool, dry place, away from light. The batch number and best-before date are printed under the pot.

Is Nutripure L-Tryptophan suitable for vegans?

Yes. The tryptophan is obtained by plant-based fermentation and the capsule is made of pullulan, which is plant-derived. The product contains no ingredients of animal origin.

What is the difference between tryptophan and 5-HTP?

Tryptophan is the amino acid found in food. 5-HTP is the molecule the body makes from it, and in supplements it comes from griffonia seeds. They are two distinct ingredients and should not be combined without the advice of a healthcare professional.

How long does one pot last?

The pot contains 90 capsules. At one capsule a day, it lasts three months.

Can I pick it up in store?

Yes, at 10 rue Théophile Roussel, Paris 12th, from Tuesday to Saturday, 9:30 am to 6:30 pm, near Ledru-Rollin (line 8) and Bastille (lines 1, 5, 8) metro stations.