What is L-Tryptophan?
L-Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that cannot be synthesized by the human body. It must be obtained through food (found in plant and animal foods) or supplements. L-Tryptophan is essential for protein synthesis and is therefore crucial. Besides protein synthesis, it is also a precursor to serotonin. Serotonin is converted into melatonin in the body and plays a crucial role in regulating the brain’s nervous system, helping to alleviate mood and improve sleep quality. Oats, buckwheat, and meat contain the highest levels of L-Tryptophan.
Benefits of L-Tryptophan
- L-Tryptophan has a wide range of applications, not just in supplements but also in medicine, food additives, feed additives, and agricultural environmental testing.
- L-Tryptophan is widely available, with high concentrations found in seaweed, oats, buckwheat, and meat.
- L-Tryptophan deficiency can cause a range of adverse reactions, such as reduced melatonin synthesis, insomnia, and, in severe cases, mental illness.
- L-Tryptophan promotes protein synthesis, enhances human immunity, and is involved in the synthesis of niacin.
If you have any questions about processing L-Tryptophan, Highassay’s R&D team is here to help.

A Brief Introduction to L-Tryptophan
Molecular Formula:C11H12N2O2
Molecular Weight:204.23
CAS No.:73-22-3
Appearance:White to slightly yellow crystals or crystalline powder
Regular commercial package: 25kg/drum
Application of L-Tryptophan
Highassay adheres to strict quality control (QC) to produce L-Tryptophan. Buy L-Tryptophan in bulk from us now to get competitive market prices.
- Animal Feed
When added to animal feed, in addition to boosting immunity, its most significant benefit is accelerating fat metabolism, thereby increasing lean meat content. It can also be added to pet foods such as cat and dog food to protect the animal’s health from the inside out.
- Agricultural and Environmental Testing
In addition to being added to agricultural products such as pesticides, L-Tryptophan can also be added to fertilizers, helping to improve the quality of produce and soil quality. Its excellent fluorescence absorption properties allow it to detect toxic metal ions in the environment.
- Food Additive
Besides being used as a nutritional supplement, it can also be added to food as a seasoning to improve flavor and texture, and stimulate appetite. This also applies to infant formula and sports nutrition products.
- Cosmetics
Added to various cosmetics, L-Tryptophan helps retain moisture in the skin. Its antioxidant properties help slow skin aging, brightening and even skin tone, and reducing dullness.
- Pharmaceuticals
In addition to being used in the synthesis of various drugs, such as anti-tumor and antidepressant drugs, L-Tryptophan can also be used in various experimental research.
L-Tryptophan Supplementation Recommendations
While most foods contain L-Tryptophan, vegetarians and those with special needs may not be able to get enough. In these cases, L-Tryptophan supplementation can be used. However, it is important to ensure that L-Tryptophan supplements are taken within a safe dosage and avoid excessive use. Long-term use is also not recommended to prevent side effects such as drowsiness, blurred vision, nausea, and vomiting. Not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Do not take with medications containing sedatives.
L-Tryptophan is recommended to be taken half an hour after a meal or one hour before bedtime. Studies have shown that tryptophan is better absorbed by the body when taken with carbohydrates, resulting in more pronounced benefits.


5-Hydroxytryptophan VS L-Tryptophan
L-Tryptophan is the only precursor of 5-Hydroxytryptophan, which affects cognitive function, behavioral function, and mood regulation. For some people seeking weight loss, 5-Hydroxytryptophan may be beneficial, as it enhances satiety by counteracting hunger hormones.
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Specification of L-Tryptophan
L-Tryptophan | CP2020 | EP11 | USP2023 | USP32 | AJI92 |
Assay | ≥99.0% | 98.5-101.0% | 98.5-101.5% | 98.5-101.5% | 99.0-100.5% |
PH | 5.4-6.4 | / | 5.5-7.0 | 5.5-7.0 | 5.4-6.4 |
Specific rotation[a]D20 | -30.0°–32.5° | -30.0°–33.0° | / | / | -30.5°–32.5° |
Specific rotation[a]D25 | / | / | -29.4°–32.8° | -29.4°–32.8° | / |
Transmittance(T430) | ≥95.0% | / | / | / | ≥95.0% |
Appearance of solution | / | clear & colorless ≤BY6 | / | / | / |
Chloride(Cl) | ≤0.02% | ≤0.02% | ≤0.05% | ≤0.05% | ≤0.02% |
Ammonium(NH4) | ≤0.02% | ≤0.02% | / | / | ≤0.02% |
Sulfate(SO4) | ≤0.02% | ≤0.03% | ≤0.03% | ≤0.03% | ≤0.02% |
Iron(Fe) | ≤20PPM | ≤20PPM | ≤30PPM | ≤30PPM | ≤20PPM |
Heavy metals(Pb) | ≤10PPM | / | / | ≤15PPM | ≤10PPM |
Arsenic | ≤1PPM | / | / | / | ≤1PPM |
Other amino acids | ≤0.50% | Impurity A≤10ppm Sum of impurities with a retention time less than that of Tryptophan <100ppm Sum of impurities with a retention time great than that of Tryptophan and up to 1.8 time of N-acetyltryptophan <300ppm | Total impurities 1≤0.01% Total impurities 2≤0.03% Tryptophan related compound A ≤10PPM | / | conform |
Ninhydrin-positive substances | / | Each impurity≤0.2% Total impurities≤0.5% | / | / | / |
Loss on drying | ≤0.20% | ≤0.50% | ≤0.30% | ≤0.30% | ≤0.20% |
Residue on ignition | ≤0.10% | ≤0.10% | ≤0.10% | ≤0.10% | ≤0.10% |
Endotoxin | <50EU/g | <50EU/g | <50EU/g | / | / |
Total plate count | ≤ 1000 CFU/g | ≤ 1000 CFU/g | ≤ 1000 CFU/g | ≤ 1000 CFU/g | ≤ 1000 CFU/g |
Moulds & Yeasts | ≤ 100 CFU/g | ≤ 100 CFU/g | ≤ 100 CFU/g | ≤ 100 CFU/g | ≤ 100 CFU/g |