Tryptophan in Foods

Essential amino acid and precursor to serotonin and melatonin.

Top animal source 1.6 g
Sea lion, Steller, meat with fat (Alaska Native) > 99% of all foods
Top plant source 1.1 g
Soy protein isolate > 99% of all foods

Check Tryptophan Rankings

All foods Meats Fish & Shellfish Nuts & Seeds Legumes Dairy and Eggs

Top Animal Sources

Food Tryptophan (g) All foods
1 Sea lion, Steller, meat with fat (Alaska Native)
1.6
> 99%
2 Egg, white, dried, stabilized, glucose reduced
1.4
> 99%
3 Egg, white, dried, powder, stabilized, glucose reduced
1.3
> 99%
4 Sea lion, Steller, kidney (Alaska Native)
1.2
> 99%
5 Egg, white, dried, flakes, stabilized, glucose reduced
1.2
> 99%
6 Egg, white, dried
1.0
> 99%
7 Whale, beluga, meat, dried (Alaska Native)
0.8
> 99%
8 Seal, bearded (Oogruk), meat, dried (Alaska Native)
0.8
> 99%
9 Egg, whole, dried
0.8
> 99%
10 Egg, whole, dried, stabilized, glucose reduced
0.8
> 99%
11 Fish, cod, Atlantic, dried and salted
0.7
> 99%
12 Pork, fresh, variety meats and by-products, pancreas, cooked, braised
0.6
> 99%
13 Mollusks, whelk, unspecified, cooked, moist heat
0.6
> 99%
14 Seal, bearded (Oogruk), meat, partially dried (Alaska Native)
0.6
> 99%
15 Fish, whitefish, dried (Alaska Native)
0.6
> 99%
16 Cheese, parmesan, shredded
0.6
> 99%
17 Cheese, mozzarella, low moisture, part-skim
0.6
> 99%
18 Cheese, cheddar (Includes foods for USDA's Food Distribution Program)
0.5
> 99%
19 Game meat, elk, cooked, roasted
0.5
> 99%
20 Cheese, mozzarella, whole milk
0.5
> 99%
21 Smelt, dried (Alaska Native)
0.5
> 99%

Top Plant Sources

Food Tryptophan (g) All foods
22 Soy protein isolate
1.1
> 99%
23 Soy protein isolate, potassium type
1.1
> 99%
24 Seeds, sesame flour, low-fat
1.1
> 99%
25 Seaweed, spirulina, dried
0.9
> 99%
26 Seeds, sesame flour, partially defatted
0.9
> 99%
27 Soy protein concentrate, produced by alcohol extraction
0.8
> 99%
28 Soy protein concentrate, produced by acid wash
0.8
> 99%
29 Winged beans, mature seeds, raw
0.8
> 99%
30 Seeds, cottonseed flour, low fat (glandless)
0.8
> 99%
31 Tofu, dried-frozen (koyadofu)
0.7
> 99%
32 Tofu, dried-frozen (koyadofu), prepared with calcium sulfate
0.7
> 99%
33 Seeds, cottonseed meal, partially defatted (glandless)
0.7
> 99%
34 Seeds, sunflower seed flour, partially defatted
0.7
> 99%
35 Soy flour, defatted
0.7
> 99%
36 Seeds, sesame flour, high-fat
0.7
> 99%
37 Soy meal, defatted, raw
0.7
> 99%
38 Seeds, cottonseed flour, partially defatted (glandless)
0.6
> 99%
39 Flour, soy, defatted
0.6
> 99%
40 Soybeans, mature seeds, raw
0.6
> 99%
41 Seeds, pumpkin and squash seed kernels, dried
0.6
> 99%
42 Soybeans, mature seeds, dry roasted
0.6
> 99%
43 Meat extender
0.6
> 99%
44 Seeds, pumpkin and squash seed kernels, roasted, with salt added
0.6
> 99%
45 Seeds, pumpkin and squash seed kernels, roasted, without salt
0.6
> 99%
46 Parsley, freeze-dried
0.5
> 99%
47 Soybeans, mature seeds, roasted, salted
0.5
> 99%
48 Soybeans, mature seeds, roasted, no salt added
0.5
> 99%

Other & Unclassified Foods

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Food Tryptophan (g) All foods
49 Beverages, Protein powder soy based
0.7
> 99%
50 Leavening agents, yeast, baker's, active dry
0.5
> 99%