Protein powder at night without melatonin: what to check on the label

Short answer: Many nighttime or "sleep" protein powders add melatonin or herbal ingredients alongside the protein. If you want an evening protein without melatonin, read the full ingredient list, not just the front of the pack. REGENYX Wellness Night Recovery contains no melatonin. Its evening ingredients are tart cherry extract, L-theanine and magnesium bisglycinate, with 17 g of protein per scoop.

Last reviewed: October 11, 2026.

What is usually in a nighttime protein powder?

Most nighttime protein powders pair a protein source with ingredients chosen for the evening. Depending on the brand, those can include melatonin, 5-HTP, GABA, valerian root, L-theanine, glycine, tryptophan or magnesium. The protein itself varies too: some use slower-digesting casein, others use whey, collagen or a blend.

Why do some people prefer a night protein without melatonin?

Melatonin is a hormone your body makes on its own, and people have their own reasons for controlling whether and how much they take. Some already use a separate melatonin product and don't want to double up. Others simply want their protein and their sleep products kept apart.

Label accuracy is another reason people give. In a 2023 research letter in JAMA, researchers tested 25 melatonin gummy products sold in the US. Only 3 contained an amount within 10% of the label. The others ranged from 74% to 347% of the labeled amount, and one product contained no melatonin at all. (Cohen et al., JAMA, 2023) An earlier Canadian analysis of 16 melatonin products found actual content ranging from 17% to 478% of the label. (Erland and Saxena, Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 2017)

What should you check on a night protein label?

• Melatonin: whether it is listed, and how much per serving.
• Every other evening ingredient: look for an amount next to each one, not a blend with a single total weight.
• Protein per serving and the protein source.
• Sugar and sweetener.
• Ingredients that naturally contain caffeine, such as green tea extract or guarana.
• The allergen statement.

For a fuller checklist, see How to read a recovery powder label.

What is in REGENYX Wellness Night Recovery?

Per 25 g scoop of Night Recovery:

• 17 g protein from a collagen-forward blend of bovine collagen, marine collagen and whey protein
• 6.58 g total essential amino acids (from the protein blend plus added amino acids), including 1,945 mg L-leucine and 145 mg L-tryptophan
• 2 g L-glutamine
• 350 mg tart cherry extract
• 200 mg L-theanine
• 200 mg magnesium bisglycinate (24 mg elemental magnesium)
• 500 mg vitamin C and 15 mg zinc

No melatonin. Peach flavor, sweetened with stevia leaf extract. Contains fish (tilapia), milk and soy. Gluten-free. Made in a facility that also handles other allergens.

For what studies on tart cherry, L-theanine and magnesium do and don't show, see our research summary.

FAQ

Does REGENYX Wellness Night Recovery contain melatonin?

No. Night Recovery contains no melatonin.

Can I take a melatonin product as well?

Night Recovery doesn't contain melatonin, so it doesn't add to a separate melatonin product. Ask your healthcare provider about any sleep supplement you take.

Is a night protein powder a sleep aid?

Night Recovery is a protein powder made for your evening routine, not a sleep aid. Ongoing sleep problems deserve a conversation with a healthcare professional.

This content is for education only and is not medical advice. 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.