NTP Study Guide 2026

Everything you need to pass the NTP exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.

📋 NTP Exam Format at a Glance

100
Questions
180 min
Time Limit
70.00%
Passing Score

📚 NTP Topics to Study (21)

✍️ Sample NTP Questions & Answers

1. Which functional lab finding would prompt an NTP to investigate SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth)?
Positive lactulose breath test

The lactulose breath test detects hydrogen and methane gas produced by bacteria in the small intestine, making it the primary non-invasive test for SIBO.

2. Which test is considered the gold standard for assessing iron stores in the body?
Ferritin

Ferritin is a storage protein for iron, and its serum level directly reflects total body iron stores, making it the most reliable marker.

3. In functional nutrition, which approach best distinguishes a nutrient insufficiency from a frank deficiency?
Using optimal functional reference ranges that reflect health, not just disease absence

Functional reference ranges are narrower than standard pathological ranges, allowing practitioners to identify subclinical insufficiencies before overt deficiency develops.

4. Which of the following is considered a macronutrient?
Carbohydrates

Macronutrients are nutrients that the body needs in large amounts to provide energy and support bodily functions. Carbohydrates, along with proteins and fats, are the three primary macronutrients. Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients, needed in smaller quantities, while water is essential but not typically categorized as a macronutrient in the same way.

5. A functional lab panel reveals low serum zinc and elevated serum copper. This imbalance is most associated with what condition?
Estrogen dominance and pyroluria

Elevated copper with low zinc is commonly seen in estrogen dominance and pyroluria (a metabolic condition), as estrogen stimulates ceruloplasmin and copper retention.

6. Which amino acid is the precursor to glutathione, the body's primary endogenous antioxidant used in Phase II detoxification?
Cysteine

Cysteine provides the rate-limiting sulfhydryl group for glutathione synthesis, making it the key precursor for this tripeptide antioxidant.

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Your NTP Study Path
1. Learn with Flashcards → 2. Drill Practice Tests → 3. Take the Full Exam Simulation