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5-Amino-1MQ vs MOTS-c: What the Research Shows

5-Amino-1MQ and MOTS-c side by side: what they are, how they are regulated and what is still unknown.

Medically reviewed by Juan Pablo Frías, MD · · DisclosureUpdated
NNMT inhibitor (not a peptide)Not FDA approved · research chemical5-Amino-1MQNNMT inhibitor (not a peptide) with no human studies; in diet-induced obese mice, 5-amino-1MQ plus a low-fat diet promoted whole-body adiposity and weight loss.[3]GLP-1 & metabolic+60% searchesMitochondrial-derived peptidePCAC voted 7–5 for 503A (Jul 2026)MOTS-cMitochondrial-derived peptide; human studies found only measured the body's own circulating levels (for example after repeated heat treatment), not administered MOTS-c.[8]GLP-1 & metabolic+437% searches
Quick verdict

Where the research points

Summary of studies, not a recommendation

Consider 5-Amino-1MQ if…

  • you are tested in sport and want to avoid a WADA-prohibited substance: MOTS-c is prohibited by WADA at all times (check 5-amino-1MQ's own status separately)[2]

Consider MOTS-c if…

  • you are weighing human evidence that, in our search, only measured the body's own MOTS-c (none gave it as a treatment): exercise raised plasma MOTS-c in non-Hispanic White survivors but not Hispanic survivors[10]

What they have in common

  • Only animal or lab studies of 5-amino-1MQ were found (e.g. obese mice): combined with a low-fat diet it promoted marked loss of adiposity and weight[3]
MOTS-c is not FDA approved. MOTS-c is prohibited in tested sport (WADA). Status labels come from public FDA and WADA records; see the sources below.
Side by side

Spec comparison

Showing 11 of 13 fields where the two differ. Category, Half-life are the same or both unknown.

Field5-Amino-1MQMOTS-c
ClassNNMT inhibitor (not a peptide)Mitochondrial-derived peptide
Also called5-amino, 1MQmots
FDA statusNot FDA approved · research chemicalPCAC voted 7–5 for 503A (Jul 2026)
PCAC vote, Jul 2026Not on the Jul 2026 agendaPCAC voted 7–5 for the 503A list (Jul 2026); not finalized
WADAWADA status unclear5-Amino-1MQ is not named. S4.4 covers AMPK activators, PPAR-delta agonists and Rev-erb agonists by example, and nothing there names an NNMT inhibitor. This is not named on the 2026 list. The catch-all class S0 prohibits any drug with no approval anywhere for human use, so it would be banned if no health authority has approved it, but we have not verified that for this substance.Prohibited by WADA (S4.4.1)MOTS-c is named in S4.4.1 (metabolic modulators: AMPK activators), prohibited at all times.
Anti-doping detectionNone reportedanti-doping literature, as of 2 Oct 2026
  • A plasma (blood) test for MOTS-c has been validated to WADA standards.PMID 30394592
Evidence strengthAnimal evidence, 2 of 4Strongest: Scientific reports 2022, PMID 35013352Human RCT evidence, 4 of 4Strongest: Medicine and science in sports and exercise 2025, PMID 40674654
Human studies we summarised0 human (0 randomized or controlled) of 4 summarised7 human (4 randomized or controlled) of 15 summarised
Typical study doses
Vial sizes sold5 mg, 10 mg5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg
US searches per month27,100 · +60% searches60,500 · +437% searches

Bracketed values are pending a sourced figure. Legal data reflects the regulatory events in our tracker.

Taken together?

5-Amino-1MQ and MOTS-c together

People also search for this pair as a stack. The stack page covers timing and interaction questions as they are sourced. Evidence for the combination: No studies tested these together (PubMed search: 0 results, 2 Oct 2026).

Open the stack page
Stack5-Amino-1MQ + MOTS-c, taken as separate injectionsStack page

Sources

  1. 1FDA gives notice that 12 peptides will be removed from Category 2 (nominations withdrawn)FDA · 2026fda.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  2. 2World Anti-Doping Code International Standard Prohibited List 2026World Anti-Doping Agency · 2026wada-ama.orgAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  3. 3Reduced calorie diet combined with NNMT inhibition establishes a distinct microbiome in DIO mice.Scientific reports · 2022PMID 35013352Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  4. 4Small molecule inhibitor of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase shows anti-proliferative activity in HeLa cells.Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology : the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology · 2021PMID 33645410Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  5. 5PubMed search: "5-amino-1MQ"[tiab] OR "5-amino-1-methylquinolinium"[tiab] (3 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  6. 6PubMed search: nicotinamide N-methyltransferase[tiab] AND (quinolinium[tiab] OR 5-amino-1MQ[tiab] OR "5-amino-1-methylquinolinium"[tiab] OR 5MQ[tiab]) (6 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  7. 7Development of a mass spectrometry based detection method for the mitochondrion-derived peptide MOTS-c in plasma samples for doping control purposes.Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM · 2019PMID 30394592Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  8. 8Repeated Heat Stress Modulates the Levels of the Mitokines MOTS-C and FGF21 in Active Men during Calf Muscle Immobilization.Medicine and science in sports and exercise · 2025PMID 40674654Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  9. 9Circulating levels of MOTS-c in patients with breast cancer treated with metformin.Aging · 2022PMID 36490309Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  10. 10Effect of aerobic and resistance exercise on the mitochondrial peptide MOTS-c in Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White breast cancer survivors.Scientific reports · 2021PMID 34413391Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  11. 11PubMed search: ("MOTS-c"[tiab] OR MOTSc[tiab]) (262 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  12. 12PubMed search: ("MOTS-c"[tiab] OR MOTSc[tiab]) AND (humans[mh] OR human[tiab] OR participants[tiab] OR patients[tiab] OR volunteers[tiab]) (179 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  13. 13PubMed search: ("MOTS-c"[tiab] OR MOTSc[tiab]) AND (randomized controlled trial[pt] OR "clinical trial"[pt] OR "meta-analysis"[pt] OR "systematic review"[pt]) (5 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  14. 14PubMed search: ("MOTS-c"[tiab] OR MOTSc[tiab]) AND (mice[tiab] OR mouse[tiab] OR rat[tiab] OR rats[tiab]) AND (injection[tiab] OR treatment[tiab] OR administration[tiab] OR treated[tiab]) (72 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  15. 15PubMed search: ("MOTS-c"[tiab] OR MOTSc[tiab]) AND (half-life[tiab] OR pharmacokinetic*[tiab]) (3 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  16. 16PubMed search: ("5-amino-1MQ"[tiab] OR 5-amino-1-methylquinolinium[tiab]) AND ("MOTS-c"[tiab] OR MOTSc[tiab])PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  17. 17Advisory committee backs 6 of 7 peptides for the 503A listNCPA · 2026ncpa.org

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