Skip to content
Peptigraph home

NAD+ vs MOTS-c: What the Research Shows

NAD+ 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
Coenzyme (injectable, IV or nasal)CompoundedNAD+Coenzyme sold as an injectable wellness product; a systematic review concluded clinical effectiveness for anti-aging or wellness outcomes remains inconclusive.[13]
Mitochondrial-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.[4]GLP-1 & metabolic+437% searches
Quick verdict

Where the research points

Summary of studies, not a recommendation

Consider NAD+ if…

  • you want a systematic review of the field: for NAD+ supplementation, clinical effectiveness for anti-aging or wellness outcomes remains inconclusive[13]
  • you want to know about intravenous use: the systematic review found no eligible outcomes trials of intravenous or intramuscular NAD+ for anti-aging or wellness[13]
  • you want real-world IV data: in a retrospective pilot of commercial infusions, NAD+ IV was associated with moderate to severe gastrointestinal symptoms, higher heart rate and chest pressure[14]

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[6]
Neither is FDA approved for any use in people. 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 10 of 10 fields where the two differ.

FieldNAD+MOTS-c
ClassCoenzyme (injectable, IV or nasal)Mitochondrial-derived peptide
Also calledNAD, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotidemots
FDA statusCompoundedPCAC 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
WADANo WADA record in our dataProhibited 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
Half-life[half-life by route]No published half-life foundPubMed search, 2 Oct 2026
Evidence strength[evidence grade]Human RCT evidence, 4 of 4Strongest: Medicine and science in sports and exercise 2025, PMID 40674654
Human studies we summarised[n]7 human (4 randomized or controlled) of 15 summarised
Typical study doses[dose range]

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

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. 3Development 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
  4. 4Repeated 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
  5. 5Circulating levels of MOTS-c in patients with breast cancer treated with metformin.Aging · 2022PMID 36490309Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  6. 6Effect 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
  7. 7PubMed search: ("MOTS-c"[tiab] OR MOTSc[tiab]) (262 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  8. 8PubMed 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
  9. 9PubMed 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
  10. 10PubMed 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
  11. 11PubMed 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
  12. 12PubMed search: ("MOTS-c"[tiab] OR MOTSc[tiab]) AND ("NAD+"[tiab] OR "nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide"[tiab])PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  13. 13NAD⁺ supplementation for anti-aging and wellness: A PRISMA-guided systematic review of preclinical and clinical evidence.Ageing research reviews · 2026PMID 41655607Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  14. 14Intravenous infusion of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) versus nicotinamide riboside (NR): a retrospective tolerability pilot study in a real-world setting.Frontiers in aging · 2026PMID 41704678Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  15. 15Advisory committee backs 6 of 7 peptides for the 503A listNCPA · 2026ncpa.org

Found an error? Report a correction.