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MOTS-c Dosage: Doses Studied, Units and Chart

What doses of MOTS-c have been used in published research, how they convert to syringe units, and what is still unknown.

Medically reviewed by Juan Pablo Frías, MD · · DisclosureMitochondrial-derived peptideUpdated
Doses studied
11 studies
with a stated dose, listed below
Frequency
Varies by study
as used in studies
Half-life
Not found
No published half-life found (PubMed search, 2 Oct 2026)
Vial sizes sold
5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg

Doses used in published studies

Each dose below is quoted from a study abstract, strongest design first. Animal doses are labelled and do not translate directly to people. None of them is a recommendation.

Doses of MOTS-c used in published studies
DoseFrequency and routeStudy typeSource
none (repeated heat exposure)repeated · n/a · 2 weeksHuman RCTn = 19Medicine and science in sports and exercise 2025, PMID 40674654
none (metformin was the intervention)n/a · n/a · 24 weeksHuman RCTAging 2022, PMID 36490309
none (16-week aerobic and resistance exercise)n/a · n/a · 16 weeksHuman RCTn = 49Scientific reports 2021, PMID 34413391
none (acute exercise)single session · n/a · samples at 30 min and 3 h after exerciseHuman RCTn = 30Journal of applied physiology 2021, PMID 34351816
nonen/a · n/a · n/aHuman observationaln = 85Archives of endocrinology and metabolism 2025, PMID 41004666
nonen/a · n/a · 8-week exercise interventionHuman observationalClinical endocrinology 2019, PMID 31066084
MOTS-c 2 μg/ml (ex vivo aortic rings)n/a · ex vivo · n/aHuman observationaln = 40International journal of cardiology 2018, PMID 29242099
15 mg/kg/daydaily · injection · 8 daysAnimal · mouse (not a human result)American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism 2024, PMID 38170165
not stated in abstract3x/week intermittent treatment in the late-life experiment · not stated · late-life treatment from 23.5 mo.Animal · mouse (plus human exercise samples) (not a human result)Nature communications 2021, PMID 33473109
5 mg/kgonce a day · injection · 12 weeksAnimal · mouse (not a human result)Biochemical and biophysical research communications 2016, PMID 27237975
0.5 or 1.0 uMn/a · cell culture · 24-48 hIn vitro (not a human result)European review for medical and pharmacological sciences 2019, PMID 31081069

Dose to syringe units

For a 10 mg vial mixed with 2 mL of bacteriostatic water (5 mg/mL), on a U-100 syringe. These are reference amounts for the math, not suggested doses.

0.5 mg
10 u
1 mg
20 u
2 mg
40 u
2.5 mg
50 u
5 mg
100 u
Use your own vial and water

Before anyone considers it

  • MOTS-c is not FDA approved for any use.
  • Products sold as research chemicals are not checked by the FDA for identity, purity or dose.
  • Reconstitution math (mg vs mcg, units vs mL) is the most asked question in peptide forums. Check every number twice.
  • People who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a chronic condition need medical advice first.

Common questions

How many units is 2 mg of MOTS-c?

It depends on the water added. A 10 mg vial with 2 mL of water gives 5 mg/mL, so 2 mg is 40 units on a U-100 syringe. Use the calculator for other mixes.

Is MOTS-c FDA approved?

No. MOTS-c is not FDA approved for any use. The FDA removed it from Category 2 on 15 Apr 2026. Its advisory committee voted 7–5 in July 2026 to add it to the 503A compounding list. That vote is not final.

More on MOTS-c

Side effectsWhat labels and studies report, and what is unknown.CalculatorVial, water and dose to syringe units.ResultsStudy outcomes and when they were measured.PricePrice per mg and per week from dated listings. No vendor links.Legal statusFDA, compounding and WADA status with dates.How to injectSites, syringe types and hygiene, step by step.

Sources

  1. 1Certain bulk drug substances for use in compounding that may present significant safety risks (Category 2; 'nominated but withdrawn' table, content current as of 22 Apr 2026)U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2026fda.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  2. 2Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee meeting, 23–24 Jul 2026 (agenda and materials)U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2026fda.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  3. 3Metric (SI) Prefixes (NIST Reference on Constants, Units, and Uncertainty)National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) · 2025physics.nist.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  4. 4BASAGLAR (insulin glargine) injection, prescribing information (DailyMed)U.S. Food and Drug Administration / DailyMed (Eli Lilly and Company label) · 2026dailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  5. 5Repeated 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
  6. 6Circulating levels of MOTS-c in patients with breast cancer treated with metformin.Aging · 2022PMID 36490309Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  7. 7Effect 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
  8. 8Acute endurance exercise stimulates circulating levels of mitochondrial-derived peptides in humans.Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) · 2021PMID 34351816Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  9. 9MOTS-C levels ın ındividuals with and without obesity and ıts association with ınflammation, insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction.Archives of endocrinology and metabolism · 2025PMID 41004666Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  10. 10Lipids and insulin regulate mitochondrial-derived peptide (MOTS-c) in PCOS and healthy subjects.Clinical endocrinology · 2019PMID 31066084Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  11. 11Downregulation of circulating MOTS-c levels in patients with coronary endothelial dysfunction.International journal of cardiology · 2018PMID 29242099Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  12. 12Mitochondrial-derived microprotein MOTS-c attenuates immobilization-induced skeletal muscle atrophy by suppressing lipid infiltration.American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism · 2024PMID 38170165Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  13. 13MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis.Nature communications · 2021PMID 33473109Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  14. 14Mitochondria related peptide MOTS-c suppresses ovariectomy-induced bone loss via AMPK activation.Biochemical and biophysical research communications · 2016PMID 27237975Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  15. 15MOTS-c improves osteoporosis by promoting the synthesis of type I collagen in osteoblasts via TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway.European review for medical and pharmacological sciences · 2019PMID 31081069Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  16. 16PubMed search: ("MOTS-c"[tiab] OR MOTSc[tiab]) (262 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  17. 17PubMed 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
  18. 18PubMed 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
  19. 19PubMed 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
  20. 20PubMed 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

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