MOTS-c for Diabetes: What the Evidence Shows
What human and animal studies show about MOTS-c for diabetes, how strong that evidence is, and what is still unproven.
- Strongest evidence
- Human RCT
- Human studies
- 25
- PubMed records, our ledger
- Animal studies
- 16
- PubMed records, our ledger
- Studies we summarised
- 5
- with an outcome for diabetes
Evidence for diabetes
Each row is an outcome related to diabetes from a published study, strongest design first. Animal and cell results are labelled and are not human results. User reports are not counted as evidence here.
| Outcome | Result | Study type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circulating MOTS-c with metformin | No significant change in circulating MOTS-c after 24 weeks of chemotherapy with or without metformin. | Human RCT | Aging 2022, PMID 36490309 |
| MOTS-c response to lipid and insulin | Intralipid raised plasma MOTS-c in controls and PCOS subjects; insulin blunted the response. | Human observational | Clinical endocrinology 2019, PMID 31066084 |
| Hyperglycemia and islet inflammation | MOTS-c ameliorated hyperglycemia and reduced islet-infiltrating immune cells in NOD mice. | Animal · mouse (plus human serum) (not a human result) | Cell reports 2021, PMID 34320351 |
| Serum MOTS-c in type 1 diabetes | Patients with type 1 diabetes had lower serum MOTS-c than healthy controls. | Animal · mouse (plus human serum) (not a human result) | Cell reports 2021, PMID 34320351 |
| Ovariectomy-induced obesity | MOTS-c prevented ovariectomy-induced obesity and insulin resistance in mice. | Animal · mouse (not a human result) | Journal of molecular medicine 2019, PMID 30725119 |
| Obesity and insulin resistance | MOTS-c treatment prevented age-dependent and high-fat-diet-induced insulin resistance and diet-induced obesity in mice. | Animal · mouse (not a human result) | Cell metabolism 2015, PMID 25738459 |
PubMed records for MOTS-c and diabetes: 25 human, 16 animal (search counts, not studies we reviewed). Grades follow our evidence scale.
How strong is it?
A human randomized trial outweighs any number of animal studies. Animal and cell results show a mechanism worth testing, not that it works in people.
Other peptides people research for diabetes
All peptides for diabetes, comparedCommon questions
Does MOTS-c help with diabetes?
The strongest study we summarise for diabetes is human rct evidence, across 5 studies with an outcome for diabetes. A trial result is not an approval; see the legal status.
Is MOTS-c approved for diabetes?
No. MOTS-c is not FDA approved for any use, including diabetes.
What is the best peptide for diabetes?
There is no single answer. Our diabetes overview compares each candidate by evidence grade and legal status rather than by popularity.
More on MOTS-c
Sources
- 1Circulating levels of MOTS-c in patients with breast cancer treated with metformin.Aging · 2022PMID 36490309Accessed 2 Oct 2026
- 2Lipids and insulin regulate mitochondrial-derived peptide (MOTS-c) in PCOS and healthy subjects.Clinical endocrinology · 2019PMID 31066084Accessed 2 Oct 2026
- 3Mitochondrial-encoded MOTS-c prevents pancreatic islet destruction in autoimmune diabetes.Cell reports · 2021PMID 34320351Accessed 2 Oct 2026
- 4MOTS-c peptide regulates adipose homeostasis to prevent ovariectomy-induced metabolic dysfunction.Journal of molecular medicine (Berlin, Germany) · 2019PMID 30725119Accessed 2 Oct 2026
- 5The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance.Cell metabolism · 2015PMID 25738459Accessed 2 Oct 2026
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