MOTS-c
A peptide your own mitochondria already make — extra doses mimic some of what exercise does.
Technically · Mitochondrial-derived peptide
In one sentence
A peptide your mitochondria already make — extra doses mimic the metabolic perks of exercise.
— Like a workout in a syringe (for your cell's power plants, not your muscles).
Half-life
~hours (estimated)
A few hours active — usually dosed 2-3 times per week.
Dosing
2–3× weekly
How often you take a dose
Route
SubQ
How it goes into the body
Status
Research
Sold for lab research — not approved for humans
What it is
A 16-amino-acid peptide that's actually encoded inside your mitochondria (the tiny power plants in every cell). Your body already makes it — extra doses seem to mimic some of the metabolic perks of exercise, like better insulin sensitivity and more efficient fat burning.
The full technical answer
16-amino-acid peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA. Studied for metabolic regulation, exercise mimicking, and insulin sensitivity. No FDA approval.
How it works
MOTS-c flips on an internal switch called AMPK — the same switch your body uses when you exercise or fast. Once flipped, cells get better at handling sugar and burning fat. Mouse studies show real metabolic improvements; human studies are catching up.
The full technical answer
Activates AMPK pathway, regulates glucose homeostasis, and mimics some exercise-induced metabolic adaptations in animal models.
What the research says
Animal studies (Lee 2015) demonstrated improved insulin sensitivity. Human studies very limited.
Sources: Cell Metab Lee 2015
Common dosing ranges
- Range
- 5–10 mg per dose (anecdotal)
- Frequency
- 2–3× weekly
- Duration
- 4–8 week cycles
Sources: PubMed
How to take it
Practical guidance synthesized from clinical protocols, FDA labels, and clinician interviews. Always cross-check with a prescribing physician.
Best time of day
AM, ideally pre-workout. The AMPK activation mimics a workout signal — pair with actual training for stack effect.
With food or fasted
Fasted is preferred — AMPK runs strongest in a low-insulin state.
How long to cycle
4–8 weeks on, 2–4 weeks off.
When to get off
End each cycle on schedule. Long-term human safety data is sparse — don't run continuous.
Administration
Side effects
Further reading & listening
Where the experts go deeper.
Curated from the PeptideFacts expert directory — vetted YouTube channels, podcasts, books, and communities. No anecdote-only or supplier-affiliated picks.
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