Metabolic / longevity
MOTS-c
A 16-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide that regulates metabolic homeostasis and insulin sensitivity, largely through AMPK activation, and is often described as an 'exercise-mimetic' in preclinical work. Evidence is almost entirely animal and mechanistic; human data is minimal.
Common doses
| Indication | Route | Dose | Duration | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metabolic support / 'exercise-mimetic' (off-label, experimental) | SC injection | No established dose; community use varies | Experimental | Tier 5 |
Limitations · Who should NOT use this
Mechanistically interesting but clinically unproven in humans — efficacy claims rest on rodent and cell studies. No human trials establishing dose, efficacy, or safety. The 'exercise-mimetic' framing is preclinical and should not be read as a substitute for exercise. Gray-market sourcing with no oversight; purity and identity must be verified. Avoid extrapolating animal metabolic findings to humans.
Regulatory notes
Not FDA-approved; investigational. Available only through research-chemical channels. No established clinical dosing. Human pharmacokinetics and safety are not characterized.
Verify what's actually in your MOTS-c vial
Gray-market peptide vials vary widely on identity, purity, and labeled concentration. Finnrick is an independent testing platform that ships consumer-submitted samples to commercial labs and publishes every result in a free public database. Vendors cannot pay for placement or to suppress a result. We don't operate Finnrick — we link to it because post-purchase verification is the right complement to pre-purchase clinical evidence.
Finnrick is independent; we receive no compensation for this link. US-resident free testing as of May 2026.
Sources
- Lee C, et al. The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance. Cell Metab 2015;21(3):443-454.
- Reynolds JC, et al. MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis. Nat Commun 2021;12(1):470.
- Kim KH, et al. The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c: a player in exceptional longevity? Aging Cell 2022.
Community signal — MOTS-c
Recent posts and videos mentioning MOTS-c from the cron-ingested Reddit + Bluesky pipelines and the curated /experts directory. Not endorsement — directional context only.
- r/Peptides· u/thad_the_dude · 1h ago
What to do while traveling…
What to do while traveling…
- r/BodyHackGuide· u/bluebutterfly1446 · 7h ago
Best place to pin Mots-C?
Best place to pin Mots-C?
- r/Biohackers· u/Which_Sense_934 · 9h ago
Does standard cycling logic apply to chronically ill people?
Does standard cycling logic apply to chronically ill people?
No Bluesky posts mentioning MOTS-c in our index yet — the Bluesky cron pulls every four hours.
No curated experts have MOTS-c tagged in their peptideAreas yet.
No YouTube videos mentioning MOTS-c in our index yet. The YouTube RSS cron pulls every 6 hours.
Community Notes
0 approved · moderated
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