MOTS-c is a small peptide of 16 amino acids encoded within mitochondrial DNA (the mitochondrial 12S rRNA region). The body makes it naturally, and researchers study it as a signal involved in metabolism and the cellular stress response. The injectable versions sold for study are unregulated research chemicals, not approved medicines.

How does MOTS-c work?

In laboratory and animal studies, MOTS-c is reported to influence the folate one-carbon cycle and de novo purine synthesis, leading to accumulation of an intermediate (AICAR) that activates AMPK, a master regulator of cellular energy. It has also been described moving into the cell nucleus under metabolic stress to help regulate gene expression.

What is MOTS-c studied for?

Most research looks at metabolism: insulin sensitivity, glucose handling, diet-induced obesity, and exercise-related effects, which is why it is sometimes called an 'exercise mimetic.' These findings come largely from cell and mouse studies. There are no large human clinical trials demonstrating safety or benefit.

Is MOTS-c FDA-approved?

No. MOTS-c is not approved by the FDA for any condition and is not part of any approved drug product. It is sold only as a research chemical labeled 'for research use only' and has not completed human clinical trials for any medical use.

Is MOTS-c banned in sports?

Yes. The World Anti-Doping Agency lists MOTS-c as prohibited at all times under metabolic modulators (activators of AMPK). According to anti-doping guidance, athletes cannot obtain a Therapeutic Use Exemption for it because there is no approved therapeutic use.

What are the risks of MOTS-c?

Human safety data are very limited, so the risks are largely uncharacterized. General concerns with any reconstituted research peptide include injection-related infection, contamination or mislabeling of unregulated products, and unknown long-term effects. Anyone considering it should speak with a licensed clinician first.

Is MOTS-c legal to buy?

MOTS-c is not a controlled substance in the U.S., but it is also not an approved drug or dietary supplement. It is sold as a research chemical for laboratory use only. Legal and regulatory status varies by country, and being available to purchase does not mean it is safe or approved for human use.

Energy & metabolism · Dosage

MOTS-c dosage

MOTS-c comes in 10 mg and 20 mg vials. Pick your vial to see exactly how much bacteriostatic water to add and how many insulin units to draw. Reconstitution math and unit conversions for the 10 mg and 20 mg vials. MOTS-c has no validated human dose; the usage pattern shown is community-reported and anecdotal.

10mg

At 2 mL water: 5 mg/mL
Per unit: 50 mcg

See the 10 mg card

20mg

At 2 mL water: 10 mg/mL
Per unit: 100 mcg

See the 20 mg card

Calculate for your vial

Enter the mg on your MOTS-c vial, the bacteriostatic water you added, and your target dose — it works out the exact units to draw on a U-100 insulin syringe, for whatever you personally have.

Reconstitution Calculator

Units to draw (U-100)50units

Volume to draw0.5mL

Concentration5mg/mL

Per insulin unit50mcg

Doses per vial4doses

Check the decimal. A misplaced decimal point here is a 10× dosing error. Re-read every number, and confirm your dose with a licensed clinician before you draw.

Educational only — not a dosing recommendation. This tool does the measurement math; it does not tell you what to take. On a U-100 insulin syringe, 100 units = 1 mL.

Personalize by body weight & height

MOTS-c · tailored to you

Optional

Some community write-ups scale MOTS-c by body weight (~2–10 mcg per lb), so heavier users take more — but this is anecdotal, with no human trial behind it.

Body weight

Height(for BMI)

Enter your body weight above to see the research-derived range.

Typical flat community dose: 200 mcg – 1 mg per injection.

The per-weight figure (~2–10 mcg/lb) is community-reported and anecdotal — there is no human trial establishing a weight-based MOTS-c dose. An alternative flat community ladder titrates ~200 → 1000 mcg/day.

Source: Community-reported / anecdotal — ~2–10 mcg per lb; no validated human dose. Educational only — not medical advice and not a dosing recommendation. Any dosing decision belongs with a licensed clinician.

Reconstitution figures are deterministic measurement math. WikiPeps is a community reference and sells injection supplies only — never peptides. Nothing here is medical advice.