Mitochondrial

MOTS-c

Not approved; mostly animal dataMostly animal studiesMOTScMots-C

A small peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA that acts like an exercise signal in muscle, improving how cells use glucose. In mice it improved insulin sensitivity and exercise capacity. Human data are limited to measuring natural levels and early trials of a related drug.

Canada
Not authorized; named in Health Canada's 2026 warning
United States
Not approved; advisory committee voted 7-5 in Jul 2026 to allow compounding; no final rule

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Not medical advice — talk to your doctor before making medical decisions.

At a glance

Class
Mitochondrial
Mechanism
Proposed: activates AMPK, improves glucose use in muscle
Evidence
Animal data; early human work on an analog
Canada
Not authorized
Us
Not approved
Half Life
Unknown
Routes
SubQ
Common Side Effects
Site reactions, tiredness in anecdotes
Key Cautions
No human safety data for the native peptide

What the research says

  • Does it work in people?

    Unknown. Results are from mice. An analog (CB4211) went into early human trials for fatty liver; MOTS-c itself hasn't been tested in published trials.

  • With a GLP-1 or diabetes medicine?

    Both affect blood sugar. Not studied together.

Get medical care if

  • Redness, heat, swelling or pus at a site that spreads or comes with fever
  • Hives, swelling of the face or throat, or trouble breathing (call 911)

Buying and quality

  • Not authorized by Health Canada. Products sold online as "research use only" are illegal to sell for human use in Canada, and the label doesn't change that.
  • Health Canada warns these products may contain too much, too little or none of the peptide, plus contaminants like endotoxins, solvents, heavy metals or bacteria.
  • A certificate of analysis (COA) from the seller isn't independent proof. A 98% purity result still leaves 2% unidentified.
  • If you use it anyway: one clean needle per injection, sterile technique, label and date every vial, and stop if a site gets hot, red and spreading.

Dose calculator

Doses are set with your prescriber. This converts a dose you already have into what to draw; it doesn't recommend one. Check every number against your syringe and your vial's label.

Doses left in the vial
A blend vial

Not medical advice — talk to your doctor before making medical decisions.

Sources

Researched 2026-10-27. Trial results and approval status change.

  1. Health Canada: Think twice before injecting peptides bought online (Apr 9, 2026)
  2. FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee
  3. PubMed: MOTS-c studies

General education, not medical advice. Nothing here is a dose recommendation. Doses, schedules and changes are set with a prescriber.