AICAR vs 5-Amino-1MQ
Head-to-head comparison of AICAR (5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide Ribonucleotide (Acadesine)) and 5-Amino-1MQ (5-Amino-1-methylquinolinium) — benefits, dosing, side effects, research data, and where to buy.
Research Score
| Property | AICAR | 5-Amino-1MQ |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Performance | Weight Management |
| Full Name | 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide Ribonucleotide (Acadesine) | 5-Amino-1-methylquinolinium |
| Molecular Weight | 338.21 g/mol | 178.23 g/mol |
| Half-Life | ~2-3 hours | ~6 hours |
| Amino Acids | Nucleoside analog | Small molecule |
| Typical Dose | — | — |
| Route | — | — |
| Purity | >99% | >98% |
| Studies Count | 180 | 28 |
| Research Status | Active Research | Active Research |
AICAR Benefits
- ✓Increases endurance capacity, enhances fatty acid oxidation, promotes mitochondrial biogenesis, improves glucose uptake, cardioprotective effects
5-Amino-1MQ Benefits
- ✓Reduces body fat without appetite changes, lowers cholesterol, increases NAD+ levels, improves metabolic efficiency, supports cellular energy production
AICAR Dosing
Research doses: 50-150 mg subcutaneously. Typically administered 30-60 minutes before physical activity in research settings.
5-Amino-1MQ Dosing
Research doses: 50-150 mg orally daily. Often cycled 8-12 weeks on, 4 weeks off. Best taken in the morning.
AICAR Side Effects
- ⚠Potential hypoglycemia, lactic acidosis at high doses, injection site reactions. Banned by WADA as a metabolic modulator.
5-Amino-1MQ Side Effects
- ⚠Generally well-tolerated in preclinical models. Potential mild GI discomfort and headache. Long-term human safety data is limited.
Research Overview
AICAR
Salk Institute researchers demonstrated AICAR could increase endurance in sedentary mice by 44% without exercise training. Activates AMPK, triggering PGC-1α expression, mitochondrial biogenesis, and enhanced fatty acid β-oxidation.
5-Amino-1MQ
Studies in diet-induced obese mice showed significant reductions in body weight, white adipose tissue mass, and cholesterol levels without changes in food intake. Works by inhibiting NNMT enzyme to increase NAD+ and activate sirtuins.
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