AICAR vs C-peptide
Head-to-head comparison of AICAR (5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide Ribonucleotide (Acadesine)) and C-peptide (Connecting peptide (C-peptide)) — benefits, dosing, side effects, research data, and where to buy.
| Property | AICAR | C-peptide |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Performance | Pain Management |
| Full Name | 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide Ribonucleotide (Acadesine) | Connecting peptide (C-peptide) |
| Molecular Weight | 338.21 g/mol | 3020.3 Da |
| Half-Life | ~2-3 hours | ~20-30 min |
| Amino Acids | Nucleoside analog | 31 |
| Typical Dose | — | no approved analgesic dose|research-only |
| Route | — | IV|subQ |
| Purity | >99% | ≥98% |
| Studies Count | 180 | 46 |
| Research Status | Active Research | Pre-clinical |
AICAR Benefits
- ✓Increases endurance capacity, enhances fatty acid oxidation, promotes mitochondrial biogenesis, improves glucose uptake, cardioprotective effects
C-peptide Benefits
- ✓diabetic neuropathy research
- ✓nerve function support
- ✓possible analgesic effect
AICAR Dosing
Research doses: 50-150 mg subcutaneously. Typically administered 30-60 minutes before physical activity in research settings.
C-peptide Dosing
0.5-1.0 mg/day in research|route varies by protocol
AICAR Side Effects
- ⚠Potential hypoglycemia, lactic acidosis at high doses, injection site reactions. Banned by WADA as a metabolic modulator.
C-peptide Side Effects
- ⚠injection-site reactions
- ⚠unknown long-term safety
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.
C-peptide
C-peptide is not an approved analgesic, but multiple studies have examined its effects on peripheral nerve blood flow and neuropathy outcomes. The strongest relevance is in diabetic neuropathic pain rather than migraine.
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