AICAR vs Cholecystokinin-8
Head-to-head comparison of AICAR (5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide Ribonucleotide (Acadesine)) and Cholecystokinin-8 (Cholecystokinin (sulfated C-terminal octapeptide, CCK-8)) — benefits, dosing, side effects, research data, and where to buy.
Research Score
| Property | AICAR | Cholecystokinin-8 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Performance | Endocrine Peptides |
| Full Name | 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide Ribonucleotide (Acadesine) | Cholecystokinin (sulfated C-terminal octapeptide, CCK-8) |
| Molecular Weight | 338.21 g/mol | 1143.2 Da |
| Half-Life | ~2-3 hours | 1-2 min |
| Amino Acids | Nucleoside analog | DY(SO3H)MGWMDF-NH2 |
| Typical Dose | — | physiologic low-picomolar-nanomolar range|research-dependent |
| Route | — | endogenous secretion|research IV/SC |
| Purity | >99% | ≥98% |
| Studies Count | 180 | 97 |
| Research Status | Active Research | Endogenous |
AICAR Benefits
- ✓Increases endurance capacity, enhances fatty acid oxidation, promotes mitochondrial biogenesis, improves glucose uptake, cardioprotective effects
Cholecystokinin-8 Benefits
- ✓gallbladder contraction
- ✓pancreatic enzyme release
- ✓satiety signaling
AICAR Dosing
Research doses: 50-150 mg subcutaneously. Typically administered 30-60 minutes before physical activity in research settings.
Cholecystokinin-8 Dosing
physiologic secretion|research-dependent
AICAR Side Effects
- ⚠Potential hypoglycemia, lactic acidosis at high doses, injection site reactions. Banned by WADA as a metabolic modulator.
Cholecystokinin-8 Side Effects
- ⚠abdominal cramping
- ⚠nausea
- ⚠biliary contraction
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.
Cholecystokinin-8
CCK-8 is a canonical gut hormone fragment with extensive documentation in digestive physiology and appetite control. Sulfation of the tyrosine residue is important for high-affinity receptor activity.
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