AICAR vs CJC-1295
Head-to-head comparison of AICAR (5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide Ribonucleotide (Acadesine)) and CJC-1295 (Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analog) — benefits, dosing, side effects, research data, and where to buy.
| Property | AICAR | CJC-1295 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Performance | Performance |
| Full Name | 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide Ribonucleotide (Acadesine) | Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analog |
| Molecular Weight | 338.21 g/mol | 3,367.97 Da |
| Half-Life | ~2-3 hours | ~6-8 days (DAC) |
| Amino Acids | Nucleoside analog | 30 |
| Typical Dose | — | 1-2 mg/week |
| Route | — | SC |
| Purity | >99% | — |
| Studies Count | 180 | 167 |
| Research Status | Active Research | Clinical Trials |
AICAR Benefits
- ✓Increases endurance capacity, enhances fatty acid oxidation, promotes mitochondrial biogenesis, improves glucose uptake, cardioprotective effects
CJC-1295 Benefits
- ✓Sustained GH release over days
- ✓Improved body composition
- ✓Enhanced deep sleep quality
- ✓Accelerated recovery from training
- ✓Increased protein synthesis
AICAR Dosing
Research doses: 50-150 mg subcutaneously. Typically administered 30-60 minutes before physical activity in research settings.
CJC-1295 Dosing
Without DAC: 100-200 mcg SC 2-3 times daily|With DAC: 1-2 mg SC once or twice weekly|Combined with Ipamorelin: 100 mcg each, 2-3x daily
AICAR Side Effects
- ⚠Potential hypoglycemia, lactic acidosis at high doses, injection site reactions. Banned by WADA as a metabolic modulator.
CJC-1295 Side Effects
- ⚠Common (Mild): Water retention, tingling/numbness, flushing
- ⚠Moderate: Joint stiffness, carpal tunnel-like symptoms
- ⚠Rare: Elevated blood sugar (transient)
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.
CJC-1295
CJC-1295 has good pre-clinical and early clinical data. The DAC variant shows sustained GH elevation for days. Often combined with GHRPs for synergistic GH release.
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