PerformanceActive Research

AICAR

5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide Ribonucleotide (Acadesine)

Nucleoside analog Amino Acids · MW: 338.21 g/mol

Amino Acids

Nucleoside analog

Molecular Weight

338.21 g/mol

Half-life

~2-3 hours

Research Score

75.0

Studies

180

Storage

-20°C long-term, 2-8°C short-term

What is AICAR?

AICAR is an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) agonist that mimics the metabolic effects of exercise, enhancing endurance, fat oxidation, and mitochondrial biogenesis without physical training.

Key Benefits & Mechanisms

Increases endurance capacity, enhances fatty acid oxidation, promotes mitochondrial biogenesis, improves glucose uptake, cardioprotective effects

Research Summary

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.