Reviewed & approved by Dr. Nova Reyes · Last checked 2026-10-15. ← Back to Evidence Library
MOTS-c: what the evidence says
At a glance
What it is: a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA (the small genome inside the cell's energy factories). It was discovered in 2015. It is sold online as a "research chemical" for metabolism and exercise capacity. R1
What the evidence says: promising in mice. Essentially untested in people as a supplement. R2, R3
Biggest risks: not knowing what's in the vial, and no human safety data for injected MOTS-c. R2, R10
| Rating | |
|---|---|
| Human Human evidence | No human data (animal and lab studies only) for taking MOTS-c (human data only show the body's own levels rise with exercise) R2 |
| Animal Animal evidence | Very limited, mostly one lab (the USC group that discovered it; key authors disclose CohBar ties) R3 |
| Regulatory | Not FDA-approved · WADA-banned (named, S4) R7, R8 |
| Established human dose | Unknown Unknown |
Evidence verdict: Human: No human data (animal and lab studies only) · Animal: Very limited, mostly one lab Card verdict: No human data (metabolic & exercise claims rest on mouse studies; untested as a human treatment) Card note: Varies by use, see page
This page reports what studies used. It is not dosing advice.
Legend: HUMAN data · ANIMAL / LAB data · UNKNOWN · UNVERIFIED: not yet confirmed against a primary source
What is it?
MOTS-c was discovered by researchers at the University of Southern California. In mice it acted mainly on muscle. There it switched on AMPK, a sensor that tracks a cell's energy. R1
Does it work?
Animal In mice: MOTS-c prevented obesity and insulin resistance (when the body stops responding well to insulin) caused by diet. It also improved physical performance in young, middle-aged and old mice. R3
Human In people: exercise raises the body's own MOTS-c. Whether taking it as an injection does anything is essentially untested in people. R2
Is it safe?
- Unknown No published human safety data for MOTS-c taken as a product. R2
- Unknown No formal animal toxicology (testing for serious harm, like organ damage) found on PubMed (our search, Oct 15, 2026).
- Caution The key mouse studies were done by researchers who disclosed being consultants and shareholders in a company developing MOTS-c-related drugs (CohBar). R3
What we don't know
- Unknown A safe or effective human dose
- Unknown Any controlled human trial
- Unknown Long-term safety
- Unknown Independent replication outside the discovering group
Is it legal?
Not FDA-approved. FDA flagged MOTS-c among compounding substances (pharmacies preparing custom medicines for individual patients, with a prescription) with safety risks. It noted it found no human exposure data. In July 2026, FDA advisers reportedly voted to allow compounding it, against FDA staff advice; that vote is only advice and doesn't change its legal status. WADA's (World Anti-Doping Agency) 2026 list names MOTS-c under S4.4 (metabolic modulators, AMPK activators), banned at all times. As of Oct 15, 2026. R7, R8
What's in the vial?
Wrong compound or amount, impurities, bacterial toxins or heavy metals are all possible. We test retail vials blind under the Open Peptide Standard. See results at /tests/. A passing test covers one batch, tested on one date. It does not mean the compound itself is safe. R10
What do users report?
Self-report, not evidence.
Unknown TBD. We'll only list this once we can cite a public source.
Study details
R2–R3 Studies
R2 = Reynolds 2021 (human exercise data). R3 = Lee 2015 and Reynolds 2021 (mouse studies).
These are doses researchers used, not recommendations. Animal doses don't convert simply to people.
| Species | Model | Route | Doses | Outcome | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mouse | High-fat diet; aging | Caution not in abstract | Caution not in abstract UNVERIFIED | Prevented diet-induced obesity and age/diet insulin resistance | PMID 25738459 |
| Mouse (2, 12, 22 mo) | Physical performance; late-life treatment | Caution not in abstract | Caution "3x/week" intermittent; dose not in abstract | Better physical capacity | PMID 33473109 |
| Human Human | Exercise | none given | — | Exercise raised muscle and blood MOTS-c (body's own) | PMID 33473109 |
Conflict of interest: Reynolds 2021 states "P.C. and C.L. are consultants and shareholders of CohBar, Inc." UNVERIFIED Reports of a CohBar clinical program for a MOTS-c analogue were not checked against a primary source.
R1, R7, R8, R10 Background and regulatory (as of Oct 15, 2026)
- R1 16-amino-acid peptide from the mitochondrial 12S rRNA; targets skeletal muscle; AMPK activation (Lee 2015, PMID 25738459).
- R7 FDA: no approved label. Compounding: "MOTs-C" is on FDA's list of substances previously in Category 2 whose nominations were withdrawn; FDA cites immunogenicity and impurity concerns and states it "has not identified any human exposure data" (FDA page). On July 23, 2026, FDA's advisory committee (PCAC) reviewed MOTS-c for obesity and osteoporosis; FDA staff proposed that it NOT be added (FDA briefing). UNVERIFIED STAT, July 24, 2026 reports a 7–5 vote in favor; FDA has not posted minutes on its meeting page (checked Oct 15, 2026), so the count is from news coverage only. The vote is advice only.
- R8 WADA: 2026 list S4.4.1 names "mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA-c (MOTS-c)". WADA 2026 list
- R10 Open Peptide Standard panel as on other pages. Unknown Results pending the first batch.
Full reference list (all verified on PubMed, Oct 15, 2026)
- Lee C, et al. Cell Metab. 2015;21(3):443-54. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2015.02.009. PMID 25738459
- Reynolds JC, et al. Nat Commun. 2021;12(1):470. doi:10.1038/s41467-020-20790-0. PMID 33473109
Disclaimer
This page is for education and harm reduction. It is not medical advice and not a recommendation to use MOTS-c. Its safety in humans is not established. Please talk to a clinician you trust, especially if you have diabetes, are pregnant, or are a tested athlete. Seek care right away for a serious reaction, and report it to FDA MedWatch (https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch).