The AMPK activator that made "exercise in a bottle" headlines in the 2000s — real mechanism, real animal data, but dose-cost and limited human trials keep it experimental.
AICAR (5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside) is a nucleoside that’s metabolized inside cells to ZMP — an AMP analog that directly activates AMPK, the master cellular energy sensor. Activating AMPK triggers most of the metabolic adaptations the body makes to caloric restriction and endurance exercise.
Narkar et al. (2008, Cell) made headlines showing AICAR alone produced endurance improvements in sedentary mice. Since then, the gap between "proven in mice" and "proven in humans" hasn’t fully closed — dosing effective in mice translates to enormous (gram-range) doses for humans, and human clinical trials are limited.
Not FDA approved. WADA prohibited (S4 — Hormone & Metabolic Modulators). Research chemical; controversial due to cost vs evidence ratio.
ZMP (AICAR’s active metabolite) mimics AMP inside cells and allosterically activates AMPK. Downstream: fatty-acid oxidation up, mitochondrial biogenesis up, gluconeogenesis down, PGC-1α activation — the same effectors that endurance training engages.
In animal models, chronic AICAR produces a slow-twitch (oxidative) fiber shift in skeletal muscle — the adaptation that defines endurance-trained muscle.
Narkar’s mouse studies used 500 mg/kg/day. Scaled to human body size (with allometric conversion), effective human doses would be in the grams. Research-chem AICAR is expensive enough at that volume that cost becomes prohibitive for most personal use.
| Benefit | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Endurance (animal) | Narkar 2008: sedentary mice ran 44% longer on AICAR alone |
| Fat loss | Improved fat oxidation in animal models; modest human data |
| Insulin sensitivity | AMPK-mediated glucose uptake improvement |
| Diabetes research | Studied as a metformin-alternative pathway |
| Human endurance trials | Limited; effective doses are practically cost-prohibitive |
MOTS-C and SLU-PP-332 hit similar AMPK / mitochondrial endpoints at more practical doses. Most users interested in the "exercise mimetic" idea end up there instead of AICAR.
Build your protocol, log every dose, monitor your body's response, and get reminders so you never miss a dose.
Start Tracking FreeNo established human dosing — these are extrapolated community estimates from animal-study doses, not clinical guidelines. Expect effect to be subtle at any dose you can actually afford.
AICAR is supplied as a lyophilized powder. Because doses are so much higher than typical research peptides (hundreds of mg rather than mcg), reconstitution math differs — you’re injecting meaningful volumes.
A typical 500 mg vial reconstituted to a tolerable SubQ volume (say 2–3 mL BAC water) gives a concentration of 170–250 mg/mL. A 500 mg dose = the full 2–3 mL. Multiple injection sites may be needed.
Pre-filled with a typical AICAR setup. Edit any field — the draw updates live.
Insulin syringe — 100 units = 1 mL
Free account. Saves your reconstitution + schedules doses + tracks every vial.
Dosing cheat sheet, reconstitution reference, and cycle planning — delivered to your inbox.
AICAR is a research peptide not approved by the FDA for human use. It is sold only as a research chemical, and StackTrax does not endorse or facilitate personal use.
Quality varies enormously among research-chemical suppliers. At minimum, look for:
StackTrax’s preferred partner NextGen Peptides does not currently carry AICARin their catalog, which is why you don’t see a direct purchase link here. Other major research-chemical suppliers carry it; we don’t specifically recommend one for this compound.
Build your protocol, log every dose, monitor your body's response, and get reminders so you never miss a dose.
Start Tracking FreeAICAR (5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside) is a nucleoside that is metabolized inside cells to ZMP, an AMP analog that directly activates AMPK, the master cellular energy sensor. Activating AMPK triggers most of the metabolic adaptations the body makes to caloric restriction and endurance exercise, including increased fatty-acid oxidation, mitochondrial biogenesis, reduced gluconeogenesis, and PGC-1α activation.
It is a real AMPK activator, but the exercise-mimetic headline outruns the human evidence. Narkar et al. 2008 in Cell showed that sedentary mice ran 44% longer on AICAR alone, and in animal models chronic AICAR produces a slow-twitch oxidative fiber shift in skeletal muscle. The gap between proven in mice and proven in humans has not closed, and human endurance trials are limited. MOTS-C and SLU-PP-332 hit similar AMPK and mitochondrial endpoints at more practical doses, and most users interested in the exercise-mimetic idea end up there instead.
AICAR is WADA prohibited under S4 (Hormone and Metabolic Modulators) because it pharmacologically reproduces the metabolic effects of endurance training, including fiber-type shift and improved fat oxidation. Use by tested athletes will trigger anti-doping tests.
Narkar's mouse studies used 500 mg/kg/day. Scaled to human body size with allometric conversion, effective human doses would be in the grams. Community-reported low-confidence dosing is 500 mg to 2 g SubQ daily for 30 to 60 day cycles with long breaks. No established human dosing exists; these are extrapolated community estimates from animal-study doses, not clinical guidelines. Effective doses at research-chem pricing run $200+/week, so cost becomes prohibitive for most personal use and expect the effect to be subtle at any dose you can actually afford.
AICAR is supplied as a lyophilized powder, and because doses are hundreds of mg rather than mcg, reconstitution math differs from typical peptides. A typical 500 mg vial reconstituted to 2 to 3 mL of bacteriostatic water gives 170 to 250 mg/mL, so a 500 mg dose is the full 2 to 3 mL SubQ. Multiple injection sites may be needed. Store powder refrigerated (or frozen long term) and reconstituted product refrigerated, used within 14 days.
Reported effects include injection site reactions (large SubQ volumes can be uncomfortable), fatigue during the first week, transient lactate elevation, and mild GI upset. Active cancer is more than a vague caution: PMID 39197808 documents that AMPK activation plays a dual role in cancer, potentially both suppressing and actively promoting tumor proliferation, survival, metastasis, and impaired anti-tumor immunity depending on context. Treat active malignancy as a contraindication pending clearer human evidence. Use caution with kidney disease, hypoglycemia-unaware diabetes, pregnancy, and liver disease.
Disclaimer: This guide is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The compounds discussed are not FDA approved for human use. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any new supplement or peptide protocol. StackTrax does not sell peptides or supplements directly — purchase links go to third-party vendors. StackTrax is not responsible for the products, quality, or business practices of any third-party vendor. This page contains affiliate links — StackTrax may earn a commission on purchases at no extra cost to you.
© 2026 StackTrax, LLC. All rights reserved.
Privacy · Terms · Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
StackTrax guides cover peptides and compounds that are not FDA-approved for the uses discussed. The dosing, reconstitution, and safety information is compiled from published research and community protocols for educational purposes only.
Before using any compound mentioned here, consult a qualified healthcare provider. StackTrax does not sell, prescribe, or recommend these substances for personal use.
These pages also contain affiliate links. We may earn a commission on purchases at no extra cost to you — this never changes our editorial recommendations.