MOTS-c
By Chris Hallewell, Founder, Underground Biohacking
Last reviewed
Research use only. Not FDA-approved.
MOTS-c is a peptide your own mitochondria make. Research groups use it to study insulin sensitivity, exercise capacity and ageing. Nearly all of that work is in mice and in cells. The one finding measured directly in people is that exercise raises your own MOTS-c. No trial has yet reported what happens when you inject it, so there is no clinically established dose and no human safety record.
What is MOTS-c?
MOTS-c is a short peptide, 16 amino acids long. Its code sits in your mitochondria, though the cell builds it outside them. Mitochondria are the parts of your cells that turn food into usable energy. They also carry their own small loop of DNA, separate from the DNA in the cell nucleus. MOTS-c is written in that mitochondrial DNA, inside a gene called 12S rRNA. The name is short for mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA type-c. A team at the University of Southern California described it in 2015. That makes it a mitochondrial-derived peptide, a small family that also includes humanin. These peptides act as signals. They tell the rest of the cell, and the rest of the body, how the mitochondria are coping. MOTS-c turns up in blood, and levels fall as people get older. Exercise pushes them back up.
What is MOTS-c used for?
- Exercise raises the MOTS-c your own body makes. Researchers measured that rise in human skeletal muscle and in blood.[2]Human study
- Across three population studies covering 27,527 adults, men carrying a gene variant that weakens MOTS-c had more type 2 diabetes. In one of the three, only the least active men showed the effect.[4]Human study
- In mice, MOTS-c injections improved insulin sensitivity and stopped a high-fat diet causing obesity. Skeletal muscle is the main target tissue, and the peptide works there by switching on an energy sensor called AMPK.[1]Animal or lab study only
- MOTS-c injections improved physical performance in young, middle-aged and old mice. Starting the injections late in life still raised their exercise capacity.[2]Animal or lab study only
- When fuel runs short, MOTS-c moves into the cell nucleus. There it switches on genes that defend the cell against stress.[3]Animal or lab study only
- MOTS-c switched on heat-producing brown fat in mice and helped them handle cold.[5]Animal or lab study only
- MOTS-c lowered blood sugar and improved the insulin response in a mouse model of pregnancy diabetes.[6]Animal or lab study only
How many units is your MOTS-c dose?
Enter your vial, water and dose. Get the units to draw.
How does MOTS-c work?
A 16-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide. Activates AMPK signalling, improves insulin sensitivity, and enhances metabolic flexibility. Endogenous expression rises with exercise; declines with age.
How is MOTS-c supplied?
Injectable (subcutaneous or intramuscular)
What are the side effects of MOTS-c?
| Effect | How serious | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| No human side-effect record exists. Every published result is from cells, mice or rats. FDA found no clinical studies or human exposure data for MOTS-c by any route.[8] | Unknown | Treat every dose as untested in people. |
| Low blood sugar is the effect to watch first. MOTS-c lowers glucose and improves the insulin response in animals, and nobody has dose-tested that in people.[1] | Unknown in humans | Fasting glucose and HbA1c |
| The effect may differ by sex. In mice, MOTS-c cut weight and improved glucose tolerance in males but did nothing in females.[4] | Unknown relevance to people | None established |
Is MOTS-c legal in 2026?
The FDA has not approved MOTS-c for any use. Its one nomination for pharmacy compounding was withdrawn, and FDA lists it on a page of withdrawn nominations it flagged for safety risks. On that page the FDA states two things. It has found no human exposure data for MOTS-c by any route. And the peptide may carry a real risk of immune reactions by some routes, meaning your immune system could attack the peptide itself. FDA's July 2026 briefing document proposed not adding MOTS-c to the list of substances pharmacies may compound. FDA's advisory committee then voted to recommend adding it, the National Community Pharmacists Association reported. The vote is advisory, and FDA's meeting page lists no minutes or vote record. MOTS-c is not on that list.
Status checked against the primary source.
What should MOTS-c cost?
Most sellers stock MOTS-c in 10mg vials. Across 40 sellers, those vials run $29.99 to $71.88. Across every vial size, the middle price is $3.50 per mg.
That is a wide spread for one product. Vial size explains part of it, because bigger vials cost less per mg. Testing explains more. A seller who pays a lab to check each batch charges more than one who skips it. Shipping, storage and how much stock is left move the rest.
A price well under that range is a question, not a bargain. The vial may hold less peptide than the label claims. Peptides also break down in heat, so cheap stock can be old stock. Ask to see a certificate of analysis, a lab report on that exact batch, before you buy.
Prices as of 12 October 2026, across 40 sellers of 10mg vials. The two figures are the 10th and 90th percentile. Some sellers charge less, and some charge more.
Where to buy MOTS-c
Running MOTS-c in your next protocol cycle?
Check out our recommended sources list to find vetted vendors you can trust.
View sourcesMOTS-c research by condition
Deep dives on MOTS-c
- FDA Compounding Regulations Peptides Users Must KnowFDA compounding regulations peptides users face in 2026: what the July advisory vote and Category 2 removal mean for 503A pharmacies. No peptide is listed yet.
- 6 Best Peptides for Anti-Ageing and Longevity (2026)The best peptides for anti-ageing and longevity, graded by human evidence: thymosin alpha-1 has the most, while epitalon and MOTS-c have little or none.
- Peptides for Gut Health: The 5 Best for InflammationThe best peptides for gut health and inflammation are BPC-157, TB-500, GHK-Cu, KPV and MOTS-c. Here is how each one works, and what the research really shows.
- Best Nootropic Peptides for Focus and Memory: RankedThe best nootropic peptides for focus and memory, graded: Semax, Noopept, Selank and MOTS-c, what the primary research really shows, and who each one fits.
- Are Peptides Legal in 2026? The Honest FDA AnswerAre peptides legal in 2026? None of these eight is FDA-approved, and seven have no lawful route to a pharmacy today. The full FDA record, peptide by peptide.
- Peptides for Weight Loss: What the Evidence ShowsPeptides for weight loss, ranked by the evidence each one has: GLP-1 drugs and tirzepatide have real human trials, the rest are animal data or a failure.
- MOTS-c Peptide: Benefits, Side Effects and the EvidenceMOTS-c is a mitochondrial peptide studied in mice and cells. See what research shows on benefits, exercise, side effects, study doses and its FDA status.
- MOTS-c Dosage: What Studies Used and What Is Still UnknownNo MOTS-c dosage has been tested in people. See the doses used in animal studies and the CB4211 trial, what the FDA found, and where MOTS-c stands in sport.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much MOTS-c should you take per day?
How long is a MOTS-c cycle?
Is MOTS-c FDA approved?
Does MOTS-c work if you already exercise?
What are the side effects of MOTS-c?
Does MOTS-c help you lose weight?
References
- 1.Lee C, Zeng J, Drew BG, et al. (2015). The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance. Cell Metabolism. PMID: 25738459. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2015.02.009.
- 2.Reynolds JC, Lai RW, Woodhead JST, et al. (2021). MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis. Nature Communications. PMID: 33473109. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20790-0.
- 3.Kim KH, Son JM, Benayoun BA, Lee C. (2018). The mitochondrial-encoded peptide MOTS-c translocates to the nucleus to regulate nuclear gene expression in response to metabolic stress. Cell Metabolism. PMID: 29983246. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2018.06.008.
- 4.Zempo H, Kim SJ, Fuku N, et al. (2021). A pro-diabetogenic mtDNA polymorphism in the mitochondrial-derived peptide, MOTS-c. Aging. PMID: 33468709. DOI: 10.18632/aging.202529.
- 5.Lu H, Tang S, Xue C, et al. (2019). Mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c increases adipose thermogenic activation to promote cold adaptation. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. PMID: 31109005. DOI: 10.3390/ijms20102456.
- 6.Yin Y, Pan Y, He J, et al. (2021). The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c relieves hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in gestational diabetes mellitus. Pharmacological Research. PMID: 34798268. DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105987.
- 7.Woodhead JST, Merry TL. (2021). Mitochondrial-derived peptides and exercise. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - General Subjects. PMID: 34520826. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2021.130011.
- 8.Zheng Y, Wei Z, Wang T. (2023). MOTS-c: a promising mitochondrial-derived peptide for therapeutic exploitation. Frontiers in Endocrinology. PMID: 36761202. DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1120533.
- 9.Mohtashami Z, Singh MK, Salimiaghdam N, et al. (2022). MOTS-c, the most recent mitochondrial derived peptide in human aging and age-related diseases. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. PMID: 36233287. DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911991.
- 10.Lee C, Kim KH, Cohen P. (2016). MOTS-c: a novel mitochondrial-derived peptide regulating muscle and fat metabolism. Free Radical Biology and Medicine. PMID: 27216708. DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2016.05.015.
This content is for educational purposes only. These compounds are intended for research use. Nothing here is medical advice.