MOTS-c quick reference
What is MOTS-c?
16-amino-acid peptide made by your own mitochondria.
Used for energy, endurance and fat loss.
Not approved. No finished human trial of MOTS-c itself.
How MOTS-c works
Blocks the folate cycle, which raises AICAR and AMPK.
Mainly acts on muscle to raise glucose use.
Moves into the nucleus under stress (cell studies).
Exercise raises MOTS-c in human muscle and blood.
What MOTS-c is studied for
Mice stayed insulin sensitive on a high-fat diet.
Mice gained less weight on a high-fat diet.
Young, middle-aged and old mice performed better.
Exercise raises MOTS-c in human muscle and blood.
CB4211 cut ALT 21% in about 10 people (company).
MOTS-c entered the nucleus in stressed cells.
MOTS-c dosing protocol
| Item | What is known |
|---|---|
| Human dose | Not established (not public) |
| Related drug CB4211 | Company reports 25 mg daily under the skin for 4 weeks |
| Mouse studies | 0.5 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks or 5 mg/kg/day for 7 days (IP) |
CB4211 is a MOTS-c analog; its dose is from CohBar’s 2021 release. Mouse doses are from Lee C et al., Cell Metab 2015. Do not convert them to human doses.
Label and trial amounts come from the sources below. Community amounts are what people report; they have not been tested.
Mixing
Community uses bacteriostatic saline or BAC water. Keep cold.
What the research found
No MOTS-c human results exist yet. What there is:
NCT03998514 (CB4211 phase 1a/1b, completed, no posted results); CohBar topline release, Aug 2021.
MOTS-c community experience
What users report. Not tested in trials.
Positive reports
- Energy lift Some feel steady energy about 30 minutes in.
- Endurance Better training capacity is a repeat theme.
- Easier cuts Fat loss feels easier with diet and GLP-1 drugs.
Negative & mixed
- Injection reactions Redness, itching, welts or hard bumps are common.
- Uneven results Some feel nothing; older users report less.
- Hives Allergic-type reactions can appear mid-cycle.
MOTS-c stacking
Signal plus fuel idea. Not studied together.
Signal plus membrane repair idea. Not studied together.
Appetite plus fuel use. Not studied together.
MOTS-c side effects & safety
Common
- Injection-site redness or swelling (community).
- Itching or bruising at the site (community).
- Short-term tiredness early on (community).
- Mild headache (community).
- Appetite change (community).
Less common
- Hives or allergic reactions.
- Heart palpitations (community).
- Low blood sugar symptoms (community).
- Sleep trouble if dosed late (community).
Precautions
- Cancer history: ask a doctor first; no data.
- Diabetes drugs: blood sugar can drop.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding: no data.
- Tested athletes: WADA lists MOTS-c as banned.
- Stop if hives or a spreading rash appear.
Our verdict on MOTS-c
Good mouse data, thin human data. Injection reactions are a real cost.
MOTS-c FAQ
Is MOTS-c approved?
No. Only an analog (CB4211) had a small human trial.
Is there a human dose?
No. The analog dose was 25 mg daily for 4 weeks.
Why three shots a week?
Aged mice got it 3 times a week; there is no human basis.
Sources
- Lee C et al. The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance. Cell Metab 2015 (PubMed 25738459)
- ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03998514 (CB4211 phase 1a/1b)
- CohBar topline release on CB4211 phase 1a/1b, August 2021
- Reynolds JC et al. MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis. Nat Commun 2021 (PubMed 33473109)
- WADA Prohibited List 2026, section S4.4.1 (AMPK activators, lists MOTS-c)