What Is It?
A 16-amino-acid peptide discovered in 2015 at USC. Encoded by your mitochondrial DNA — not your main genome. Yes, your mitochondria have their own DNA, and they use it to send messages to the rest of your body.
How Does It Work?
Your mitochondria are tiny power plants inside every cell. When you exercise, they send a chemical message: "We need to upgrade." MOTS-c is that message. It's the receipt your body sends after a good workout. Activates AMPK (the metabolic master switch), improves glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity, promotes mitochondrial biogenesis, and enables stress adaptation. Levels drop with age; exercise raises them.
Primary Benefits (research suggests)
- 2021 Nature Communications: 22-month-old mice given MOTS-c doubled their running time, outrunning middle-aged controls
- Supports metabolic function and insulin sensitivity
- Promotes mitochondrial biogenesis
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- Most research is preclinical (mice and cell cultures).
- Some sex-specific effects observed.
- Zero FDA approval. Early-stage clinical trials only.
- Won't out-train bad metabolic habits.
- For research purposes only.
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