2008 · FINDING
CITEDNarkar et al. — couch potato mice
Sedentary mice given AICAR ran 44% longer despite no training — became "chemically trained".
⚠ RESEARCH USE ONLY · NOT FDA-APPROVED FOR HUMAN USE · NOT MEDICAL ADVICE
WEIGHT LOSSRESEARCH
AICAR.
The other exercise mimetic — already WADA-banned
AKA · Acadesine · AMPK activator
WEIGHT LOSSLONGEVITYSUBCUTANEOUSINTRAVENOUS
A nucleoside analog that activates AMPK, the cellular energy sensor. Effectively tells cells 'you're out of energy, burn fat and build endurance adaptations.' Infamous for turning sedentary mice into marathoners.
~3 hours
Half-life
3
Citations
2
Routes
2
Categories
60
Popularity
AT A GLANCE.
§ 01 · TL;DRTHE QUICK READ.
A nucleoside analog that activates AMPK, the cellular energy sensor. Effectively tells cells 'you're out of energy, burn fat and build endurance adaptations.' Infamous for turning sedentary mice into marathoners.
AMPK is the switch that flips when your cells are low on fuel. AICAR turns that switch on artificially, which tells your body to burn fat and adapt like you've been training.
Short cycles (2–4 weeks). WADA prohibited substance for athletes.
WHAT IT MIGHT HELP WITH.
1
Increased endurance capacity (mouse studies)
2
Enhanced fat oxidation
3
Improved insulin sensitivity
4
Tumor-suppressive signaling (research interest)
5
Cardioprotection in ischemia models
HOW IT WORKS.
§ 02 · MECHANISMAMPK is the switch that flips when your cells are low on fuel. AICAR turns that switch on artificially, which tells your body to burn fat and adapt like you've been training.
Adenosine analog phosphorylated intracellularly to ZMP, which allosterically activates AMPK. Downstream: increased fatty acid oxidation, GLUT4 translocation, mitochondrial biogenesis via PGC-1α, reduced protein synthesis, autophagy activation.
WHO IT'S FOR
- ✓AMPK pathway research
- ✓Metabolic disease models
WHO SHOULD AVOID
- ✕Competitive athletes (WADA-banned)
- ✕Gout / uric acid issues
- ✕Pregnancy
THE RESEARCH.
§ 03 · 3 STUDIES1999 · FINDING
Winder & Hardie — AMPK mechanism
Foundational work establishing AMPK as exercise-induced fuel-sensor pathway.
2020 · FINDING
Drake et al. — cancer metabolism
AICAR induced apoptosis in multiple cancer cell lines via AMPK-mTOR axis.
DOSING PROTOCOL.
§ 04 · DOSINGTYPICAL RANGE
Short cycles (2–4 weeks). WADA prohibited substance for athletes.
~500mg subcutaneous (reported research — highly variable)
FREQUENCY
Most-cited schedule
Daily during cycles
ROUTES
Delivery methods
SUBCUTANEOUS · INTRAVENOUS
HALF-LIFE
Steady state drives frequency
~3 hours
⚠ NOTE
These are reported protocols from research literature and practitioner accounts, not prescriptions. No FDA-approved human dose exists for research compounds. Anyone using AICAR should work with a qualified physician and source from a supplier providing third-party COAs.
FORMS AVAILABLE
- · Lyophilized vial
⚠ RESEARCH INFORMATION ONLY · NOT MEDICAL ADVICE
SIDE EFFECTS & RISKS.
§ 06 · SAFETY•
Hyperuricemia
Dose-dependent · moderate
AICAR metabolism produces uric acid
·
Injection site reactions
Common · mild
·
Transient hyperglycemia
Occasional · mild
WHERE TO SOURCE
§ 07 · SUPPLIERPEAK LAB
PEPTIDES
PEPTIDES
SUPPLIER OF RECORD · 12 BATCHES PASSED
We tried nine suppliers across 2025 and kept picking PEAK LAB for AICAR: 99.4% HPLC purity, COA on every batch, cold chain intact. Shop through our link and we earn a small commission — affiliate relationship is disclosed.
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