AICAR
What do these badges mean?
Evidence tier
- AHuman-validated — Human trials showing positive results and good safety.
- BAnimal-grade — No human trials yet, but solid animal/preclinical evidence of effect and safety.
- CAnecdotal — No human or animal trials — only anecdotal/observational reports.
- DInsufficient evidence — No or insufficient evidence (encyclopedia only — never recommended by the builder).
Safety light
- 🟢 Green — Only mild, manageable side effects; reasonable safety data.
- 🟡 Yellow — Needs active management, has a meaningful contraindication/interaction, or has thin long-term data.
- 🔴 Red — Risk of a hospital-level event — treat with serious caution.
Browse-only — not on the protocol builder's curated shortlist, so the builder won't recommend it.
What is it?
AICAR (5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide) is not a peptide — it’s a nucleoside analog / AMPK activator, but it’s commonly grouped with metabolic peptides in the research-compound world. It’s one of the two original “exercise in a pill” compounds, traced to Salk Institute metabolic research. thepeptidelist.com files it under weight-loss (secondary: anti-aging).
AICAR sits in the exercise-mimetic sub-story alongside SLU-PP-332 — both are small molecules (not true peptides) that the research community groups with metabolic peptides because they chase the same “endurance-training-in-a-vial” goal through different pathways: AICAR through AMPK, SLU-PP-332 through pan-ERR agonism.
What does it do in my body?
Per thepeptidelist.com: activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a master metabolic regulator that shifts cellular metabolism toward fat oxidation, glucose uptake, and mitochondrial biogenesis.
AMPK is the cell’s low-energy sensor — when ATP runs low and AMP rises, AMPK switches the cell into “burn fuel, build mitochondria” mode, which is much of what endurance exercise does. AICAR mimics that signal pharmacologically, which is the entire “exercise mimetic” pitch.
How can it help me?
- Where the science stands: Preclinical “exercise in a pill” mouse data (Salk Institute) only; 0 human efficacy trials
The full evidence — every human, animal, and lab study, graded — is one tap away: use the See the deeper science → toggle at the top.
Is it dangerous? What are the side effects?
- WADA-banned. AICAR is a prohibited substance in sport — the AMPK/endurance-mimetic mechanism is exactly the performance-enhancement use anti-doping authorities target. This is the headline regulatory fact for AICAR.
- No human safety database for the doses implied by the mouse work, which used large systemic exposures. Frame as preclinical-only.
Regulatory status: research_only, not FDA-approved, not eligible for compounding; WADA prohibited. OHM grade: D / provisional (encyclopedia-only). Not in Alyve’s launch catalog of 15 SKUs.
Typical dosing
Talk to your medical provider before starting any protocol. That said, here are the doses most people commonly use — shared for educational purposes so you can have an informed conversation. These peptides are sold for research use only and are not FDA-approved drugs, and this isn't medical advice.
No validated human protocol. AICAR is encyclopedia-only here — the mouse studies used weight-based dosing that doesn’t translate to a documented human regimen.
What should I avoid combining — and what's synergistic?
AICAR doesn't have a dedicated stacking protocol in our notes — the interactions that matter most are in the safety section above. For how people combine it with other peptides, the deeper-science view has the full detail.
How can I buy this?
We don't have a verified affiliate source for AICAR yet, so there's no coupon or vendor link here — we won't point you to a seller we haven't vetted. When buying any research-use-only peptide, the single biggest variable is the supply chain: insist on a vendor that publishes third-party Certificates of Analysis (COAs) confirming identity and >99% purity. Working with a peptide-literate clinician is one solid route — see our provider directory — or check back as our verified sources list grows.
“Exercise in a pill” — a nucleoside analog (not a true peptide) that activates AMPK, the cell’s low-energy sensor, and turns on a fat-burning, mitochondria-building metabolic program in mice. There’s no human efficacy data, and it’s banned in competitive sport.
| Class | Nucleoside analog / AMPK activator (not a true peptide, but grouped with metabolic research peptides) |
| Mechanism (one line) | Activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) → shifts cellular metabolism toward fat oxidation, glucose uptake, and mitochondrial biogenesis |
| Evidence base | Preclinical “exercise in a pill” mouse data (Salk Institute) only; 0 human efficacy trials |
| Safety record | No human safety database at the doses implied by the mouse work, which used large systemic exposures — frame as preclinical-only |
| Regulatory status | research_only; not FDA-approved; not eligible for compounding; WADA prohibited |
What it is
AICAR (5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide) is not a peptide — it’s a nucleoside analog / AMPK activator, but it’s commonly grouped with metabolic peptides in the research-compound world. It’s one of the two original “exercise in a pill” compounds, traced to Salk Institute metabolic research. thepeptidelist.com files it under weight-loss (secondary: anti-aging).
AICAR sits in the exercise-mimetic sub-story alongside SLU-PP-332 — both are small molecules (not true peptides) that the research community groups with metabolic peptides because they chase the same “endurance-training-in-a-vial” goal through different pathways: AICAR through AMPK, SLU-PP-332 through pan-ERR agonism.
How it works
Per thepeptidelist.com: activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a master metabolic regulator that shifts cellular metabolism toward fat oxidation, glucose uptake, and mitochondrial biogenesis.
AMPK is the cell’s low-energy sensor — when ATP runs low and AMP rises, AMPK switches the cell into “burn fuel, build mitochondria” mode, which is much of what endurance exercise does. AICAR mimics that signal pharmacologically, which is the entire “exercise mimetic” pitch.
What the research shows
- The defining work is preclinical “exercise in a pill” mouse data (Salk Institute) — sedentary mice given AICAR showed improved running endurance and an endurance-trained metabolic gene-expression signature.
- thepeptidelist.com grades it Anecdotal — 0 studies cited on the profile, 0 human trials (it points to a ClinicalTrials.gov search rather than a specific landmark).
- No human efficacy trials for fat loss or endurance.
Real-world protocol
The doses and schedules here are for educational and informational purposes only. These peptides are sold for research use only and are not FDA-approved drugs. This is not medical advice.
No validated human protocol. AICAR is encyclopedia-only here — the mouse studies used weight-based dosing that doesn’t translate to a documented human regimen.
Side effects & management
- WADA-banned. AICAR is a prohibited substance in sport — the AMPK/endurance-mimetic mechanism is exactly the performance-enhancement use anti-doping authorities target. This is the headline regulatory fact for AICAR.
- No human safety database for the doses implied by the mouse work, which used large systemic exposures. Frame as preclinical-only.
Regulatory status
research_only, not FDA-approved, not eligible for compounding; WADA prohibited. OHM grade: D / provisional (encyclopedia-only). Not in Alyve’s launch catalog of 15 SKUs.
Sources
- thepeptidelist.com directory profile; primary source for mechanism, evidence tier, and regulatory status (all site-derived citations carry per KB doctrine).
- OHM tier/safety grading (D/provisional), the Salk Institute mouse-endurance note, and the WADA-banned flag.
Related: SLU-PP-332 · MOTS-c · SS-31 (Elamipretide) · Retatrutide · The GLP-1 Pipeline (2026).
Sources & references
- thepeptidelist.com directory profile; primary source for mechanism, evidence tier, and regulatory status (all site-derived citations carry per KB doctrine).
- OHM tier/safety grading (D/provisional), the Salk Institute mouse-endurance note, and the WADA-banned flag.
Related: SLU-PP-332 · MOTS-c · SS-31 (Elamipretide) · Retatrutide · The GLP-1 Pipeline (2026).