5-Amino-1MQ

Not a peptide. 5-Amino-1MQ is a small molecule — a positively charged quinolinium compound — not a chain of amino acids. It is included because it is constantly marketed and discussed alongside peptides for fat loss and people search for it here. The same evidence standards apply, and here they are not met: there is no published human study.

5-amino-1-methylquinolinium, 5-amino-1MQ, 5-A-1MQ, "1-MQ"

Metabolic & weight

Awaiting medical reviewEN ES DE FR PT ZH+ Follow for updates

Summary

Class: Small-molecule, membrane-permeable inhibitor of the enzyme nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT); a quaternary ammonium quinolinium salt
Mechanism: Blocks NNMT, which in fat cells is thought to raise NAD+ and S-adenosylmethionine availability, increasing cellular energy expenditure and reducing fat storage — shown in mice and cell culture only
Routes studied: Intraperitoneal injection and subcutaneous in mice; oral capsules in community use
Dose range reported: Mouse: about 20 mg/kg injected twice daily for 11 days (Neelakantan 2018). Community-reported: 50–150 mg orally per day, often in cycles of several weeks on, then off. No human dose has ever been studied
Half-life: Not characterised in humans. Mouse pharmacokinetics suggest a short plasma half-life with good tissue distribution †. Oral bioavailability in humans is unknown — quaternary ammonium compounds are often poorly absorbed
Storage: Capsules or powder: room temperature, dry, protected from light
Regulatory status: Not approved for any use anywhere; sold as a "research chemical" or illegally as a supplement

Doses are as reported in studies or by the community — never recommendations.

1What it is

5-Amino-1MQ is a synthetic molecule developed around 2017 by researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch (Galveston) as a selective, cell-permeable inhibitor of NNMT. NNMT is an enzyme that attaches a methyl group to nicotinamide (a form of vitamin B3), consuming S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) in the process and producing 1-methylnicotinamide. In obese fat tissue NNMT is over-expressed, and earlier work had shown that knocking the gene down in mice protected against diet-induced obesity (Kraus 2014, Nature). 5-Amino-1MQ was one of the tool compounds made to test whether a drug could do the same.

It has never entered a human clinical trial. Its popularity comes almost entirely from a single 2018 mouse study and from marketing that places it next to peptides such as AOD-9604, MOTS-c and tesamorelin in "fat loss stacks". It is a research tool compound, not a drug candidate with a development programme †.

2How it's thought to work

NNMT inhibition in adipocytes. NNMT consumes both nicotinamide (a precursor of NAD+) and SAM. Blocking it is proposed to raise NAD+ (supporting mitochondrial energy production and sirtuin activity) and SAM (supporting methylation-dependent gene regulation), tilting fat cells toward burning rather than storing energy.

Reduced lipogenesis. in cultured fat cells, 5-Amino-1MQ reduced fat accumulation and the expression of fat-storage genes.

Muscle regeneration hypothesis. in aged mice, NNMT inhibition improved muscle stem-cell activation and regeneration after injury (Sampson 2021, Aging), which has fed claims about muscle and "longevity".

Caution on the pathway. NNMT's product, 1-methylnicotinamide, has reported vascular and anti-inflammatory effects of its own, and NNMT is highly expressed in the liver, where its role is different. Systemic inhibition is not obviously benign.

Proposed: an inhibitor of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase, the enzyme that disposes of a methyl group and consumes NAD precursors doing it. Blocking it is reported to raise energy expenditure in fat tissue in rodents. There is no human trial data.Schematic — not to scale

3What the research shows

Weight and fat loss in obese mice

In diet-induced obese mice given 5-Amino-1MQ by injection for 11 days, body weight fell by about 5–7% and white fat mass by roughly 30% compared with vehicle, without a change in food intake; adipocyte size and plasma cholesterol also fell (Neelakantan 2018, Biochem Pharmacol). This is the study that everything rests on. It is short, small and in mice, and the compound was injected, not swallowed.

Fat-cell biology

Cell-culture work showed reduced lipid accumulation, increased intracellular NAD+ and SAM, and changes in adipogenic gene expression (Neelakantan 2017, Biochem Pharmacol; chemistry in Neelakantan 2017, J Med Chem). [2][3]

Muscle regeneration in aged mice

A different NNMT inhibitor from the same programme improved muscle fibre regeneration after injury in 24-month-old mice (Sampson 2021, Aging). Relevance to healthy humans is speculative. [4]

Other NNMT inhibitors

Independent groups (e.g. Sanofi's JBSNF-000088 series; Kannt 2018, Sci Rep) reported similar anti-obesity effects in mice with structurally different inhibitors, which lends some support to the target, though not to this specific molecule. [6]

Not gradednone

Human studies

No pharmacokinetic, safety or efficacy study in humans has been published. Claims of 5–15% fat loss in people are community anecdote.

4Reported side effects and interactions

Literature-reported

none in humans. Mice tolerated short courses without reported toxicity; no formal toxicology has been published.

Community-reported

generally described as well tolerated; occasional reports of nausea, headache, restlessness or insomnia, and of "no noticeable effect". Some report combining it with calorie restriction and attributing fat loss to the compound.

Theoretical. NNMT is abundant in the liver and is involved in clearing nicotinamide and some drugs; chronic inhibition could alter methylation balance, nicotinamide levels and the metabolism of other compounds. Quinolinium compounds as a class include molecules with mitochondrial and neuromuscular activity, so purity and identity of grey-market material matter. Effects on fertility, pregnancy, cancer biology (NNMT is also over-expressed in several tumours, where inhibition is being explored — direction of risk unclear) are all unstudied.

Interactions. none established. Theoretical interaction with high-dose nicotinamide/niacin or NAD+ precursor supplements (NMN, NR), which act on the same pathway, in either direction.

Markers researchers commonly monitor

No compound-specific markers are established because there are no human studies. Based on the mechanism, people experimenting with it commonly discuss:

Marker	Why it's watched
CBC and CMP including liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP)	NNMT is highly expressed in the liver and there is no human safety data; the most important baseline.
Lipid panel	plasma cholesterol fell in mice; the one metabolic marker with any animal precedent.
Fasting glucose and insulin	the pathway is tied to adipose metabolism and insulin sensitivity in mice.
Homocysteine	NNMT consumes SAM; inhibition could alter one-carbon metabolism, and homocysteine is the accessible readout.
Body composition (DEXA or bioimpedance)	the claimed outcome; scale weight alone will not distinguish fat from water or muscle.
Resting heart rate and sleep	community reports of restlessness.

Free for everyone. Safety information is never behind a paywall.

5Formulation and handling

Sold as capsules (commonly 50 mg) or bulk powder. It is water-soluble as a salt. Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Whether oral dosing achieves meaningful blood or fat-tissue levels in humans is unknown — the only animal data used injection — so community oral protocols are not supported by any pharmacokinetic evidence. No applies.

6Commonly studied alongside

Nothing, in the literature. In community "fat loss stacks" it is paired with AOD-9604, MOTS-c, tesamorelin, CJC-1295/ipamorelin, and NAD+ precursors. None of these combinations has been studied.

Informational cross-links. Not stack recommendations.

7Regulatory status by region

Region	Status (checked —)
United States	Not FDA-approved. Not a lawful dietary ingredient; products sold as supplements are unapproved new drugs. Not on the FDA compounding bulk-substance lists †
European Union	Not authorised as a medicine; not a permitted food or supplement ingredient
United Kingdom	Not licensed
Australia	Not approved; not a permitted supplement ingredient
South Africa	Not registered
Sport	Not specifically named by WADA; as a non-approved substance with no therapeutic approval it falls under S0 †

8Open questions

Is it absorbed and active after oral dosing in humans? Unknown.
Any human safety data at all — none exists.
Whether systemic NNMT inhibition is safe for the liver and one-carbon metabolism over months.
Independent replication of the single mouse weight-loss study with this molecule.

9References

1Kraus D et al. (2014). Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase knockdown protects against diet-induced obesity. Nature. PubMed · DOI
2Neelakantan H et al. (2017). Structure–activity relationship for small molecule inhibitors of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase. J Med Chem. PubMed · DOI
3Neelakantan H et al. (2017). Selective and membrane-permeable small molecule inhibitors of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase reverse high fat diet-induced obesity in mice. Biochem Pharmacol [verify year: 2018]. PubMed · DOI
4Sampson CM et al. (2021). Combined nicotinamide N-methyltransferase inhibition and reduced-calorie diet normalizes body composition and enhances metabolic benefits in obese mice. Sci Rep [verify]. PubMed · DOI
5Neelakantan H et al. (2019). Small molecule nicotinamide N-methyltransferase inhibitor activates senescent muscle stem cells and improves regenerative capacity of aged skeletal muscle. Biochem Pharmacol. PubMed · DOI
6Kannt A et al. (2018). A small molecule inhibitor of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase for the treatment of metabolic disorders. Sci Rep. PubMed · DOI
7Pissios P (2017). Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase: more than a vitamin B3 clearance enzyme. Trends Endocrinol Metab. PubMed · DOI

† Being confirmed by our reviewers against current sources.

10Community

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Self-reported side effects Phase 2

Not enough data yet. 0 of the 50 members needed have logged this compound for 4+ weeks. We don't show anything below 50, so no one can be identified.

11Page history

26 Oct 2026Profile published — awaiting medical review

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