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Fitness & muscle

AICAR

AMPK activator marketed as 'exercise in a pill.' WADA-banned in sport, not FDA-approved for anything.

Research chemical Fitness & muscle Fat loss Anti-aging

Reviewed 2026-09-12
Full name
5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside (AMPK activator, small molecule nucleoside)
Also known as
AICA ribonucleoside, AMP-mimetic
Regulatory status
Research chemical | WADA-banned | Not FDA-approved

Origin

A nucleoside derivative first used as a research tool for studying AMPK signaling. A 2008 mouse study showing improved exercise endurance without any actual training turned it into an 'exercise mimetic.' Not FDA-approved; WADA banned it from competition in 2009.

Mechanism

Mimics AMP to directly activate AMPK, the cell's energy sensor. That triggers fatty-acid oxidation and mitochondrial biogenesis via PGC-1-alpha, reproducing some of the metabolic adaptations of aerobic exercise.

Research summary

Evidence

Rodent studies show improved glucose tolerance, reduced hepatic steatosis, and better endurance without exercise. Human trial data is sparse, no large registered trials have been completed, and oral bioavailability is poor (under 5%). No long-term human safety data exists.

Evidence tier: Research chemical — see the methodology note for how this is assessed.

Citations

No specific peer-reviewed citations indexed for this entry — see the research summary above for what evidence does exist.

Reported benefits

  • improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity (animal/cell studies)
  • enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis (theoretical)
  • improved endurance in mice

Dosing protocols reported in the literature & community

These are protocols reported by compounding pharmacies, published trials, or self-experimentation communities — not a prescription. Start low, especially for anything new.

Reported dosing protocols
RouteReported protocol
Intraperitoneal, intravenous (no validated human route)Animal studies use 500 mg/kg IP or IV; community biohacker protocols report 50-100 mg/day oral or 0.5-1 mg/kg subcutaneous, unvalidated.

Side effects

  • nausea (anecdotal)
  • gastrointestinal upset
  • potential gout exacerbation (elevated uric acid)
  • fatigue or malaise

Safety notes

Safety: No human toxicology data exists and it's not FDA-approved. It elevates uric acid and can trigger gout or acute kidney injury in predisposed people. Black-market purity is unverifiable.
Community & reddit notes (anecdotal — not clinical evidence)

Discussed as an exercise mimetic in longevity forums. Reports range from modest weight loss and better endurance to nothing noticeable. Even fans admit the preclinical data is strong and the human data is nonexistent.