The Pep Test Guide 2026
The Pep Test Guide 2026U.S. vendor guide
All compounds
Anti-aging

5-Amino-1MQ

Also known as: NNMT inhibitor

NNMT inhibitor with indication of metabolic effects in animal studies.

5-Amino-1MQ

What is 5-Amino-1MQ

5-Amino-1MQ is a small molecular selective inhibitor of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT). It is not a peptide, but a synthetic quinolinium salt. The molecule was identified by Robert Doyle and colleagues at Indiana University and published in 2018 as a potential anti-obesity target.

Structurally, it is a 5-amino-1-methylquinolinium iodide. Molecular weight of the free base: 158.2 g/mol. CAS number of the iodide form: 100396-15-2.

NNMT inhibitors are at the beginning of clinical development. There are no approved NNMT inhibitors on the market. 5-Amino-1MQ is marketed in the research use community as an Orally active substance with anti-obesity potential, based primarily on preclinical data.

Mechanism of action

NNMT (nicotinamide-N-methyltransferase) is an enzyme that transfers a methyl group from SAM-e (S-adenosylmethionine) to nicotinamide. This results in 1-methylnicotinamide (MNAM) and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). Both products play roles in metabolism.

In obesity and age-related degenerative states, NNMT activity in fat and liver tissue is increased. This increased activity leads to several effects: less available nicotinamide for NAD+ synthesis, impaired methylation balance due to gain in MNAM, and altered gene expression in adipocytes.

5-Amino-1MQ selectively blocks this enzyme. In animal models, this blockage leads to several observed effects:

  • Increase in NAD+ levels in tissues that overexpress NNMT
  • Reduction of adipocyte size and total fat mass
  • Improvement of insulin sensitivity
  • Improvement of muscle regeneration in old mice (via satellite cell activation)
  • Reduction of hepatic steatosis

These effects are biologically plausible and consistent across several animal studies. In humans, controlled studies are virtually completely absent.

Areas of application in research

  • Obesity: Reduction of fat mass, primarily hepatic and visceral
  • Sarcopenia and muscle regeneration: Effect on satellite cells in animals
  • NAFLD / NASH: Reduction of liver fatigue
  • Insulin resistance and T2D: Improvement of glucose tolerance
  • Anti-aging applications: Indirectly about NAD+ increase and metabolic improvement

Study situation

The scientific data base is solid for animal and in vitro data, very thin in humans.

Important works:

  • Neelakantan et al. (Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2017): Development and initial characterization of 5-amino-1MQ as a selective NNMT inhibitor
  • Kannt et al. (Nature, 2018): Important study on the role of NNMT in obesity (based the concept)
  • Roberti et al. (Cell Reports, 2018): NNMT inhibition in obese mice, significant reduction in fat mass
  • Dimet-Wiley et al. (Function, 2022): NNMT inhibition improves muscle regeneration in old mice via satellite cell activation

What is clear is that 5-amino-1MQ works biologically as expected in animals, with consistent effects on fat mass and NAD+ levels. What remains unclear: whether these effects are reproducible in humans, optimal dose, long-term safety. There are no peer-reviewed human studies as of 2026.

Mixing (reconstitution)

5-Amino-1MQ is Orally active, not classical mixing as with peptides. Typical pharmaceutical forms:

  • Powder weighed over fine balance
  • Capsules, typically 50 or 100 mg
  • Solutions are less common due to good Oral bioavailability

Storage dark, cool, tightly sealed. Chemically stable at room temperature for months.

Dosage range (research data)

Here the data is particularly thin, because no human studies exist. Scaled from animal studies (allometry) and research use community reports:

  • 50 to 150 mg per day, Orally
  • Frequency: once a day, morning or meal
  • Cycle duration: 4 to 12 weeks
  • Pause between cycles is often recommended, but without clinical justification

Important: these values are extrapolated, not clinically validated.

Side effects

Since human data is lacking, the human safety profile is not established. No relevant toxicity at the doses used was reported in animal studies.

Anecdotal reports from the self-application community:

  • Slight nausea in the first few days
  • Rare headaches
  • Temporary fatigue
  • Possible effects on methylation budget (theoretically due to SAM-e/SAH change)

Theoretical concerns:

  • NNMT inhibition affects SAM-e consumption, which could disrupt methylation-dependent processes
  • Long-term safety in the case of continuous use not established
  • Possible interactions with other NAD+ boosters (NMN, NR) not yet studied

Half-Life and Pharmacokinetics

In preclinical studies, 5-amino-1MQ shows good Oral bioavailability (over 50 percent in rodents). The plasma half-life is in the range of several hours, which allows a daily dose.

Human data on pharmacokinetics have not been published. Extrapolation from animal data should be read with caution because the species differences in NNMT activity and methylation budget are not trivial.

Excretion probably primarily renal as a metabolite, based on the chemical structure.

Frequent questions

Does 5-Amino-1MQ Really Whererk for Fat Reduction? In the animal yes, with consistent data. Unknown in humans because studies are lacking. Anecdotal reports are not reliable.

Is 5-Amino-1MQ better than a GLP-1 agonist? There is no direct comparison. GLP-1 agonists have dramatically stronger clinical data (15-25 percent weight loss). 5-Amino-1MQ theoretically acts via a different mechanism and could theoretically be complementary. Practically no evidence of this is available.

Can I combine 5-amino-1MQ with NMN or NR? Theoretically useful because both target NAD+ via different mechanisms (NNMT inhibition increases nicotinamide availability, NMN/NR directly delivers precursors). Studies on the combination are missing.

Is self-use safe? Unknown. Without controlled human studies, there is no established safety database. Caution is appropriate, especially with long-term use.

When will human data come? Phase 1 studies on NNMT inhibitors are ongoing (not necessarily 5-amino-1MQ itself, but structurally related molecules). Results expected from 2027.

Legal status U.S.

As of 2026: 5-Amino-1MQ is not approved as a medicinal product in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and is not registered as a food supplement. Sales take place in the research-use-only rail, which is a legal grey area.

In the case of therapeutic intention, the AMG takes effect. Own import is subject to §73 AMG restrictions.

WADA status: not on the prohibited list (as of 2026), but status may change with increasing prevalence in sports.

Related compounds

  • NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide): NAD+ precursor, complementary mechanism
  • NR (nicotinamide-riboside): NAD+ precursor
  • resveratrolSirtuin activator
  • rapamycin (Sirolimus)mTOR inhibitor, longevity research
  • metformine: AMPK activator, indirect NAD+ effects

Note: All information is for research information only. These peptides are not approved as medicines in Germany. The contents do not replace medical advice. Application to humans is not legally covered in Germany.