5-Amino-1MQ

5-Amino-1MQ is frequently mislabeled as a peptide but is actually a small quinolinium molecule (~286 Da) that inhibits nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT). By inhibiting NNMT, it preserves cellular NAD+ levels and enhances SIRT1/SIRT3 activity, which is the basis for its marketing as a longevity and muscle-preservation compound.

An August 2026 University of Texas Medical Branch study reported that 5-Amino-1MQ improved grip strength, endurance, and recovery in aged mice, exceeding exercise alone. This is the most significant preclinical result to date for the compound.

However, zero human trials exist as of 2026. The compound is not FDA-approved, not registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, and has no established human safety profile. NNMT is involved in multiple pathways beyond NAD+ regulation, and chronic inhibition may have unintended metabolic effects.

The compound is widely sold by research chemical vendors, typically at doses of 50 mg daily. These products are not regulated, and purity/contamination concerns apply as with all gray-market peptide products.

The confusion about whether 5-Amino-1MQ is a peptide is itself a consumer safety concern. Vendors market it alongside peptides, but it is a small molecule with different pharmacology, different metabolism, and different safety considerations.