PeptideTreatments
Reviewed by Peptide Treatments Medical Advisory Board (Medical Advisory Board)

MOTS-c: Research & Evidence

Early-Stage Research

Published research, clinical trial data, and evidence grading for MOTS-c across studied indications.

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Research Summary

MOTS-c has zero therapeutic human clinical trials. The 'exercise in a bottle' claim is entirely based on mouse studies. Human studies have only detected endogenous MOTS-c in plasma — they have not administered synthetic MOTS-c to humans. No established safety, dosing, or efficacy data in humans.

Evidence by Indication (3 indications)

Indication Tier Trials Summary
Metabolic regulation Tier C 1 Mitochondria-derived peptide improves glucose homeostasis in early human studies
Insulin sensitivity Tier C 1 Improved glucose disposal in obese subjects in pilot study
Exercise mimetic Tier D 0 Activates AMPK and enhances fatty acid oxidation in preclinical models

Graded using our evidence tier methodology.

Citations (6 sources)

  1. 1. Mitochondrial dysfunction characterises the multigenerational effects of maternal obesity on MASLD. Study

    (2025), JHEP reports

  2. 2. MOTS-c-modified functional self-assembly peptide hydrogels enhance the activity of nucleus pulposus-derived mesenchymal stem cells of intervertebral disc degeneration. Study

    (2025), Materials today. Bio

  3. 3. The Role of Mitokines in Diabetic Nephropathy. Study

    (2025), Current medicinal chemistry

  4. 4. MOTS-c is an effective target for treating cancer-induced bone pain through the induction of AMPK-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis. Study

    (2024), Acta biochimica et biophysica Sinica

  5. 5. Neuroprotective Mechanism of MOTS-c in TBI Mice: Insights from Integrated Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses. Study

    (2024), Drug design, development and therapy

  6. 6. The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance. Study

    Lee C, et al. (2015), Cell Metabolism