⚠️ Research Use Only. This post is educational and does not constitute medical advice. All peptides discussed are sold for research purposes only. See our full disclaimer.
Overview
5-Amino-1MQ is a small molecule (not technically a peptide) that inhibits NNMT and is studied for fat loss and metabolic enhancement.
What is 5-Amino-1MQ?
5-Amino-1MQ is not actually a peptide — it's a small molecule. It gets grouped with research peptides because it's sold by the same vendors and used by the same research community, but its structure is a quinolinium ring with an amino group, not amino acids.
The research interest is its mechanism: selective inhibition of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT). NNMT is an enzyme that methylates nicotinamide, consuming NAD+ precursors and SAM (S-adenosylmethionine) in the process. Elevated NNMT activity has been associated with obesity, metabolic dysfunction, and adipose tissue expansion. By inhibiting NNMT, 5-Amino-1MQ preserves NAD+ and SAM pools and may shift adipose tissue metabolism toward lipolysis.
Mouse studies have shown impressive results — diet-induced obese mice treated with 5-Amino-1MQ lost roughly 7% body weight over 11 days without changes in food intake. Subsequent research has examined effects on sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss), with some evidence that NNMT inhibition improves muscle stem cell function.
Research dosing is typically 50-150 mg/day oral. Unlike injectable peptides, 5-Amino-1MQ has acceptable oral bioavailability. The clinical safety profile in humans is poorly characterized — most data is preclinical. Researchers using 5-Amino-1MQ should be aware they are working with a compound that has had essentially no human safety testing beyond informal use in the biohacking community.
Top Research Uses
- Fat loss research
- Metabolic enhancement
- Sarcopenia research
- NAD+ pathway research
Mechanism of Action
Selective inhibitor of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT), preserving NAD+ and SAM pools and promoting lipolysis
Research Parameters
| Half-Life | Variable, typically hours |
| Typical Research Dose | Research protocols cite 50-150 mg/day oral |
| Administration Route | Oral |
| Reported Side Effects | Limited human safety data; mild GI effects reported anecdotally |
Dosing ranges cited from published research literature. These are not recommendations for human use. 5-Amino-1MQ is a research compound — not for human consumption.
Research Strength: Low-Moderate
5-Amino-1MQ has a small but growing body of research. Most evidence is preclinical with limited human data.
Vendor & Sourcing Notes
Often grouped with peptides despite being a small molecule; available from peptide vendors as research compound
Always request third-party HPLC purity reports and mass spectrometry verification when sourcing research peptides. Quality varies significantly between suppliers.
Research Use Only — Compliance Notice
The information on this page is intended for educational and informational purposes only. 5-Amino-1MQ (5-Amino-1-methylquinolinium) is a research compound sold for laboratory research purposes only. It has not been approved by the FDA for human use. Nothing on this page constitutes medical advice or is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before considering any peptide-related protocols.