AICAR
5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide
An AMPK activator studied as an 'exercise mimetic'.
Half-life
~ short (rapid cellular uptake and metabolism)
Mol. weight
338.2 g/mol (free acid)
Sequence
Purine nucleotide precursor (not a peptide)
Discussions
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Overview
AICAR is a cell-permeable AMPK activator studied as an 'exercise mimetic' — in preclinical models it improved endurance and metabolic parameters without exercise. It activates the energy-sensor AMPK, the same pathway exercise triggers, and is researched for metabolic syndrome and performance.
Mechanism of action
AICAR is taken up by cells and converted to ZMP, which mimics AMP to allosterically activate AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) — the master cellular energy sensor. Activated AMPK shifts metabolism toward catabolism (fat oxidation, glucose uptake) and away from anabolism, mimicking the metabolic effects of exercise. This is the basis for its 'exercise in a pill' research framing.
Researched benefits
- Activates AMPK, the cellular energy-sensing pathway
- Improved endurance and metabolic parameters in animal models without exercise
- Studied for metabolic syndrome and exercise-mimetic effects
Considerations
- Evidence is largely preclinical; human data is limited
- Broad AMPK activation has many off-target metabolic effects
- Once explored by WADA as a doping concern
- Not FDA-approved; research use only
Key Academic Literature & Studies
Search more in PubMedPeer-reviewed citations and clinical trials evaluating AICAR in scientific literature.
Query PubMed for recent peer-reviewed preclinical and clinical publications on AICAR:
View AICAR index on PubMed (NCBI)