5-Amino-1MQ
5-Amino-1-Methylquinolinium
5-Amino-1MQ (5-Amino-1-Methylquinolinium) is a small molecule inhibitor of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT), an enzyme involved in metabolic regulation and cellular energy homeostasis. It is primarily researched for its potential to promote fat loss, improve metabolic health, and increase NAD+ precursor availability by blocking NNMT-mediated methylation of nicotinamide. Despite being listed as a peptide in some databases, it is technically a small molecule quinolinium salt used in preclinical and emerging human research contexts.
Mechanism of Action
5-Amino-1MQ competitively inhibits NNMT, an enzyme that methylates nicotinamide (a NAD+ precursor) to form 1-methylnicotinamide, thereby reducing NAD+ biosynthesis and consuming S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). By blocking NNMT, the compound raises intracellular NAD+ levels, increases SAM availability for epigenetic methylation reactions, and shifts cellular metabolism toward elevated energy expenditure and reduced lipid accumulation. This mechanism has been shown in preclinical models to reduce adipocyte size, improve insulin sensitivity, and upregulate mitochondrial activity through SIRT1 and related NAD+-dependent pathways.
Evidence by Health Goal(6 goals)
Dosing Protocols
With a meal, preferably in the morning
Cycle: 8 weeks on, 4 weeks off
Human dosing is extrapolated from preclinical animal data; no established clinical dose exists. Most self-reported protocols use 50mg as a starting dose, titrating to 100mg based on tolerance. Doses above 100mg daily have not been well characterized in humans.
Safety & Side Effects
5-Amino-1MQ has a limited human safety dataset, with most evidence derived from rodent studies where it showed favorable metabolic effects without overt toxicity. Users should exercise caution given the lack of controlled human trials, and those with methylation disorders, liver conditions, or who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid use entirely.
Possible Side Effects
- !Gastrointestinal discomfort including mild nausea at higher doses
- !Headache, particularly during the initial days of use
- !Fatigue or lethargy reported anecdotally in some users
- !Potential disruption of one-carbon metabolism affecting methylation balance
- !Theoretical risk of hypomethylation effects with prolonged SAM pool alterations
- !Elevated body temperature or thermogenic sensation reported by some users
Interactions
- -May potentiate effects of NAD+ precursor supplements (NMN, NR) by reducing nicotinamide clearance - combined use may cause excessive NAD+ elevation
- -Could interact with methylation-dependent medications (e.g., methotrexate) by altering SAM availability and one-carbon metabolism
- -Potential additive effects with insulin sensitizers or metformin due to overlapping mitochondrial and metabolic pathways
- -May reduce efficacy of drugs metabolized through NNMT-related pathways - caution advised with polypharmacy
- -Theoretically synergistic with SIRT1 activators such as resveratrol, though combined safety is unstudied
Cost & Where to Buy
Available primarily from research chemical and nootropic vendors; pricing varies significantly by purity and supplier. No pharmaceutical-grade product exists commercially. Quality and authenticity can vary substantially between vendors.
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