Overview
5-Amino-1-methylquinolinium (5-Amino-1MQ) is a small-molecule selective inhibitor of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT). It is included in this library because it is currently being marketed by US compounding pharmacies and supplement vendors as a 'fat-loss peptide,' which it is not — it is a small molecule, not a peptide, and the human evidence base is almost empty. The compound emerged from preclinical work (Neelakantan / Kannt / Ramsden labs) demonstrating NNMT inhibition reduces adipocyte size and improves metabolic parameters in mouse models of diet-induced obesity. Translation to humans is essentially absent — there are no published Phase 2 RCTs and the compound's pharmacokinetics, dosing, and safety in humans are not characterized in the peer-reviewed literature. Mirror NAD+ and MK-677 framing: lead with 'NOT a peptide.'
Mechanism
Selective inhibitor of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT), an enzyme that consumes nicotinamide (a B3 precursor) and SAMe to produce 1-methylnicotinamide. NNMT is upregulated in obese white adipose tissue, where its activity drains both the nicotinamide-NAD+ pool and the SAMe-methylation pool. NNMT inhibition is hypothesized to restore intracellular NAD+ and methylation capacity in adipocytes, which preclinically corresponds to reduced fat mass and improved insulin sensitivity. The mechanism is plausible; the human translation has not been demonstrated.
Evidence by indication
We classify each indication separately. The same peptide can be Tier 1 for one use and Tier 4 for another. Tiers reflect the published literature, not the strength of community framing.
Fat loss / adipocyte reduction
Preclinical mouse studies (Kannt et al., Neelakantan et al.) show NNMT inhibition reduces diet-induced obesity and white adipocyte size. No published human RCT for fat loss. Compound-marketing language is heavily ahead of the data. Tier 3 specifically because the preclinical work is real and consistent; Tier 4 would be appropriate if the marketing claim were supported only by mechanism speculation.
Improved insulin sensitivity / metabolic health
Same preclinical lineage shows improved insulin sensitivity in obese mice. No published human metabolic-endpoint RCT.
Anti-aging / 'longevity' claims
NNMT inhibition has been hypothesized to support healthspan via NAD+ and methylation pool preservation, but no in-vivo lifespan studies have been published, and there are no human longevity-relevant outcomes. Marketing claim, not an evidenced indication.
No primary citations are anchored to this indication — the tier reflects the absence of usable literature, not a missing reference.
Studied dose ranges
The ranges below come from published trial protocols where available, and from documented self-experimenter consensus where the literature does not include human dose-finding work. The notes flag which is which.
Compounding-pharmacy and supplement-channel dosing typically 50–150 mg/day oral. Note unit math: 100 mg = 100,000 mcg. There is NO published human dose-finding study to validate these doses. Dosing convention is essentially extrapolated from murine work using human-equivalent-dose math.
Contraindications
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding (no human safety data)
- Active malignancy (NNMT and related methylation pathway pharmacology in cancer biology is complex; consult oncology)
- Severe hepatic impairment (theoretical concern; not characterized)
- Known hypersensitivity to formulation excipients
Reported side effects
- Human safety profile is essentially undefined
- Theoretical: shifts in cellular methylation balance from sustained NNMT inhibition could affect any methylation-dependent process (gene expression, neurotransmitter synthesis, phospholipid biology)
- Animal studies have not surfaced major acute toxicity at the doses studied — but absence of evidence is not evidence of absence at human doses or chronic timeframes
- GI symptoms reported anecdotally with oral dosing; not characterized in trial settings
Reconstitution & storage
Oral capsules / powder do not require reconstitution. Compounded SubQ formulations vary widely by pharmacy — verify concentration per batch. This is a small molecule, not a peptide, so standard peptide reconstitution conventions (BAC water, U-100 syringe math) apply only loosely depending on the formulation supplied.
Storage. Oral: room temperature, dry, protect from light. Compounded sterile preparations: per pharmacy labeling, typically refrigerate.
Open the peptide calculator → to compute exact draw volumes for your specific vial and BAC water choice.
Editorial note
DRAFT — pending Wayne's review. 5-Amino-1MQ is a textbook case of compounding-pharmacy and supplement-vendor marketing running far ahead of the published evidence. The class field literally says 'NOT a peptide' to mirror NAD+ and MK-677 — users searching for a 'fat loss peptide' need to land on a clear taxonomic correction. The mouse-adipocyte data is real and the mechanism (NNMT inhibition → restored NAD+/SAMe) is interesting; the human evidence base is essentially nonexistent. Hold at Tier 3 for the studied-in-mice indications and Tier 4 for the longevity marketing.
Citations
- [1]Selective and membrane-permeable small molecule inhibitors of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase reverse high fat diet-induced obesity in miceNeelakantan H, Vance V, Wetzel MD, et al. · Biochemical Pharmacology · 2018 · PMID 29050899Foundational preclinical paper introducing 5-amino-1MQ as a selective NNMT inhibitor and demonstrating fat-loss effect in diet-induced obese mice. The single most important citation behind the marketing narrative.View source
- [2]A small molecule inhibitor of Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase for the treatment of metabolic disordersKannt A, Rajagopal S, Kadnur SV, et al. · Scientific Reports · 2018 · PMID 30385812Independent preclinical replication of NNMT-inhibition metabolic effects; supports the Tier 3 framing of the mechanism.View source