AICAR

Price and cost-per-mg comparison

AICAR (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide; acadesine) is a non-peptide, cell-permeable nucleoside analog and prodrug that is phosphorylated intracellularly to its monophosphate form (ZMP), which mimics AMP to activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) — the primary cellular energy sensor — producing metabolic effects that partially phenocopy those of exercise and caloric restriction. AMPK activation by AICAR upregulates GLUT4 expression and glucose uptake, stimulates fatty acid oxidation, increases mitochondrial biogenesis via PGC-1alpha, and suppresses hepatic gluconeogenesis; a landmark 2008 preclinical study demonstrated that AICAR administration in sedentary mice increased running endurance and activated exercise-related gene expression programs without physical training, generating significant research interest in its potential as an exercise mimetic. The only published human clinical trial involved intravenous AICAR administration in patients with type 2 diabetes, where it reduced hepatic glucose output and inhibited whole-body lipolysis via AMPK, validating the pathway pharmacology in humans; the exercise-mimetic effects observed in rodents have not been replicated or evaluated in any human study, and no oral or injectable form has been assessed for human performance use in published research. AICAR is not a peptide and has no FDA approval; it is prohibited in sport by WADA, available only as a research chemical, and all performance-related interest derives from preclinical rodent data that has not been translated to human investigation; the IV metabolic effects in diabetic patients should not be extrapolated to an athletic or performance context.

23 listings · 20 vendors · updated 28 Sept 2026 · how prices are computed · educational only, not medical advice