MOTS-c | Reviews, Clinical Studies, and Safety

MOTS-c for metabolic disorders: Postmenopausal women often experience hormonal changes that can lead to metabolic dysfunction and an increased risk of conditions such as obesity and impaired insulin sensitivity. A study conducted by Lu et al. (2019) investigated the effects of MOTS-c treatment on these metabolic changes in mice that underwent ovariectomy.

The study found that ovariectomy resulted in increased fat mass and disrupted adipose tissue function, leading to insulin resistance. However, MOTS-c treatment prevented the development of obesity and insulin resistance. The treatment was also associated with the activation of brown fat, reduced adiposity, and lowered inflammation, ultimately resulting in decreased levels of fatty acids in the blood and liver [8].

These findings suggest that MOTS-c has the potential to mitigate the metabolic changes observed in postmenopausal women and prevent the development of obesity and insulin resistance.

MOTS-c for obesity: In a study conducted by Lee et al. (2015), researchers aimed to investigate the effects of MOTS-c on weight management in mouse models. Mice that received daily MOTS-c injections alongside a high-fat diet exhibited a significant decrease in body weight compared to mice that received MOTS-c injections with a regular diet. There was no significant weight reduction observed in the latter [1].

These findings indicate that MOTS-c may have implications for weight management, particularly in the context of high-fat diets. However, the specific mechanisms by which MOTS-c influences weight reduction in conjunction with high fat intake are not fully understood and require further investigation. It is important to note that these laboratory animal study findings cannot be extrapolated to human subjects.

MOTS-c for anti-aging:Aging is a complex process characterized by the gradual deterioration of biological functions and an impaired ability to respond to metabolic stress. This phenomenon, known as senescence, can be mitigated by enhancing mitochondrial fitness and physical capacity, which contribute to healthy aging.

MOTS-c levels are observed to decline in individuals aged 70-81, showing a decrease of approximately 21% compared to younger individuals aged 18-30. MOTS-c is also shown to share metabolic pathways with age-related modifiers, such as NAD+, a critical modulator of cellular signaling and survival pathways [9].

In one murine study conducted by Reynolds et al. (2021), MOTS-c improved physical performance and reduced age-related declines across multiple age groups over a two-week period of daily administration. These findings highlight the potential of MOTS-c as a therapeutic target in promoting healthy aging and preventing age-related diseases [6].

MOTS-c for cardiovascular function:Vascular calcification (VC) is the abnormal accumulation of calcium phosphate crystals in arterial walls, occurring as a complication of chronic kidney disease and atherosclerosis. A laboratory animal study on MOTS-c therapy for vascular calcification revealed that MOTS-c effectively prevented vascular calcification.

This beneficial effect was attributed to the peptide’s activation of AMPK signaling. However, further research is necessary to determine the clinical relevance of these findings in human subjects [10, 11].

MOTS-c for enhanced muscle performance: During exercise, mitochondria play a crucial role in supporting skeletal muscle function and transmitting exercise-induced signals to other organs. MOTS-c, along with exercise training, has been shown to have an additive effect on boosting the expression of the PGC-1α gene, which is involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and energy metabolism [12].

In mice, treatment with MOTS-c has been found to activate skeletal muscle AMPK, a regulator of exercise response, by increasing cellular levels of AICAR (an AMPK agonist) and GLUT4 [13]. In a study conducted by Li et al. (2022), it was observed that MOTS-c therapy and regular aerobic exercise led to alterations in pathogenic genes, with overlapping effects on 24 genes related to angiogenesis, inflammation, and apoptosis [14].

Overall, the evidence indicates that MOTS-c and exercise share common pathways in improving mitochondrial function, and energy metabolism.

This is not an exhaustive review of the numerous suggested benefits of MOTS-c peptide therapy in ongoing clinical analysis. Researchers are advised to keep up to date on emerging findings regarding this cutting-edge compound.