Longevity & mitochondria

MOTS-c

Name: MOTS-c: uses, evidence and safety
Creator: Cited Peptides Editorial

Metabolism, exercise capacity and "longevity". A peptide encoded by mitochondrial DNA.

By Cited Peptides Editorial Updated 2026-10-10 Medical review pending

This page has not yet been reviewed by a credentialed medical professional. It is educational and is not medical advice.

MOTS-c: key facts

Evidence level Animal studies only
Approved as a medicineNo
Randomized trials on PubMed4
Papers on PubMed257
Trials testing it (ClinicalTrials.gov)3
In tested sportCheck the current WADA Prohibited List

In one sentence: MOTS-c is not an approved medicine. Its strongest evidence is animal studies, with 4 randomized trials on PubMed that mention it.

What the evidence says

Mostly mouse and cell studies. The few human "trials" on PubMed measured the body's own MOTS-c levels after exercise, not MOTS-c as a treatment.

Key studies

Randomized trials Listed on PubMed as randomized trials that mention it. Some only measure it rather than test it as a treatment.

Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't2022 Circulating levels of MOTS-c in patients with breast cancer treated with metformin Aging (Albany NY) PMID 36490309 → Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't2025 Repeated Heat Stress Modulates the Levels of the Mitokines MOTS-C and FGF21 in Active Men during Calf Muscle Immobilization Med Sci Sports Exerc PMID 40674654 → Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't2021 Acute endurance exercise stimulates circulating levels of mitochondrial-derived peptides in humans J Appl Physiol (1985) PMID 34351816 → Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural2021 Effect of aerobic and resistance exercise on the mitochondrial peptide MOTS-c in Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White breast cancer survivors Sci Rep PMID 34413391 →

Reviews Summaries of other studies.

Review, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't2023 MOTS-c: A promising mitochondrial-derived peptide for therapeutic exploitation Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) PMID 36761202 → Review, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural2022 Mitochondria-derived peptides in aging and healthspan J Clin Invest PMID 35499074 → Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't2019 MOTS-c: A Mitochondrial-Encoded Regulator of the Nucleus Bioessays PMID 31378979 → Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't2020 Mitochondrial-derived peptides in energy metabolism Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab PMID 32776825 →

Other notable papers The most relevant other papers on PubMed.

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't2015 The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance Cell Metab PMID 25738459 → Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't2024 Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide MOTS-c Suppresses Ovarian Cancer Progression by Attenuating USP7-Mediated LARS1 Deubiquitination Adv Sci (Weinh) PMID 39321430 → Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't2021 MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis Nat Commun PMID 33473109 → Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't2022 The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c relieves hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in gestational diabetes mellitus Pharmacol Res PMID 34798268 →

See its full evidence profile and newest papers →

Clinical trials

RecruitingPhase 2 MOTS-c for Improving Insulin Sensitivity in Adults With Prediabetes and Overweight/Obesity 120 people · Hudson Biotech NCT07505745 → Status unknownNot phased Platelet Reactivity, B-amyloid, MOTS-c and Mortality of Type II Diabetics With CAD 120 people · University of Athens NCT04027712 → RecruitingNA Comparison of the Effects of General Anesthesia and Combined Spinal-Epidural Anesthesia on Ferroptosis, Humanin and MOTS-c Levels in Renal Transplantation 68 people · University of Gaziantep NCT07678073 →

Search all trials live →

Where it fits

GoalPeptides for weight loss GoalPeptides for longevity ComparisonMOTS-c vs Epitalon

Common questions

Is MOTS-c approved?

No. MOTS-c is not an approved medicine in the US or Canada.

Has MOTS-c been tested in people?

4 randomized trials on PubMed mention it. Mostly mouse and cell studies. The few human "trials" on PubMed measured the body's own MOTS-c levels after exercise, not MOTS-c as a treatment.

Is MOTS-c allowed in sport?

Check the current WADA Prohibited List; unapproved substances can be banned under its catch-all category.

This is a short, data-driven profile. Study and trial lists come from PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov and are refreshed periodically. "What people use it for" describes common claims, not recommendations. Educational only, not medical advice.