5-amino-1MQ (5-amino-1-methylquinolinium) is a selective inhibitor of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT), an enzyme that increased adipocyte expression in obesity. The pivotal 2018 Neelakantan study in Biochemical Pharmacology documented that 5-amino-1MQ reduced body weight and white adipose mass in diet-induced obese mice over 11 days. A follow-up 2022 study examined NNMT inhibition combined with reduced calorie diet in DIO mice.
Research-context information only. 5-amino-1MQ is a research chemical (NNMT inhibitor) with no published human clinical trials — all efficacy data come from pre-clinical mouse studies. Protocols, doses, and reactions reported below come from animal research and self-reported community sources. This article reports what has been documented, not what should be done. Consult a licensed physician for personal medical decisions.
Both studies were in mice. There are no published human clinical trials.
The buying problem is unique: 5-amino-1MQ is a small molecule (not a peptide), it ships in oral capsules at 25-100mg per dose, and the entire research basis is pre-clinical. Vendor evaluation focuses heavily on COA verification because this is one of the more recently introduced research compounds and counterfeits are common.
This guide covers documented per-mg pricing, how to read a 5-amino-1MQ COA, format selection, and red flags. For dosing context, see the 5-amino-1MQ dosing guide.
Capsules — Most-cited format. 50mg per cap is most common; 25mg and 100mg variants exist.
Raw powder — Cheapest per-mg but requires precision weighing.
Current Market Pricing (2026)
Format & Size
Typical Price Range
Price Per 50mg Dose
Best For
30ct × 50mg capsules
$50-110
$1.67-3.67
Tolerance testing
60ct × 50mg capsules
$80-180
$1.33-3.00
Standard 50-100mg/day
1g raw powder
$150-350
$7.50-17.50
Bulk users with precision scale
5g raw powder
$500-1,200
$5.00-12.00
Long-term protocols
The pattern: 60-capsule bottles at 50mg are the most-cited format. Raw powder has higher per-50mg cost than capsules because the molecule is small, dose is large, and capsule manufacturing efficiency dominates.
Cheapest single-vial option: Ion Peptide's 15% off drops the 50mg vial to $29.75 ($0.59/mg effective) — the lowest effective price we track for buying one vial. Get the code →
How to Verify 5-Amino-1MQ Quality
5-amino-1MQ is a small molecule, not a peptide. Mass spec is straightforward but verification of the active form (free base vs salt) and purity is critical because the compound is relatively cheap to synthesize and easy to substitute with structurally similar quinolines.
What a COA Should Include
Identity Confirmation
Mass spectrometry confirming 159.19 Da (5-amino-1-methylquinolinium cation) or the labeled salt form mass
NMR or LC-MS sequence verification
Structural identity vs related quinoline NNMT inhibitors
Purity Testing
HPLC purity at 98%+ (achievable for a small molecule)
Single dominant peak; secondary peaks indicate impurities
Contamination Testing
Heavy metals
Residual solvents (the compound is often synthesized in DMSO-containing systems)
Common community pattern: Capsules at 50mg are the most-purchased format. Raw powder is reserved for high-volume users with 0.001g precision scales running long protocols.
Vial/Bottle Size by Protocol
Tolerance testing:
A 30ct × 50mg bottle is the smallest unit cited for tolerance testing
1 month supply at 50mg/day
Standard 50-100mg/day community protocol:
60ct × 50mg bottle — 30-60 days at 1-2 caps/day
The most-cited size in vendor sales data
Higher doses (150mg+/day):
5g raw powder with precision scale — drops cost to $5-12 per 50mg dose
Or 90-180 capsule bulk bottles
Why 5-Amino-1MQ Has Zero Human Trial Data
Unlike most research peptides on the market, 5-amino-1MQ has not progressed to any registered human clinical trial. The pre-clinical research base:
Neelakantan et al. 2018 (Biochemical Pharmacology): 5-amino-1MQ at 20mg/kg/day reduced body weight and white adipose mass in diet-induced obese mice over 11 days. The mechanism is selective NNMT inhibition reducing adipocyte methyl-flux toward 1-methylnicotinamide.
Kannt et al. 2022 (Scientific Reports): Combined NNMT inhibition + reduced calorie diet established a distinct microbiome in DIO mice — additional mechanism but still mouse-only data.
What's missing:
No human pharmacokinetic data
No human safety data
No optimal dose for humans (mouse 20mg/kg = ~150mg in a 75kg human if dose-equivalent, but mouse-to-human scaling for small molecules is unreliable)
No drug interaction data
No long-term safety data
Buyers in this category are doing biohacker-tier self-experimentation with limited data. Conservative protocols and lower starting doses are widely cited.
Vendor Evaluation Methodology
When comparing 5-amino-1MQ vendors:
Price Competitiveness (40%)
Normalize to cost per 50mg dose. A vendor selling 60ct × 50mg at $90 ($1.50/dose) scores higher than $3.00/dose, all else equal.
COA & Testing (30%)
Third-party labs (Janoshik, MZ Biolabs, Colmaric)
Recent (within 6 months)
Verifiable task number
Mass spec confirming 159 Da
Reputation (30%)
Community feedback, shipping reliability, customer service, multi-year track record. Note: 5-amino-1MQ is a newer compound on the research market, so multi-year track records are less common.
Shipping and Storage
Order Arrival
Capsules: Sealed bottle, intact tamper seal, fixed cap count
Powder: Sealed bag inside outer bottle
Storage Guidelines
Format
Temperature
Duration
Capsules
Room temp, dry
24+ months sealed
Capsules
Refrigerated
Extends shelf life
Raw powder
Room temp, dry, sealed
24+ months
Raw powder
Refrigerated
Recommended for long-term
Where to Buy
1
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 5-amino-1MQ legal to buy?
5-amino-1MQ is sold as a research chemical labeled 'not for human consumption.' It is not FDA-approved and has no published human clinical trials — all data come from pre-clinical mouse studies of NNMT inhibition. Purchasing research chemicals is legal in most US jurisdictions.
How much does 5-amino-1MQ cost per month?
Community-cited oral protocols at 50-150mg/day put monthly mass at 1.5-4.5g. Capsule bottles (60ct × 50mg) run $80-180; bulk powder runs $150-350 per gram. Monthly cost ranges from $90-300 depending on dose and format.
What format should I buy — capsules or powder?
Capsules are the most-cited format because the daily dose is large (50-150mg) and powder requires precision weighing. 50mg capsules are the most common; some vendors ship 25mg or 100mg variants.
What purity should I look for in 5-amino-1MQ?
Third-party HPLC at 98%+ purity, plus mass spec confirming 159.19 Da (5-amino-1-methylquinolinium iodide as commonly shipped). 5-amino-1MQ is a small molecule — synthesis is straightforward, so 99%+ purity is achievable. Below 95% suggests poor manufacturing or substituted compound.
What does research report about 5-amino-1MQ safety?
The peptide research community emphasizes that 5-amino-1MQ has zero published human clinical trials. All efficacy data come from diet-induced obese mice (Neelakantan et al. 2018, Kannt et al. 2022). Long-term human safety, optimal dose, drug interactions, and contraindications are not characterized. This is the most preclinical compound in the research-peptide market.
Can I buy 5-amino-1MQ from a pharmacy?
No. 5-amino-1MQ has never been FDA-approved or evaluated for any human indication. It is not available through pharmacies. Research vendors are the only documented commercial source.
This article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any condition. Consult a licensed healthcare provider before using any peptide.
