5-Amino-1MQ (5-amino-1-methylquinolinium) is a small molecule NNMT (nicotinamide N-methyltransferase) inhibitor. NNMT is an enzyme highly expressed in white adipose tissue that methylates nicotinamide (a form of vitamin B3/niacin), consuming methyl groups from SAM (S-adenosylmethionine) in the process. NNMT overexpression in adipose tissue drives fat cell maturation, increases adiposity, and depletes the NAD+ salvage pathway by diverting nicotinamide away from NAD+ recycling. By inhibiting NNMT, 5-Amino-1MQ redirects nicotinamide back into the NAD+ salvage pathway, reduces fat cell differentiation, and increases cellular energy metabolism. It is discussed primarily as a body composition optimizer and fat loss agent.
Quick Start
Route
SubQ injection. Also available orally (lower bioavailability).
Start low
2.5 mg SubQ
Frequency
Daily, Monday through Friday (5 on / 2 off)
Timing
No strict fasting for 5-Amino itself. If pinned with AOD-9604, fasted for AOD.
Oral: Take on empty stomach, morning preferred. SubQ: Higher bioavailability. NNMT inhibitor works best fasted for metabolic effects.
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Start here. Every protocol below is ordered lowest-first. Begin at the smallest effective dose, hold about a week to assess tolerance, and step up only if needed.
Tiered Protocols · lowest first
Conservative Start (SubQ)
2.5 mg · SubQ · Daily
anecdotal · community
Rotate lower-abdomen sites. 50mg vial + 1mL BAC = 50mg/mL -> 2.5mg = 5 units on a U-100 syringe.
2.5 mg
Daily
Standard
Standard (SubQ)
5 mg · SubQ · Daily
anecdotal · community
Rotate lower-abdomen sites. 50mg vial + 1mL BAC = 50mg/mL -> 5mg = 10 units on a U-100 syringe.
5 mg
Daily
Intermediate
Metabolic Optimization (Oral capsule)
50-150 mg · Oral · 3x Daily
animal study · Neelakantan et al. 2018 (Biochem Pharmacol)
Usually compounded in 50mg capsules. Taken with meals. The study cited here is animal research. It shows the mechanism, not a human dose, and this amount is community practice rather than a trial result. This is the ORAL capsule dose and is not an injection dose. Oral peptide absorption is poor, so this figure is far higher than the injectable protocol on purpose. Do not inject this amount.
50-150 mg
3x Daily
Reconstitution CalculatorU-100
050100u
Draw to
— units
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01
How it works
5-Amino-1MQ competitively inhibits NNMT, the enzyme that methylates nicotinamide using SAM as a methyl donor. When NNMT is overactive (as seen in obesity and aging), it diverts nicotinamide away from NAMPT (the rate-limiting enzyme in the NAD+ salvage pathway), depleting cellular NAD+ levels. Simultaneously, NNMT activity drives SAM depletion and polyamine pathway disruption, promoting adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation. By blocking NNMT, 5-Amino-1MQ restores nicotinamide flux through the NAD+ salvage pathway (increasing cellular NAD+), reduces SAM-dependent adipogenic signaling, inhibits preadipocyte differentiation into mature fat cells, and increases overall metabolic rate in adipose tissue. The compound shrinks fat cells and prevents new fat cell formation through a completely different mechanism than lipolysis-based approaches (like AOD-9604), making them complementary.
02
What to expect
Early
Days 1–7
Days 1-14: Minimal perceptible changes. NNMT inhibition effects on fat cell biology take weeks to manifest visually. Some users report subtle energy improvements.
Mid
Weeks 2–4
Weeks 2-6: Body composition changes may begin to appear with proper diet and exercise. NAD+ salvage pathway restoration effects accumulate.
Later
Weeks 4–12
Weeks 6-12: Cumulative anti-adipogenic effects. Fat mass reduction becomes measurable. Best tracked via DEXA or body composition testing rather than scale weight.
03
Evidence
HumanNo published trials
AnimalPresent
In-vitroStrong
Each reference below was re-fetched from its PubMed record, and the quoted sentence was
confirmed to appear in that abstract and to support the claim it sits under. Follow any of
them to read the source.
Mechanism/effect boundary: 5-amino-1-methylquinolinium is an NNMT inhibitor that reduced adiposity in diet-induced obese mice when combined with a low-fat diet; this is preclinical and route is not stated.
Treatment with a nicotinamide N-methyltransferase inhibitor (NNMTi; 5-amino-1-methylquinolinium) combined with low-fat diet (LD) promoted dramatic whole-body adiposity and weight loss in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice, rapidly normalizing these measures to age-matched lean animals, while LD switch alone was unable to restore these measures to age-matched controls in the same time frame.
Evidence scope. Animal (diet-induced obese mice), preclinical; administration route not reported in the abstract.
Claims we could not support
No abstract we checked supports these for this molecule at this route. That is not the
same as saying they are false — it marks where the evidence is missing.
Dose/route: 5 mg SubQ daily, Monday-Friday. No checked PubMed abstract administered 5-amino-1MQ by the subcutaneous route at this dose/frequency.
Primary safety concern / human tolerability. No human clinical abstract for this molecule and route was found; animal or general NNMT papers cannot establish injectable safety.
04
The honest take
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Fat loss via NNMT inhibition
Supported
Animal data strongly supports reduced adiposity through NNMT inhibition. Mechanism is well-characterized. Human fat loss data is anecdotal.
NAD+ boosting
Supported
Indirect NAD+ boost via restored salvage pathway is mechanistically sound and confirmed in cell studies. Not a direct NAD+ precursor like NMN/NR.
Anti-obesity drug candidate
Unproven in humans
NNMT inhibitors are under active pharmaceutical development. 5-Amino-1MQ is a research tool compound, not a clinical drug candidate itself.
05
Interactions & stacking
Two different questions: what is documented about running these together, and what is documented about drawing them into the same syringe. A good pharmacological partner can still have to be pinned separately.
Documented together
BPC-157Non-overlapping (metabolic vs tissue repair)
TB-500Non-overlapping mechanisms
GHK-CuNon-overlapping mechanisms
GHKNon-overlapping mechanisms
Keep separate
CJC-1295 with DACDAC maleimide reactivity concern.
Check any specific pair in the Stack & Interaction Checker, which answers both questions separately. Absence of a documented conflict is not evidence of safety.
06
Side effects & safety
Commonly reported
Generally well tolerated
Mild injection site irritation
Some users report mild energy increase or jitteriness initially
Rare mild GI discomfort with oral formulation
Less common & notes
5-Amino-1MQ is a newer compound with limited long-term safety data.
NNMT plays roles in cellular methylation beyond adipose tissue, and long-term systemic NNMT inhibition effects are not fully characterized.
Monitor liver function periodically as NNMT is expressed in liver tissue.
No significant adverse events reported in animal studies at therapeutic doses.
07
Pharmacokinetics
Illustrative plasma concentration · 17 h
Half-life
4h
Peak · Tmax
0.5h
Elimination
20h
Bioavailability
~100%
SubQ
Duration of action
12-16 hours
NNMT inhibition persists beyond plasma clearance
Clearance
Enzymatic degradation and renal excretion
Storage. Store unreconstituted vials frozen (-20C) or refrigerated (2-8C). After reconstitution with BAC water, refrigerate at 2-8C. Stable for 28 days. Small molecule with favorable stability. Protect from light.
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Regulatory status
5-Amino-1MQ is not FDA-approved for any indication. Available as a research chemical. Not specifically listed on WADA prohibited list. Not a controlled substance. Regulatory status is less established than older peptides.
Put it to work
Calculate, log & track
Open 5-Amino-1MQ straight into OnePin with your vial and dose pre-filled, then let it handle the syringe math and remind you before the vial runs out.