5-Amino-1MQ vs Retatrutide
A small-molecule NNMT inhibitor studied in animals for fat loss and NAD+ metabolism.
The world's first triple-action weight loss peptide that simultaneously activates three hormone receptors—GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon—delivering unprecedented weight loss results of up to 24% body weight in clinical trials [1][2].
Written by Michael Carroll — Owner, Director of Research · Reviewed by the Peptide Initiative Research Team · Editorial standards
Quick comparison
Dose range
5-Amino-1MQ
N/A
Retatrutide
4–8 mg
Frequency
5-Amino-1MQ
No human dose established
Retatrutide
Once weekly
Administration
5-Amino-1MQ
Subcutaneous injection
Retatrutide
Subcutaneous injection
Cycle length
5-Amino-1MQ
8-12 weeks (community-reported; no human trial data)
Retatrutide
12+ weeks
Onset speed
5-Amino-1MQ
Not established in humans; gradual over weeks in animal studies
Retatrutide
Moderate (1-2 weeks)
Evidence level
5-Amino-1MQ
Preclinical only (animal and lab studies; no human trials)
Retatrutide
Moderate human trials (Phase 1-2)
Benefit ratings
Fat and weight reduction
Metabolic markers
NAD+ / cellular energy
Human evidence
Weight Loss Power
Metabolic Health
Appetite Control
Compound specifications
5-Amino-1MQ
Molecular formula
C10H11N2+ (cation); commonly supplied as the iodide salt (C10H11IN2)
Molecular weight
159.21 g/mol (cation); 286.11 g/mol (iodide salt)
Half-life
Not established in humans; preclinical rodent data suggest a few hours (compound is membrane-permeable and orally active)
Bioavailability
Orally bioavailable in animal studies (high membrane permeability shown by PAMPA and Caco-2 assays); human data not established
CAS number
42464-96-0 (salt form)
Retatrutide
Molecular formula
C221H342N46O68
Molecular weight
4731 g/mol
Half-life
~6 days (allows once-weekly dosing)
Bioavailability
High via subcutaneous injection
CAS number
2381089-83-2
Dosing compared
5-Amino-1MQ
50 – 150 mg/day (community-reported, no trial)
Once daily, per community protocols · Undefined — no human study has run any duration
This is not a dose anyone established; it is the range people report using. The absence of human data here was checked rather than assumed: PubMed has no record under "5-amino-1MQ" and no clinical study of any NNMT inhibitor in people, ClinicalTrials.gov has no registered study of either the compound or the target, and no company has announced a clinical programme. The EU and WHO trial registries were not searched directly, so a trial registered only outside the US cannot be ruled out. With no human trial, there is no human safety data and no established human maximum, so there is nothing to describe any of these figures as tolerated against. It is shown as a single range rather than as starting, standard and advanced steps because no study set those steps — whether people using it escalate through them is a question about community practice that has not been checked here. The numbers that do exist are animal data only and do not convert to a human dose: mice received about 34 mg/kg a day by subcutaneous injection, 20 mg/kg three times daily for 11 days, n=9 [1]. In a dose-escalation study spanning 10 to 150 mg/kg/day, 60 mg/kg/day produced no observable adverse effects — in TWO mice [1]. Lab screening found off-target monoamine oxidase-A inhibition at higher concentrations, so caution with MAO-sensitive drugs and foods is reasonable [2], and the compound is cytotoxic to cultured pre-adipocytes at high concentration — about 40% loss of viability at 600 µM against none at 10 µM [1].
Retatrutide
Subcutaneous
Weeks 1-4
2 mg
Once weekly · Weeks 1-4 (then escalate 2 mg every 4 weeks)
Phase 2 obesity trial initiated higher-dose arms at 2 mg weekly with stepwise 2 mg increases every 4 weeks to limit GI effects [1].
Maintenance after titration
4-8 mg
Once weekly · Maintenance after titration
Mid-range maintenance doses; 8 mg produced ~22% mean weight loss at 48 weeks in the phase 2 trial [1][3].
Maintenance (highest studied)
12 mg
Once weekly · Maintenance (highest studied)
Highest studied dose; produced ~24% mean weight reduction at 48 weeks [1]. Still investigational (not FDA-approved).
Best suited for
5-Amino-1MQ
Fat loss research
The clearest, most repeated finding: obese mice lost body weight and fat mass on 5-Amino-1MQ without eating less [1][2]. This is the main reason people are interested — though it is animal data, not human proof.
Metabolic health support
In mice, it improved blood sugar, insulin, and liver fat [2]. Researchers see NNMT inhibition as a promising angle for metabolic syndrome [4].
NAD+ and cellular energy science
By blocking NNMT, it raises NAD+ and SAM inside cells, which supports how cells make and use energy [1][4]. This makes it interesting to people studying aging and metabolism.
Retatrutide
Significant Obesity Management
If you need to lose a substantial amount of weight, retatrutide is showing unprecedented results. Phase 2 trials demonstrated average weight loss of 24% at the highest dose—that's nearly 60 pounds for someone weighing 250 lbs [1]. No other medication has matched this [1].
Type 2 Diabetes with Obesity
Retatrutide tackles both problems at once. It dramatically improves blood sugar control (HbA1c reductions of up to 2%) while delivering major weight loss [6]. The dual benefit makes it especially valuable for diabetics struggling with weight.
Metabolic Syndrome Warriors
If you're dealing with the cluster of issues that includes high blood sugar, excess belly fat, abnormal cholesterol, and high blood pressure, retatrutide's triple mechanism attacks multiple aspects of metabolic dysfunction simultaneously [5].
Fatty Liver Disease (MASLD)
Early research shows retatrutide may significantly reduce liver fat [7]. For people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, this peptide offers hope through weight loss plus direct metabolic improvements that benefit liver health.
Side effects
5-Amino-1MQ
Common
- No verified human side effects
- Mild nausea or headache (community-reported)
Uncommon
- Fatigue or flushing (community-reported)
Serious
- Possible off-target MAO-A effects (theoretical)
- Unknown long-term and human risks
Retatrutide
Common
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Decreased appetite
Uncommon
- Increased heart rate
- Injection site reactions
Serious
- Pancreatitis
- Gallbladder problems
Safety & evidence
5-Amino-1MQ
Evidence level
Preclinical only (animal and lab studies; no human trials)
FDA status
Research compound — not FDA approved
Safety overview
The honest picture: nobody has run a human safety trial on 5-Amino-1MQ, so everything below is from mice and cultured cells. In the 11-day mouse study, 9 treated animals lost 2.0 ± 0.6 g of body weight (about 5.1% from baseline) while 9 controls gained 0.6 ± 0.4 g, with no difference in food intake and no observable adverse effects reported [1]. The tolerability ceiling people quote comes from a dose-escalation study spanning 10 to 150 mg/kg/day in TWO mice, where 60 mg/kg/day produced no observable adverse effects [1] — a denominator worth seeing before treating it as a safety margin. In cultured pre-adipocytes the compound is cytotoxic at high concentration: no effect on viability at 10 µM, modest cytotoxicity from 100 to 300 µM, and roughly 40% loss of viability at 600 µM [1]. Lab screening also found off-target inhibition of monoamine oxidase-A at higher concentrations [2]. Short studies in mice cannot rule out problems that appear over months or years in people. Treat this as an experimental compound and talk to a doctor first, particularly if you take any medication.
Contraindications
- No human safety data exists — all evidence is from animals and lab work
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Use with MAO-A-sensitive medications, given off-target MAO-A inhibition seen in lab screening [2]
Retatrutide
Evidence level
Moderate human trials (Phase 1-2)
FDA status
Research compound
Safety overview
Retatrutide has shown a generally favorable safety profile in Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials involving over 600 participants [1][6]. Most side effects are gastrointestinal and tend to improve over time [3]. The medication appears well-tolerated when doses are increased gradually. No major safety signals have emerged, but larger Phase 3 trials are still ongoing [3].
Contraindications
- Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
- Pregnancy or planning to become pregnant
- History of severe pancreatitis
- Known allergy to GLP-1 receptor agonists
Which is right for you?
Choose 5-Amino-1MQ if...
- Fat loss (research context)
- Metabolic health support
- NAD+ and cellular energy metabolism
Choose Retatrutide if...
- Significant weight loss
- Type 2 diabetes management
- Metabolic health improvement
- Body composition optimization