VialOwlLibrary / Weight and metabolic
5-Amino-1MQ
Also known as 5-amino-1-methylquinolinium, NNMT inhibitor
Animal studies only
Not a peptide: a small molecule inhibitor of the enzyme nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT). Studied only in cell and mouse models of obesity; no published human trials.
Not an approved medicine. 5-Amino-1MQ is not an approved medicine for this use in Australia or the United States. This page summarises published research for information only. It is not a recommendation to use 5-Amino-1MQ, and VialOwl does not sell or supply it.
Background
A small molecule (5-amino-1-methylquinolinium), not a peptide, described by researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch in 2017 and 2018 as part of a series of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) inhibitors studied as possible obesity drugs. Related work was carried out with Ridgeline Therapeutics, a company founded by one of the researchers.
How it is thought to work
It blocks the enzyme NNMT, which is abundant in fat tissue. In fat cells and mice this raised cellular NAD+ and SAM levels and reduced fat storage, but whether the same happens in people has not been tested.
What is claimed, and the evidence
| Claim | Evidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fat loss and weight loss | Animal studies only | Reduced body weight and white fat mass in diet induced obese mice (2018) and with a low fat diet (2022). No published human trials. |
| Improved insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control | Animal studies only | Reviews report improvements with NNMT inhibition or knockdown in rodents only; no clinical trials of NNMT inhibitors had been reported as of 2021. |
| Muscle preservation, energy and anti ageing | No published evidence | Common marketing claims for oral capsules; no published human evidence. |
Side effects
| Effect | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Human side effects | Frequency unknown | No human studies have been published, so side effects in people are unknown. The mouse study reported no observable adverse effects. |
Warnings
- There is no published human safety or dosing data for this compound.
- Unapproved products bought online are not checked by any regulator for purity, sterility or strength; they may be contaminated, underdosed, overdosed or contain a different substance to the label.
- It is sold as a research chemical or supplement; it is not approved as a medicine by the TGA or FDA.
Regulatory status
- Australia
- Not included on the ARTG (unapproved). Not specifically listed in the Poisons Standard (June 2026).
- United States
- Not FDA approved. No FDA compounding category status found.
Sources
- Neelakantan et al. 2018, Selective and membrane permeable small molecule NNMT inhibitors reverse high fat diet induced obesity in mice (PubMed)
- Dimet-Wiley et al. 2022, Reduced calorie diet combined with NNMT inhibition in DIO mice (PubMed)
- Liu et al. 2021, Roles of NNMT in obesity and type 2 diabetes (PubMed)
Also in Weight and metabolic
From the VialOwl library, reviewed 26 September 2026. For education and general information. It is not medical advice and not a recommendation to use 5-Amino-1MQ.