MOTS-c before and after: what studies measured
Species, length of study and measures, without promises.
Published MOTS-c “before and after” data come from mice treated for days to weeks, plus one study measuring the body’s own MOTS-c in 10 men around exercise. No completed human trial has given people MOTS-c and measured the results. MOTS-c is not FDA-approved, and REMEVi does not currently offer it.
MOTS-c is not FDA-approved. Since HHS’s October 2026 interim policy, a state-licensed 503A pharmacy may compound it on a patient-specific prescription under listed conditions.
REMEVi does not currently offer MOTS-c.
What each study measured
| Study | Species | Period | What was measured |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lee et al., Cell Metabolism 2015 | Mice (and human cells in the lab) | 7 days at a higher daily dose; 3 to 8 weeks at a lower daily dose | Glucose tolerance, insulin response, body weight, food intake, liver tissue |
| Reynolds et al., Nature Communications 2021 (mice) | Young, middle-aged and old mice | Daily for up to 2 weeks; one late-life group three times a week for the rest of life | Treadmill running, grip strength, balance and walking tests |
| Reynolds et al., Nature Communications 2021 (people) | 10 healthy young men; no MOTS-c given | One cycling session, sampled before, during, after and 4 hours later | The body’s own MOTS-c in thigh muscle and blood |
| CB4211 Phase 1a/1b, 2021 (an analog, not MOTS-c) | 65 healthy adults; then 20 adults with obesity and fatty liver | About 1 week (Phase 1a); 4 weeks of daily injections (Phase 1b) | Primary: safety and tolerability; exploratory: liver fat, body weight and blood markers |
None of these is a human before-and-after result for MOTS-c. The mouse studies measured mice; the human exercise study measured the MOTS-c people already make; CB4211 is a different molecule, and its results were released by the company, not in a peer-reviewed paper.
What online before-and-after claims are not
Before-and-after photos and stories about MOTS-c online are not controlled studies. They cannot separate MOTS-c from diet, training, other substances or chance, and the product in the vial is often unverified. REMEVi does not offer MOTS-c and has no patient results to show.
Does MOTS-c work?
In people, that is not known. MOTS-c has been studied in mice, where researchers measured glucose handling, body weight and physical performance, and in human cells in the lab. No completed human trial of MOTS-c has been published, so mouse findings cannot tell anyone what it would do for them.
How long does MOTS-c take to work?
There is no human answer. Mouse studies measured changes after 7 days to 8 weeks of daily injections, and one group of older mice was treated three times a week for the rest of their lives. Those timelines describe mouse experiments, not what a person would notice or when.
Sources
- Lee et al., Cell Metabolism 2015 — The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance (read November 2, 2026)
- Reynolds et al., Nature Communications 2021 — MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis (read November 2, 2026)
- CohBar press release (via BioSpace), Aug 10, 2021 — Positive topline results from the Phase 1a/1b study of CB4211, an analog of MOTS-c (company-reported, not peer-reviewed) (read November 2, 2026)
- USADA — What is the MOTS-c peptide? (read November 2, 2026)
- HHS, Federal Register — Enforcement Discretion Policy Regarding 503A Compounding Using Certain Peptide Bulk Drug Substances (91 FR 68526, October 30, 2026) (read November 2, 2026)
Medically reviewed by Linda West-Conforti, RN · CA RN #389453 ·