Mechanism: Mitochondrial
MOTS-c vs NAD+: Mitochondrial Mechanism Comparison
Both target mitochondrial function, the cornerstone of healthy ageing research. MOTS-c is a 16 amino acid mitochondrial derived peptide, NAD+ is a coenzyme central to energy metabolism.
Side-by-side comparison
| Attribute | MOTS-c | NAD+ |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Mitochondrial derived peptide | Coenzyme |
| Mechanism | AMPK activation, insulin sensitivity | Sirtuin and PARP substrate, redox balance |
| Route | Subcutaneous injection | Injection, IV, or oral precursors (NR, NMN) |
| Strongest evidence | Rodent insulin sensitivity, exercise mimetic | Rodent lifespan, human metabolic markers with NR |
| Typical research dose | 5 to 10 mg weekly | 100 to 500 mg IV or 250 to 500 mg oral precursor |
Key differences
- ·MOTS-c is a peptide signal that activates AMPK and metabolic homeostasis
- ·NAD+ is a substrate consumed by sirtuins and PARPs
- ·MOTS-c declines with age in human plasma (Lee et al. 2015)
- ·NAD+ declines tissue wide with age, supplementation strategies include precursors NR and NMN
Research summary
Lee et al. (2015) characterised MOTS-c as an insulin sensitiser and metabolic regulator. Martens et al. (2018) showed NR raised NAD+ in humans with modest cardiovascular markers. Both target ageing biology but through orthogonal pathways and can be researched in parallel.