Summary
AICAR is a nucleoside that cells convert into an AMP mimic, activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), the cell’s energy sensor. In a 2008 study, sedentary mice given AICAR for four weeks ran 44% farther, which led to its description as an exercise mimetic and its ban in sport.
How it works
Once phosphorylated to ZMP, AICAR mimics AMP and activates AMPK, increasing glucose uptake and fatty-acid oxidation and switching on oxidative muscle genes.
Research use cases
Areas where AICAR has been studied. Inclusion here does not mean it works for that purpose.
- Exercise physiology
- Insulin resistance models
- AMPK signalling research
What the research found
Exercise mimetic
Narkar and colleagues found that AICAR alone increased running endurance in sedentary mice and activated oxidative genes, and that combining it with a PPARδ agonist and training enhanced the effect.1
Safety and open questions
Clinical acadesine trials raised concerns about hyperuricaemia. No approved uses.
Regulatory status
Not approved. Prohibited by WADA. Acadesine was tested clinically for cardiac surgery and leukaemia.
Status was accurate when this page was last reviewed on October 26, 2026. Regulations change; check with the relevant authority before relying on it.
AICAR: common questions
Is AICAR a peptide?
No. It is a small nucleoside molecule, listed here because it shares research context with metabolic and mitochondrial peptides.
Is AICAR approved for human use?
Not approved. Prohibited by WADA. Acadesine was tested clinically for cardiac surgery and leukaemia.
References
- Narkar VA, Downes M, Yu RT, et al. (2008). AMPK and PPARdelta agonists are exercise mimetics. Cell.
Links open a PubMed search for the exact title, or the original source where one is given.