OptiPin
MOTS-C: calculator, dosing & the facts
Mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-C (Mitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the 12S rRNA Type-C) that regulates metabolic function and exercise capacity. Naturally produced in mitochondria. This is an evidence-graded reference – what it is, what it's used for, typical reported dosing, half-life, side effects, and how to track it. It is educational, not medical advice or a recommendation to use a research compound.
- • MOTS-C – Fat loss. Mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-C (Mitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the 12S rRNA Type-C) that regulates metabolic function and exercise capacity.
- • Commonly used for metabolic health optimization, exercise capacity and endurance, insulin sensitivity improvement.
- • Half-life: Approximately 3–4 hours.
- • Status: Research use only · not FDA-approved – an educational reference, not a dose protocol or sourcing advice.
MOTS-C calculator
Vial, water and dose in, syringe units out. Runs in your browser; nothing is sent anywhere.
Arithmetic only. The starting figures are the worked example in the reconstitution note on this page, not a dose recommendation. A U-40 syringe reads differently – see the syringe units chart. For a reusable pen, use the peptide pen calculator.
What MOTS-C is
Mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-C (Mitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the 12S rRNA Type-C) that regulates metabolic function and exercise capacity. Naturally produced in mitochondria.
What MOTS-C is used for
- • Metabolic health optimization
- • Exercise capacity and endurance
- • Insulin sensitivity improvement
- • Anti-aging and longevity
- • Muscle function enhancement
- • Obesity and metabolic syndrome support
These are reported/community uses, not proven clinical outcomes. Most research peptides have limited human trial data behind such claims.
Typical reported dosing
| Injectable | 5–15mg per week total, split into 2 subcutaneous injections (2x/week), or dosed as 5mg every 5 days |
Presented as commonly-reported patterns for information only – not a dose recommendation. MOTS-C dosing is a decision for a qualified clinician.
Reconstitution
Reconstitute 5–10mg vial with 2mL bacteriostatic water. 2.5mg = varies by vial size. The arithmetic is the same for any peptide: concentration = vial mg ÷ water mL, and on a U-100 syringe 100 units = 1 mL. Compute your own vial with the calculator at the top of this page.
MOTS-C dose-to-units chart
| Vial + water | Concentration | 1 unit holds | 2.5 mg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 mg + 2 mL | 2.5 mg/mL | 25 mcg | 100 u |
| 10 mg + 2 mL | 5 mg/mL | 50 mcg | 50 u |
Units on a U-100 insulin syringe, where 100 units = 1 mL. Red means under 5 units (a one-unit misread is a 20% dose error or worse) or over 100 (more than a 1 mL syringe holds). The dose columns are the worked examples in the reconstitution note above, shown as arithmetic, not as a recommendation.
Half-life & cycling
Half-life: Approximately 3–4 hours. Half-life drives dosing frequency and how quickly the compound clears – see it plotted on the MOTS-C half-life calculator.
Cycling
Typically run in short cycles, not continuously. Commonly run in blocks of a few weeks with a break between them. Most effective combined with exercise.
Side effects & warnings
- an injection site that turns red, hot or hard, spreads, weeps, or comes with a fever – same-day medical care – research-grade material carries no sterility guarantee, so abscess and cellulitis are the documented consequence
- swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, trouble breathing, or widespread hives after a dose – emergency care
- severe abdominal pain that bores through to the back and does not settle – urgent assessment for pancreatitis
- vomiting that stops you keeping fluids down – urgent care – dehydration is the common reason people on these compounds are admitted
- shaking, sweating, confusion or a racing heart, especially alongside insulin or a sulfonylurea – treat for low blood sugar and seek advice
- • Generally well-tolerated
- • Minimal side effects reported
- • Mild injection site reactions possible
Research use only. Naturally occurring mitochondrial peptide. Very promising for metabolic health. Works best when combined with regular exercise. Expensive but may have significant metabolic benefits. Newer research peptide with growing evidence base.
Tracking MOTS-C in OptiPin
If you're tracking a MOTS-C protocol, OptiPin logs each dose with reminders and site rotation, charts the outcome you care about over your dose timeline, keeps per-vial inventory with runout warnings, and (where relevant) does the reconstitution math – all on-device, no account.
Log doses, outcomes & vials in OptiPin
Reminders, outcome-over-dose charts, vial runout warnings, and built-in reconstitution math – all on-device.
Download on the App StoreFAQ
What is MOTS-C?
Mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-C (Mitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the 12S rRNA Type-C) that regulates metabolic function and exercise capacity. Naturally produced in mitochondria.
How many units is 2.5 mg of MOTS-C?
On a U-100 insulin syringe, from a 5 mg vial with 2 mL of water it is 100 units (1 mL); from a 10 mg vial with 2 mL of water it is 50 units (0.5 mL). The answer depends entirely on how much water went into the vial, so check your own vial with the calculator on this page. This is arithmetic, not a dose recommendation.
What is MOTS-C used for?
Commonly discussed uses include: metabolic health optimization, exercise capacity and endurance, insulin sensitivity improvement, anti-aging and longevity, muscle function enhancement, obesity and metabolic syndrome support. These are reported uses, not proven outcomes or a recommendation.
How is MOTS-C dosed?
Commonly reported dosing: Injectable – 5–15mg per week total, split into 2 subcutaneous injections (2x/week), or dosed as 5mg every 5 days. This reflects patterns discussed in the community and is presented for information only, not as a dose recommendation – MOTS-C is not an approved medicine and dosing should involve a qualified clinician.
How do you reconstitute MOTS-C?
Reconstitute 5–10mg vial with 2mL bacteriostatic water. 2.5mg = varies by vial size. On a U-100 syringe, 100 units = 1 mL. Concentrations vary by vial, so compute from your own vial with a reconstitution calculator.
What is MOTS-C's half-life?
Approximately 3–4 hours. Half-life shapes how often it is dosed and how quickly it clears.
What are MOTS-C's side effects?
Reported effects include: generally well-tolerated, minimal side effects reported, mild injection site reactions possible. Because it is a research compound, its safety profile is not fully characterized; discuss risks with a clinician.
Evidence & further reading
- Search the peer-reviewed literature for MOTS-C on PubMed (entry point to the primary evidence base, not a specific citation).
- MOTS-C on ClinicalTrials.gov – registered human trials, if any.
- US FDA / 503A compounding status of research peptides (2026).
- OptiPin peptides guide – categories, evidence grading, and how to run a protocol honestly.
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