This information is for research and educational purposes only. No medical recommendations. Products are not approved for human use. For health questions, consult a doctor.

Lexicon

Mitochondria

AICAR Oral

The oral tablet form of the AMPK activator AICAR, with the same exercise-mimetic claim and the same thin human data.

1 min read 1 sources Titration Updated May 2026
Class
AMPK activator (oral)
Use
Oral (tablet)
Half-life
short
Status
Preclinical, oral effect questionable

Getting started

Reported dosing (not established)

Per-day figures. Oral AICAR has very poor bioavailability, the animal effect hardly transfers orally. Read it honestly.

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What is AICAR Oral?

AICAR Oral is the tablet form of the AMPK activator AICAR, which you also find as an injection in the lexicon. The principle is the same: an exercise-mimetic candidate meant to trigger part of the training signals without training.

Up front: AICAR has very poor bioavailability. Applied orally it is questionable how much works at all.

How it works

Like the injectable form, AICAR activates the enzyme AMPK, the cell's energy sensor, and through it switches on programs for energy expenditure and endurance. Details on the mechanism are in the AICAR entry.

How to take it

Oral, one tablet with some water.

Dosing

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What the research shows

The well-known study (Narkar, 2008) showed in mice that AICAR increased endurance performance, a classic exercise-mimetic result, but with high, mostly injected doses. For oral use in humans the basis is missing, and AICAR is also on the WADA list.

Side effects

  • Solid human data are largely missing.
  • Banned in official competition.

Storage

Store dry, cool and protected from light, out of reach of children. Keep the original container closed and mind the expiry date.

Evidence

Sources

  1. 1 AMPK and PPAR-delta agonists as exercise mimetics (AICAR in a mouse model). Narkar et al., Cell, 2008

Keep reading

More in the lexicon

In the shop

AICAR Oral in the catalog

Sizes, prices and availability for research use. Straight from the lexicon to the product page.

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