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Digestive & weight
5-Amino-1MQ
5-Amino-1MQ is an NNMT-inhibiting small molecule, not a peptide. See what animal studies show, why human data is missing, and its non-FDA-approved status.
- Reviewed by
- William Maish, MD MBA MPH, Clinical Product Lead
- Published
- April 18, 2026
- Last updated
- October 5, 2026
Key takeaway
5-Amino-1MQ is a small-molecule NNMT inhibitor that, in cell studies, increases NAD+ and SAM and suppresses fat production in fat cells. In diet-induced obese mice, a potent NNMT inhibitor reduced body weight and fat mass without changing food intake. As of 2026, no human trials have been published, and it is not a peptide. It is not approved by the FDA.
What is 5-Amino-1MQ?
5-Amino-1MQ (5-amino-1-methylquinolinium) is a small synthetic molecule that inhibits an enzyme called nicotinamide N-methyltransferase, or NNMT. It is not a peptide. Peptides are short chains of amino acids, whereas 5-Amino-1MQ is a small-molecule methylquinolinium1 compound. It is often grouped with research peptides, but it belongs to a different chemical class.
How does 5-Amino-1MQ work?
NNMT is an enzyme that becomes more active in fat tissue in obesity. In cell studies, inhibiting it increases NAD+ and SAM1 and suppresses fat production in fat cells. In diet-induced obese mice, a potent NNMT inhibitor reduced body weight and fat mass without changing how much the animals ate. These findings come from animal and cell studies, not from humans.
Is it FDA-approved?
No. 5-Amino-1MQ has never been approved by the FDA for any use and, unlike an approved drug, it has not gone through completed human trials.
What does the research show?
The research is almost entirely preclinical. The main evidence comes from animal and cell work, including these two studies:
| Study | Model | Finding |
| Foundational NNMT-inhibitor study | Mice | First showed NNMT inhibitors reduce obesity |
| 2022 study2 | Obese mice | NNMT inhibition combined with a low-fat diet reduced body weight and adiposity |
There are no completed randomized controlled human trials, so its effects and safety in people remain unknown.
Sources: preclinical studies cited above are indexed on PubMed and cited by DOI where used, including the 2017 NNMT-inhibitor study in Biochemical Pharmacology (DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2017.11.0071) and a 2022 study in Scientific Reports (DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03670-52). This document is educational research and does not constitute medical advice, a health claim, or an offer to sell; 5-Amino-1MQ is not approved by the FDA, and its safety and effectiveness in humans have not been established.