For laboratory and educational research use only. Not medical advice.
Women's Peptide Research
Ask Vera
Home  /  Database  /  AICAR
Performance & Musclephase_2_3

AICAR

Acadesine
Performance & Muscle
ASK VERA ABOUT THIS ↗BROWSE THE CATALOG ↗
Category
Performance & Muscle
Evidence grade
B
PubMed records
2,496
Female-tagged
329
Sex-analysis
2
CAS
—
B
Evidence grade B, Phase 2/3 human trial evidence across 2496 indexed studies (mixed-sex). How grades work →
Female evidence: Extrapolated
AICAR: of 2,496 PubMed records, 329 are tagged as including female subjects and 2 carry a sex-analysis tag.Counts reflect PubMed records as of 2026-07-21. “Female” uses the Female MeSH filter and “sex-analysis” the Sex Factors MeSH filter, automated proxies pending manual study-level review. Methodology →

Overview

AICAR (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide) is a small-molecule research compound studied as an activator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a central sensor of cellular energy state. Because it mimics the accumulation of AMP that signals low energy, it has a research-friendly profile as a chemical tool for switching on AMPK-dependent pathways.

In preclinical and cell-based models AICAR has been studied for its relationship to AMPK signaling and characterized as a so-called exercise-mimetic, a research material used to model some of the metabolic adaptations associated with muscle activity. Investigators examining energy metabolism and skeletal-muscle biology have used it to probe glucose uptake, fatty-acid oxidation, and mitochondrial signaling in laboratory systems.

What makes AICAR a useful entry for a metabolic research catalog is the relative specificity of its studied mechanism at the AMPK node. Whether these mechanisms translate to female physiology remains an open research question; our evidence review tracks how many of the underlying studies included women.

Summary

AICAR is an AMPK activator studied clinically as acadesine for cardioprotection (reaching Phase 3 in cardiac surgery) and preclinically as an 'exercise mimetic.' It is prohibited in sport by WADA; its performance and metabolic uses in healthy people are not clinically established.

Evidence in women

Menstrual cycle
Unstudied
No study examined metabolic response across the menstrual cycle.
Pregnancy & lactation
Unstudied
No pregnancy or lactation safety data exist.
Hormonal interactions
Unstudied
No controlled data on interactions with reproductive or thyroid hormones.
Perimenopause & menopause
Unstudied
No perimenopause- or menopause-specific analyses.
Sex differences
Unstudied
The clinical (cardiac) literature enrolled women but did not analyze the metabolic effects by sex.

Mechanism

Mimics AMP to activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), shifting cells toward oxidative, energy-generating metabolism.

Reported dosing & routes

◐

We don't give dosing or medical advice. The figures below describe what was used in published research, not a recommendation. Decide with your clinician.

Reported range (literature)Intravenous acadesine regimens were used in cardiac-surgery trials; no established dose for metabolic or performance use.
Routesintravenous
Female-specific dosingNot established

Contraindications: insufficient data for non-cardiac-surgery use to characterize

Side effects

Reported in the research literature. Sex-specific incidence has not been separately analysed in the available records.

elevated uric acidtransient effects on heart rhythm (in the cardiac-surgery setting)

AICAR reconstitution calculator

Enter this vial's amount, the bacteriostatic water you add, and a target amount to get the concentration and the U-100 syringe units to draw. Handling arithmetic for research use, not a dose recommendation.

Reconstitution

1
2
3

Draw for AICAR

5
units on a U-100 insulin syringe
020406080100
U-100 insulin syringe — 1 mL = 100 units
That's 0.05 mL drawn to the 5-unit mark.
Concentration5 mg/mL (5,000 mcg/mL)
Volume to draw0.05 mL
Doses per vial40

Reference chart at 5 mg/mL

Target amountVolume (mL)U-100 units
100 mcg0.02 mL2
250 mcg0.05 mL5
500 mcg0.1 mL10
750 mcg0.15 mL15
1000 mcg0.2 mL20

Research-use arithmetic only. This tool converts a vial amount, diluent volume, and a target amount into a concentration and syringe draw for laboratory handling. It is not dosing guidance, a recommendation, or a claim of safety or efficacy, and it does not account for overfill, dead space, or peptide purity. Nothing here is medical advice. “U-100” means 100 units = 1 mL; confirm your syringe graduation before measuring. See the reconstitution & storage handbook for handling detail.

Frequently asked questions

Answers drawn only from AICAR's research facts and, where reviewed, its sex-disaggregated evidence. Nothing here is medical advice, dosing, or a claim of safety or efficacy.

What is AICAR?

AICAR, also known as Acadesine, is a research compound in our performance muscle category. AICAR is an AMPK activator studied clinically as acadesine for cardioprotection (reaching Phase 3 in cardiac surgery) and preclinically as an 'exercise mimetic.' It is prohibited in sport by WADA; its performance and metabolic uses in healthy people are not clinically established.

Is AICAR studied in women?

AICAR: of 2,496 PubMed records, 329 are tagged as including female subjects and 2 carry a sex-analysis tag. We grade this extrapolated: women appear in the record, but no study is tagged for a sex-specific analysis, so female-relevant conclusions are inferred from mixed or male data rather than measured in women. See our methodology.

Has AICAR been studied during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Unstudied. No pregnancy or lactation safety data exist. This is not a safety clearance or a recommendation. Vera, our research chat, deliberately hard-stops on pregnancy, breastfeeding, and trying-to-conceive questions rather than answer them.

What evidence grade does AICAR have, and why?

AICAR carries evidence grade B. Phase 2/3 human trial evidence across 2496 indexed studies (mixed-sex).. Grades are derived from the research record, never hand-assigned; see how grades work.

Is there a female-specific dose for AICAR?

No. A female-specific dose for AICAR is not established, and this site does not provide dosing or medical advice. Any figures we show describe what published research used, not a recommendation. Decide anything about use with a qualified clinician.

How is AICAR administered in research?

In the published literature, AICAR is administered via intravenous. Reported dose ranges on the Dosing tab describe what studies used for laboratory research, not a protocol for people. We don't provide dosing.

What side effects have been reported for AICAR?

Effects reported in the research literature include elevated uric acid, transient effects on heart rhythm (in the cardiac-surgery setting). Sex-specific incidence has not been separately analysed in the available records, so these are not broken out for women.

How should AICAR be stored and handled?

AICAR sold for research is supplied as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder. Lyophilized peptides are generally kept cold and dry, at roughly -20°C for longer-term storage and 2-8°C short-term, protected from light. Once reconstituted they are typically refrigerated and used within a short window, avoiding repeated freeze-thaw cycles. This is general laboratory handling for research use only, not a directive for human use. Always follow the handling and purity details on the product's Certificate of Analysis.

Where can I buy AICAR for research?

AICAR is not currently listed by our research-use partner, Aurevena Research, but their catalog carries related compounds. Code research15 applies 15% off. We may earn a commission when you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you. Products are for laboratory research use only.

Browse the Aurevena catalog
Research-use supplier: AICAR isn't currently listed by our research-use vendor. Their catalog carries related compounds. Code research15 for 15% off, applied automatically at checkout. We may earn a commission when you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you. Products are for laboratory research use only.
Browse the catalog →

Citations (PMID)

39197808 · 32401642

Related peptides

2X Blend CJC-1295 WO DAC (5mg) / Ipamorelin·
Multi-ingredient blend, its female evidence is reviewed per ingredient, not for the combination.
ACE-031C
ACE-031: of 48 PubMed records, 11 are tagged as including female subjects and 0 carry a sex-analysis tag.
CJC-1295 with DACC
CJC-1295 with DAC: of 32 PubMed records, 2 are tagged as including female subjects and 0 carry a sex-analysis tag.
CJC-1295 Without DACD
CJC-1295 Without DAC: of 5 PubMed records, 1 are tagged as including female subjects and 0 carry a sex-analysis tag.

Educational information for laboratory and research use only. Not medical advice, a recommendation, or a claim of safety or efficacy; no personal dosing. “Unstudied” means no qualifying study was found, not that a compound is safe or unsafe.