5-Amino-1MQ (5-Amino-1-methylquinolinium) is a compound that has attracted significant interest for its potential health benefits, particularly in the areas of metabolism and weight management. The compound functions by inhibiting the enzyme nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT)
When I first read about this in 2022, I was pretty excited because NNMT plays a significant role in the changes many of us experience in mid-life and beyond.
NNMT (nicotinamide N-methyltransferase) is an enzyme that affects how the body processes certain molecules. This enzyme plays a significant role in metabolism, particularly in how the body stores fat and uses energy.
As we age, NNMT activity tends to increase. Higher NNMT activity is linked to increased fat storage and reduced energy levels. This can contribute to weight gain, slower metabolism, and a higher risk of metabolic issues like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The increase in NNMT with age is one reason why maintaining a healthy weight and energy levels can become more challenging as we age.
As the vast majority of my clients are over 40 (and because I'm 57!), I had to try 5 Amino 1 mq.
As I delved deeper into my research, I discovered even more potential benefits.
Key Benefits of 5-Amino-1MQ:
- Enhancing Metabolism and Promoting Weight Loss: By inhibiting NNMT, 5-Amino-1MQ can boost metabolic activity, leading to increased energy expenditure. This helps reduce fat accumulation, making it easier to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.
5-Amino-1MQ helps reduce the size of fat cells by inhibiting the NNMT enzyme, which is involved in fat storage. When NNMT is blocked, the body is less likely to store fat, leading to smaller fat cells.
It also blocks the creation of new fat (a process called lipogenesis) by interfering with the pathways that turn nutrients into fat. This means the body produces less new fat overall. Even without a calorie deficit, 5-Amino-1MQ can promote fat loss by boosting metabolism and encouraging the body to burn stored fat for energy rather than storing more fat.
- Lowering Appetite: One effect of 5-Amino-1MQ may be a reduction in appetite. By influencing metabolic pathways and possibly affecting appetite-regulating hormones, this compound can help reduce food intake, which is beneficial for those trying to manage their weight.
- Lowering Cholesterol Levels: 5-Amino-1MQ has shown potential in reducing levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, commonly known as "bad" cholesterol. Lower LDL levels are associated with a decreased risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular issues.
- Lowering Triglycerides: Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood, and high levels are linked to an increased risk of heart disease. 5-Amino-1MQ may help lower triglyceride levels, contributing to better cardiovascular health.
- Increasing High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Cholesterol: HDL cholesterol is often referred to as "good" cholesterol because it helps remove LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream. 5-Amino-1MQ may support an increase in HDL levels, further promoting cardiovascular health.
- Reducing Inflammation: Chronic inflammation is a contributing factor to many health conditions, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. 5-Amino-1MQ has shown promise in reducing inflammatory markers, which could lead to improved overall health and a lower risk of inflammation-related diseases.
- Reducing Cancer Risk: NNMT has been linked to the development and progression of certain cancers. By inhibiting this enzyme, 5-Amino-1MQ might help reduce the risk of cancer or slow the growth of existing cancer cells. This potential anti-cancer effect is still under active research.
- Preserving Muscle Mass: Preserving muscle mass during weight loss is crucial for maintaining overall strength and metabolism. 5-Amino-1MQ may help balance muscle and fat metabolism, ensuring that muscle mass is retained even as fat is reduced. This is particularly beneficial for individuals seeking to improve body composition while losing weight.
While these potential benefits make 5-Amino-1MQ an exciting area of research, it's important to emphasize that much of the evidence is still emerging. The compound is not yet widely approved for clinical use.
I must stress that I am not making any claims or promises. What I want to share is my experience and Kevin's (my husband's) experience. I do not suggest, promote, or guarantee what your experience might be.
OUR EXPERIENCE
In 2022, I began researching 5-Amino-1MQ, and what truly excited me was its potential to promote muscle and strength. In my 50s, despite consistent hard training and a protein-rich diet, I noticed some muscle loss. I was also fascinated by the claim that 5-Amino-1MQ could inhibit fat gain "even when not in a calorie deficit."
At that time, I had a lot of travel planned. I had a trip to California with Kevin, which meant less training and a lot of eating out and socializing with friends. Additionally, I had several trips back to England lined up, as my mum was in the final stages of her life. These trips also meant less training, frequent meals out with my dad, and dealing with travel, airports, and jet lag.
Typically, I'd gain 4-5 pounds from this kind of schedule, and I would deserve every pound. Given the back-to-back travel over several months, I felt this would be the perfect opportunity to test out 5-Amino-1MQ and its ability to prevent weight gain. It wasn’t the best time to test for strength gains, as my training would be hit or miss.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, especially since I had read that it might take a month or so for 5-Amino-1MQ to show results (perhaps true for blood work, but that wasn’t my experience regarding fat loss and strength gains, which for me seemed almost immediate). I purchased 5-Amino-1MQ from Peptide Sciences, a reputable source, for $250 a bottle with 60 capsules (I took 2 x 50 mg per day). I started taking 2 capsules a day a week before a 10-day trip to England. I returned from the UK and two days later left for 10 days in California. Essentially, it was a month of travel, including the Christmas period and Kevin’s birthday. I lost 1 pound.
I used 5-Amino-1MQ from Peptide Sciences for three months ($750) and, in my opinion, experienced great success. Now, in 2023, with my mum's last year of life, I have five trips to the UK ahead of me. I also now have many clients taking Ozempic or other GLP-1 agonists. As I research these new weight loss peptides to effectively coach my clients, I keep returning to 5-Amino-1MQ as a potential alternative or as something my clients could switch to at some point.
Then there’s Kevin.
Kevin has never had great blood work. His dad had five heart attacks starting at age 50, and prior doctors had suggested that Kevin’s far-from-perfect blood work was genetic. I’ll be honest—his blood work scared me. Then, Kevin had colon cancer. Thankfully, he had a very successful surgery with no further treatment needed. But what was interesting was that before we knew Kevin had colon cancer, he had major digestive issues and was barely eating. He found that he was okay if he ate very little and only very simple, clean foods. If he ate poorly or too much, he would become so sick that he’d have to spend days in bed in severe pain.
What was interesting was that when Kevin was so sick, his blood work was impeccable! Triglycerides were low, LDL was low, and inflammation was low. At his sickest, his blood work was the best it had ever been. My takeaway was: How could his prior issues be genetic if they all resolved when he ate very little and very simple foods (fish, eggs, fruit for months on end)?
After Kevin’s full recovery (thank you, God), his blood work changed. It didn’t regress as badly as before, as Kevin was now much more intentional with his food choices, but it did backtrack. You can see his bloodwork from February 2024 and compare it to his blood work in July 2024 after 10 weeks on 5-Amino-1MQ.
I wanted to see if 5-Amino-1MQ could improve Kevin’s blood work. The potential benefits include lowering triglycerides, LDL, and inflammation while increasing HDL. Given the cost of $500 a month for both of us for a supplement I now want to take forever, I decided to source it myself. My intention was then, and still is now, to simply have a cost-effective source for myself and Kevin.
We received a trial batch of capsules, which we both started taking in the first week of June 2024. In the second week of June, I was going back to England to inter my mum’s ashes and celebrate my dad’s 90th birthday, which meant another 10 days of international travel, eating out every day, and limited training. Then in August, we traveled to California for 9 days, which again meant daily eating out, sporadic training, and a huge party thrown in.
Kevin did his blood work at the end of July, before we left for California. At this point, he had been taking 5-Amino-1MQ for approximately 8 weeks. The results were as follows:
- Total cholesterol dropped from 245 to 210
- Triglycerides dropped from 175 to 115 (this made me very happy)
- LDL dropped from 175 to 132
- HDL (good cholesterol) increased from 37 to 52 (Kevin has never had HDL above 40)
- Kevin dropped 12 pounds and said he feels noticeably stronger.
Again, I am not making any claims that these results are due to 5-Amino-1MQ—I am just sharing our experiences.
What about me? I have yet to do my blood work (stay posted). My blood work is usually really good, with the exception of elevated LDL, which is very common in people who eat a lot of fat, as I do. I came back from California and got on the scale the very next morning. I would never usually weigh myself the day after getting off a plane, but I did this after my last trip to England (!) and the recent California trip. I weighed the same.
What else have I noticed? I am pretty strong right now, and interestingly, I have no pain. Usually, I have a hip or shoulder thing niggling away, but right now, I don’t have any pain or discomfort. Now, I don’t know if that has anything to do with 5-Amino-1MQ, but I am strong, and my movement patterns aren’t causing any discomfort.
I also noticed in California that my appetite was less. This has been subtle and again might not be linked to 5-Amino-1MQ, but I am trying to assess all of my experiences. What I noticed is that I didn’t finish all my meals and I didn’t snack (I would usually have bags of nuts in the hotel room “just in case”). I can’t say I was really hungry, and generally, I have quite a large appetite. This isn’t a loss of appetite, but it has been a subtle change—a shift in my usual eating behavior. And again, I did not gain weight, not even the usual bloat I would feel post-flight.
To come full circle, I originally became interested in 5-Amino-1MQ because I was experiencing muscle loss despite consistent heavy training, and I never skimp on my protein. What got me hooked was the shock when I did not gain weight after a month of travel—I did not expect that.
The list of potential benefits sounds unbelievable, and it seems that research still does not fully validate all of these possibilities. As a former pro bodybuilder, I had no issue being my own guinea pig, and that’s exactly what I did.
So that’s our story with 5-Amino-1MQ. Again, I’m not making any claims—just sharing our experience. Our results may have nothing to do with 5-Amino-1MQ; the placebo effect can be powerful. What I can state is that 5-Amino-1MQ is the only new addition to our routine—there have been no nutritional or exercise changes. When we’re at home, our routine is pretty set—we eat the same meals, and our training routine is consistent. The last couple of years threw a lot of travel my way, which made our results, in my opinion, pretty remarkable.
I am not here to promote 5-Amino-1MQ, and I am certainly not here to persuade anyone to take it. I will not answer questions about this compound. This information is not for education; it is simply an outline of our experience with 5-Amino-1MQ.