AICAR 50mg

What Is AICAR?

5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside, commonly known as AICAR, is a natural substance our body produces, which stimulates AMP activate protein kinase (AMPK). Like we already said, AMPK is a very important enzyme which impacts and regulates our metabolism in a number of ways.

It acts as an energy regulator that kicks into gear during intense exercise or any activity requiring increased usage of cellular energy. 

Of course, AICAR can also be synthesized in the lab which is why we’re talking about it today. It was developed and continues to be studied due to its potential in treating various auto-immune diseases such as leukemia, the most severe diseases including cancer, as well as conditions that are not life threatening but still pose a serious health problem such as diabetes and problems with blood clotting.

AICAR And Physical Performance

It’s well known that our body has the ability to go into a heightened state where the energy is more readily available to all of its tissues. Such states include hypoxia (low oxygen levels, usually due to intense exercise), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), muscle contractions and other strenuous activity.

Of course, this is our body’s natural response. What scientists were trying to do is introduce this state “artificially” and AICAR turned out to be just the peptide for the job. One of its abilities is to increase the usage of fat for energy, making it more abundant and more readily available.

However, it is still largely unknown how AICAR accomplishes this, as its action is still hugely complex and requires more research. 

AICAR For Diabetes And Blood Glucose Level Management

For the time being, we only have mice studies to corroborate the diabetes management claims.

The first one was done in 2005 with the goal of measuring the effectiveness of AICAR in contrast with exercise. The study was done on pre-diabetic mice that were divided into three groups: the first one was the control, second where mice were exercising using a treadmill and the third one where AICAR was administered.

After the 8-week period elapsed, the results clearly showed that mice that were running on a treadmill or were receiving AICAR, did not develop hyperglycemia (unlike the controls group that did). Furthermore, other diabetes indicators that were elevated in the control group, did not go up in the groups where mice exercised or were given treatment.

Another, more recent study from 2022 was performed with a similar goal - to measure the outcomes of AICAR therapy in metabolic syndrome disease and type 2 diabetes.

The study, which lasted 13 weeks, was closely monitoring and recording disease indicators such as weight, insulin levels, glucose, belly circumference, visceral fat etc.  while the mice were fed a high-fat diet.

At the end, once the mice bodies were examined, the control group (which received no treatment), showed clear signs of metabolic disease: increased weight, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, increase in both visceral and belly fat, along with an increased belly circumference.

On the other hand, the AICAR treated group showed a noticeable weight decrease, with an emphasis on reduced abdominal as well as visceral fat.

AICAR And Heart Health

When talking about AICAR’s relation to heath health (and the cardiovascular system as a whole), its action is twofold - you can use it as a preventative measure, as well as after  myocardial infarction; let’s explain why.

We know that much of heart disease is related to inflammation. And, since AICAR has such a pronounced anti-inflammatory property, researchers are considering using it as a preventative measure as it may hinder the progression of atherosclerosis and related vascular diseases.

Another potential usage for this amazing peptide is after myocardial infarction. After a so-called heart attack, the affected tissue goes through a complex healing process, which we won’t cover in this article. What’s interesting for us, is that the researchers used AICAR to remedy some of the defects in the scar tissue.

AICAR And Inflammation

We already touched on its anti-inflammatory properties in the previous section, but now we’re going to dig a bit deeper.

Though there hasn’t been much research, one particular study from 2019 conclusively showed that AMPK’s activator (AICAR) plays a protective role in all kinds of inflammatory diseases, including asthma, colitis, lung injury, atherosclerosis and others.

Another such study done way back in 2010 showed AICAR’s potential in battling chronic colitis and bowel disease. The results were so promising that there has been some talk of introducing this peptide as a viable alternative for the current IBD medication.