AICAR UK Research Guide (2026)

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AICAR UK Research Guide · Written by Raquel Whatmough, Founder of MyPep Biotech · Updated October 2026 · Strictly for laboratory research use only

AICAR is one of the most studied compounds in metabolism research. This AICAR UK guide explains what it is and how it works in laboratory models. It covers the published research, UK legal status and the AICAR price in the UK. It also shows how to source documented AICAR 50mg research vials from a UK supplier.

What Is AICAR?

AICAR is short for 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside, also called AICA riboside or acadesine. Unlike most compounds in our range, it is not a peptide. Inside cells it is turned into a molecule that closely resembles AMP, a natural molecule cells use to track their energy levels.

Because of this, the compound is widely used in laboratories to switch on an enzyme called AMPK. AMPK is often described as the cell’s “energy sensor”. This makes it a standard research tool for studying how cells manage fuel.

What Are the Key Facts About AICAR?

• Full name: 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside (acadesine)
• Type: nucleoside analogue (converted to an AMP mimic in cells), not a peptide
• Main target in research: AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
• Main research areas: energy metabolism, glucose uptake, fat metabolism and exercise models
• UK status: not a licensed medicine; supplied for research use only
• Sport: prohibited under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules
• MyPep format: AICAR 50mg vial

Who Uses AMPK Tools in Research?

AMPK tools are used by metabolism labs, diabetes researchers, exercise scientists and cancer biology teams. Many studies grow muscle or liver cells in the lab and measure how they take up glucose or burn fat. Others use animal models to look at endurance, body weight and blood sugar control. Because AMPK sits at the centre of cellular energy, the same tool can answer questions in many different fields. This broad use is one reason the compound appears in thousands of published papers.

What Has AICAR Research Looked At?

1. AMPK activation

Most studies use it to activate AMPK in cells and animal models. Scientists then study what happens downstream. This includes changes in glucose handling, fat burning and mitochondrial activity.

2. Glucose uptake and insulin research

Laboratory studies have used it to examine how muscle cells take up glucose. This has made it a useful tool in research into insulin resistance and metabolic health.

3. “Exercise mimetic” studies

A well-known 2008 mouse study reported that the compound improved running endurance in sedentary animals. This led to it being described as an “exercise mimetic”. Results in animals do not show what happens in people, so this remains an area of laboratory research.

4. Fat metabolism research

Because AMPK influences how cells use fat, it has been studied in models of fat oxidation and fatty liver. These studies help researchers understand energy balance at a cellular level.

How Does AICAR Work in Research Models?

Inside cells, the compound is converted into a molecule called ZMP. ZMP behaves like AMP and activates AMPK. Once AMPK is switched on, cells tend to increase energy-producing processes and reduce energy-using ones. This is why it is so useful for studying cellular energy.

What Is the History of AICAR Research?

The compound has been studied since the 1980s. Under the name acadesine, it was tested in the 1990s as a possible way to protect the heart during bypass surgery. It was never approved as a medicine for that use.

Laboratory interest grew when scientists found it could switch on AMPK in cells. In 2008, a study at the Salk Institute reported improved running endurance in sedentary mice. This made headlines, and the World Anti-Doping Agency banned it in sport soon after.

Is AICAR Fully Specific for AMPK?

Not completely. Its active form, ZMP, can also affect other enzymes that respond to AMP. For this reason, careful studies use extra controls. Researchers often compare results with other AMPK tools to confirm what they see.

What Questions Remain Open in AICAR Research?

Researchers still debate how much of its effect comes from AMPK and how much from other pathways. Results in isolated cells do not always match results in whole animals. Different muscle types also seem to respond in different ways.

Because of this, it is best treated as one tool among several. Combining it with other methods, such as genetic models, gives a clearer picture. Good records and well-documented material make these comparisons far more reliable.

What Is the UK Legal Status of AICAR?

AICAR is not an approved or licensed medicine in the UK. It can be supplied for in-vitro and laboratory research only. It is also on the WADA prohibited list, so it is not permitted in competitive sport. MyPep Biotech does not provide dosing guidance for humans or animals.

What Is the AICAR Price in the UK?

The current AICAR price at MyPep Biotech is £29.99 for a 50mg vial, with fast tracked UK delivery. When comparing AICAR prices in the UK, check:

• Price per mg, not just price per vial
• Clear labelling with strength and batch number
• UK-based dispatch and tracked delivery
• Clear research-use labelling

How Do You Check AICAR Quality Before Research?

• Labelling: the strength and batch number should be clearly printed
• Identity: the product name and strength should match exactly what you ordered
• Batch number: note the batch number printed on your vial or pen and keep it with your records
• Storage: the supplier should explain how stock is stored and shipped

Read more on our Lab Tests & Purity page.

How Should AICAR Research Vials Be Stored?

• Store vials cool, dry and away from light; refrigerate (2–8°C) for longer storage
• Keep prepared solutions refrigerated and follow your lab protocol
• Use sterile technique; see our reconstitution guide

How Do Researchers Prepare an AICAR Vial?

Research vials arrive as a dry powder. In the lab, the powder is mixed with sterile bacteriostatic water or a suitable solvent. For example, a 50 mg vial mixed with 2 ml gives 25 mg per ml.

Our free peptide calculator works this out in seconds, including mcg per ml and the amount in 0.1 ml.

What Are Common Mistakes in AICAR Research?

• Assuming every effect comes from AMPK alone
• Mixing up mg and mcg in calculations
• Treating mouse endurance results as proof in people
• Storing prepared solutions at room temperature
• Not recording the batch number from the label

How Does AICAR Compare With MOTS-c and NAD+?

It is often discussed alongside other metabolism research compounds. MOTS-c is a mitochondrial peptide that has also been linked to AMPK in animal studies. NAD+ is a coenzyme central to energy production and cell repair. AICAR is the most direct AMPK tool of the three, which is why many UK laboratories use it as a reference compound.

What Do Common AICAR Research Terms Mean?

• AMPK: an enzyme that senses and controls cell energy
• AMP: a molecule that rises when a cell is low on energy
• ZMP: the active form inside cells
• Exercise mimetic: a compound that copies some effects of exercise in research models

Why Do UK Researchers Choose MyPep for AICAR?

• UK-based supplier with fast tracked UK delivery
• Clear research-use labelling and documentation
• Friendly UK support via our contact page

Buy AICAR for Research in the UK

Documented UK research supply with fast tracked delivery. Orders over £75 ship free. Strictly for laboratory research use only.

AICAR UK: Frequently Asked Questions

Is AICAR legal in the UK?

It is not a licensed medicine in the UK. It can be supplied for laboratory research only, and it is banned in competitive sport.

Is AICAR a peptide?

No. It is a nucleoside that cells turn into an AMP look-alike. It is often sold by peptide suppliers because it is used in the same research areas.

What is the AICAR price in the UK?

We currently supply an AICAR 50mg research vial for £29.99.

Where can I buy AICAR in the UK for research?

You can order research-grade AICAR online from MyPep Biotech. UK delivery is tracked.

What is AICAR used for in research?

It is mainly used to activate AMPK and study energy metabolism, glucose uptake and fat metabolism.

Why is AICAR banned in sport?

It is on the WADA prohibited list as a metabolic modulator, after animal studies linked it to endurance.

How should AICAR be stored?

Keep vials cool, dry and away from light, and refrigerate (2–8°C) for longer storage.

What is acadesine?

Acadesine is another name for the same compound, used in earlier clinical research.

Does MyPep provide dosage information?

No. Our products are for lab research only. We do not give dosing guidance for humans or animals.

What Is the Bottom Line on AICAR?

This compound is used worldwide to activate AMPK in metabolism research. It is not licensed in the UK and is banned in sport.

Need a documented UK source? The MyPep Biotech AICAR 50mg vial comes with fast tracked UK delivery.

Strictly for laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. This guide is for educational purposes and is not medical advice.

About the author: Raquel Whatmough founded MyPep Biotech, a UK research peptide supplier. Our guides use published scientific studies. Each one is checked for accuracy and UK rules.

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