*In clinical trials studying Wegovy® (2.4 mg), the average weight loss was 15% and 20%, respectively, when paired with diet and exercise (compared to 2.4% and 3.1% with diet and exercise alone). Results may vary. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved and are made by a licensed pharmacy based on a provider’s prescription.

MOTS-C Metabolic Protocol

Supports metabolic flexibility, insulin sensitivity, and energy regulation — signals your mitochondria naturally produce during exercise.

Starting at $XXX/month

MOTS-C is a 16-amino acid peptide discovered at USC in 2015 and encoded within the mitochondrial genome. Researchers have identified it as a key AMPK activator — a cellular energy regulator shared with metformin — with plasma levels that decline measurably with age.

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FAQ

Is MOTS-C FDA approved?

No. MOTS-C is investigational with no published human intervention trials yet. Shed is transparent about this being one of our most frontier protocols.

FAQ

Do I need labs first?

FAQ

How long is a protocol?

FAQ

How is it delivered?

Provider Supervised • FDA-Registered Pharmacy • Personalized Protocols • Evidence-Reviewed •

What is MOTS-C?

MOTS-C (Mitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the 12S rRNA Type-C) is a 16-amino acid peptide discovered by researchers at the University of Southern California in 2015 — one of a new class of "mitokines" encoded within the mitochondrial genome that communicate metabolic status to the rest of the body.

MOTS-C rises naturally during exercise and metabolic stress, acting as an endogenous signal that promotes glucose uptake, fatty acid oxidation, and stress resilience through AMPK activation. Plasma MOTS-C levels decline measurably with age and are lower in individuals with type 2 diabetes and elevated BMI — leading researchers to describe it as a potential metabolic longevity signal.

A 2021 *Nature Aging* study revealed MOTS-C also translocates to the nucleus under metabolic stress, coordinating mitochondrial and nuclear gene expression during adaptation — expanding its understood role significantly.

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Benefit deep dive

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Daily support to help maintain cellular energy.

AMPK Activation

MOTS-C activates AMPK — the master cellular energy sensor — promoting glucose uptake in muscle, stimulating fatty acid oxidation, and suppressing energy-wasting processes. This is the same pathway targeted by metformin, one of the most-studied longevity compounds.

Metabolic Flexibility

Exercise Signal Mimicry

Age-Related Decline Marker

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See if you qualify →

How MOTS-C Works

Designed to support circulation and the body’s natural recovery pathways

Mitochondrial-Nuclear Communication

MOTS-C is released from mitochondria and translocates to the nucleus under metabolic stress — where it acts as a transcriptional regulator coordinating gene expression across both genomes during adaptation.

AMPK Signaling

MOTS-C activates AMPK, which phosphorylates downstream targets involved in glucose transport, fatty acid oxidation, mitochondrial biogenesis, and cellular energy homeostasis

Folate Cycle Interaction

Research identified MOTS-C interferes with the folate cycle in mitochondria, producing a metabolic stress signal that triggers the protective AMPK-mediated adaptive response — providing a specific mechanistic pathway for its metabolic effects.

Your MOTS-C plan, made simple

3-minute medical intake. Provider-led. 100% online.

Step 1

Complete your online consultation

You fill out a brief medical intake about your goals, symptoms, and health history. This helps your provider determine if MOTS-C is appropriate for you.

Step 2

Provider review & personalized plan

A licensed clinician reviews your case and creates a tailored MOTS-C plan based on your needs.

Step 3

Medication compounded & shipped to you

If approved, your MOTS-C medication is prepared by a U.S.-based compounding pharmacy and delivered directly to your door.

Step 4

Ongoing support inside your Shed portal

Ask questions, request adjustments, and get support anytime from your care team.

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