What each compound changes, side by side

What each compound changed and failed to prove

NAD+ — what it does: Every cell makes NAD+. It carries energy and helps repair DNA.

NAD+ — tests in people: Its two building forms have several human trials ^[11][12][13]. A few groups had narrow gains.

NAD+ — tests in animals: Mice kept more NAD+ after researchers removed one protein. Mouse heart work also improved ^[16][17].

NAD+ — rule and risk: Its building forms are sold as supplements. One pharmacy-made vein product had the most serious kind of recall ^[11].

Ipamorelin — what it does: This lab-made peptide prompts the growth gland. The gland sends out growth hormone.

Ipamorelin — tests in people: A Phase 2 trial had 114 adults and found no clear gain ^[3][4]. A short vein study only tracked how the body cleared it ^[3].

Ipamorelin — tests in animals: Rat bone growth and ferret weight loss changed. A related compound harmed rat hearts ^[1][2][5].

Ipamorelin — rule and risk: It’s unapproved. A prescription decision belongs to a licensed clinician, and FDA’s safety list still places ipamorelin acetate in the 503B Category 2 group; sport rules also ban it ^[7].

The long-acting compound — what it does: It prompts the same gland another way. Its long form lasts about 6 days.

The long-acting compound — tests in people: Two blood studies had 11 and 30 healthy adults ^[8][9][10]. Growth hormone and growth factor 1, a liver-made signal, rose.

CJC-1295 — rule and risk: It’s unapproved. Federal advisers opposed custom pharmacy batches in 2024, and sport rules ban it.

The long-acting compound — key gap: Drug testing stopped. Federal reviewers also warned that the immune system might attack it ^[6][9].

MOTS-c — what it does: Your cells make this peptide. Exercise raises it, and it can change how cells use fuel.

MOTS-c — tests in people: One blood study followed 94 people on kidney dialysis ^[19]. No one received MOTS-c as treatment.

MOTS-c — tests in animals: Mice moved better and used more sugar ^[18][21]. Lab work also found a protein it attaches to.

MOTS-c — rule and risk: It’s unapproved and banned in sport. Treatment testing stops with animals and cells ^[20].

You can’t give every study equal trust. You’ll rank a claim by the bodies or cells tested.

What each compound is made from

NAD+ already exists in every living cell. Your body can make it from two forms used in pills.

Your gut doesn’t take in plain NAD+ well. That’s why most pill studies use the two building forms.

A lab makes ipamorelin from five protein parts. CJC-1295 has a 29-amino-acid chain made from protein pieces.

The long form adds a chemical part that attaches to albumin, a blood protein. The short form omits the added part.

MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide made from protein pieces. Its DNA instructions sit near the cell parts that make energy ^[20].

Those differences affect the rules. NAD+ building forms are sold as dietary supplements.

A licensed prescriber evaluates each patient; neither a lab label nor a prescription changes the ingredient’s pharmacy status. No human drug testing has begun for MOTS-c.

You can start with the kind of test behind a claim. A compound’s name alone tells you very little.

The four compounds don’t share one set of rules. You’ll need to check each one on its own.

Where each compound acts in your body

NAD+ carries energy inside your cells. Proteins that repair DNA also use it ^[14][16].

One of those proteins uses more NAD+ with age. That may help explain why tissue levels fall.

Ipamorelin prompts the growth gland. It causes a brief rise in growth hormone ^[4].

CJC-1295 prompts the gland another way. It can keep growth hormone raised for days ^[9][10].

MOTS-c helps muscle take in sugar when fuel is low. That work happens inside the cell.

Under strain, MOTS-c enters the nucleus, where most DNA sits. It changes which cell-defense genes are used ^[22].

That action differs from prompting a gland. The compounds don’t start in the same place.

Each action can change a blood or cell test. Your health still needs a direct test.

One changed test can’t predict your health. Look for what people felt or could do.

How much human testing each compound has

NAD+ building forms lead the human work. One form had a safety study against a placebo, a look-alike pill ^[15].

Another had a large trial with walking tests ^[12]. A separate trial checked how women’s muscles used insulin ^[13].

The 2025 review found steady blood rises ^[11]. It didn’t find broad health gains that held across groups.

CJC-1295 has two human blood papers. They show growth hormone and growth factor 1, a liver-made signal, staying high ^[9][10].

Drug testing then stopped. The 2025 review explains that history ^[6].

Ipamorelin has one short vein study ^[4]. Its Phase 2 trial found no clear gain ^[3].

No later human drug work followed. A clean lab result didn’t become a clear benefit.

MOTS-c rests on mouse studies ^[18][21]. In human cells, MOTS-c entered the nucleus, where most DNA sits ^[22].

One study in people linked a blood level with later health trouble ^[19]. No one has tested MOTS-c as a human treatment.

You don’t have equal human testing for all four. You’ll get your clearest lead from trials in people.