The MOTS-c Myth

Over my tenure in the peptide space, there’s been a rumor circulating that MOTS-c degrades within 30 minutes to one hour of being reconstituted.

This claim has caused unnecessary confusion, leading many to question whether their MOTS-c remains effective after mixing.

I receive at least 2-3 monthly questions in my question box on whether people can trust if MOTS-c is effective after mixing it with bacteriostatic water and storing it in their fridge.

Thanks to the incredible sleuthing of an outstanding member from the FOH community, I was able to track down the source of the myth.

And today, hopefully, I put it to rest for good.

The source of this myth appears to be a misinterpretation of a report from the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (see pg 11 on the pdf).

The report states that blood plasma levels of MOTS-c are unstable, but this does not mean that the peptide rapidly degrades once reconstituted.

Plasma instability refers to how the body metabolizes MOTS-c—not its inherent chemical stability.

But what does an actual analysis of MOTS-c say?

The Science: MOTS-c Is Stable for 30+ Days

A study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science directly tested MOTS-c stability after reconstitution.

The researchers stored MOTS-c solutions at 4°C (refrigerated) and 37°C (body temperature) for up to 30 days and analyzed its structural integrity using high-resolution mass spectrometry.

Here’s what they found:

✅ MOTS-c remained stable throughout the 30-day period.

✅ Minimal oxidation was detected, meaning the peptide did not significantly degrade.

✅ The peptide’s molecular integrity held even at body temperature (37°C).

You can read the full study here.

Why This Matters for You

This study completely debunks the claim that MOTS-c degrades within one hour.

If MOTS-c remains stable at body temperature for 30 days, it is likely even more stable when stored correctly in bacteriostatic water at refrigerated temperatures.

Bacteriostatic water contains 0.9% benzyl alcohol, which acts as a preservative.

There is no evidence to suggest that this preservative negatively affects MOTS-c’s stability—in fact, it likely enhances it by preventing bacterial contamination.

The Takeaway:

If you’ve been hesitant to use MOTS-c because you fear it degrades too quickly, you can now put those concerns to rest.

💡 Store your MOTS-c in the fridge (4°C) after reconstitution for optimal longevity.

💡 Use within 30 days for best results, although evidence suggests it may last even longer.

💡 Ignore the one-hour degradation myth—it’s based on a misunderstanding of plasma clearance, not peptide stability.

BONUS:

Now that you know MOTS-c is efficacious, here’s how to use it.

1. Buy a vial from BioLongevity Labs (hunter10 for a discount)

2. Add 2ml of bacteriostatic water

3. Inject 20 units (1mg) on an insulin syringe subcutaneously first thing in the AM Monday-Friday (take the weekends off).

4. Repeat for up to 8 weeks.

5. Watch the fat melt away

HINT: Sometimes, I inject MOTS-c intramuscularly into my glutes to enhance performance during cardio or strength training.

Best,

Hunter