Pharmacology & biology
IGF-1
Also known as: insulin-like growth factor 1 · igf1
Insulin-like growth factor 1 — the hormone, made largely by the liver in response to growth hormone, that mediates most of growth hormone’s effects.
In plain terms
Because growth hormone is released in pulses and cleared quickly, blood growth-hormone levels are almost meaningless as a measure of status. IGF-1 is stable across the day, so it is what clinicians actually measure.
IGF-1 is also the variable of concern. It is a growth signal, and chronic elevation is the mechanism behind most theoretical long-term risks discussed in this class of compounds.
Compounds where this comes up
Guides that use this term
CJC-1295, ipamorelin and MK-677 reliably raise growth hormone and IGF-1 in humans. What the trials have not shown is that raising those numbers produces the outcomes people take them for.
Anti-doping panels detect peptide hormones and secretagogues; standard workplace panels generally do not screen for them. Legality, detectability, and prohibition are three separate questions.
Educational reference only. Pepperz does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, prescribing guidance, or dosing recommendations.