Peptide & Compound Guide
At a glance
| Compound | IGF-1 |
|---|---|
| Type | Insulin-like growth factor |
| U.S. regulatory context | Biologically established growth factor; regulated prescription products exist for specific indications, while research analogues are different |
| Evidence level | Strong biological evidence; clinical use is product- and indication-specific |
| Research area | Growth, endocrine signaling, metabolism and development |
What is IGF-1?
Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is an important hormone involved in growth and tissue biology. It should not be treated as a single generic “peptide product”: approved recombinant medicines, laboratory reagents and modified analogues have different regulatory and safety profiles.
What does the research examine?
IGF-1 research spans endocrinology, growth disorders, metabolism and aging. Raising a biomarker is not automatically beneficial, and both deficiency and excess can be clinically important.
What has not been established?
Mechanism, biomarker changes, animal findings and early clinical signals are not the same as proof that a compound safely improves meaningful health outcomes. Claims should be matched to the type, size and quality of evidence available.
Safety and regulatory context
Use of growth-factor products requires medical oversight because effects can extend well beyond muscle or recovery.
Research sources
Use primary and authoritative sources when evaluating claims about this compound. Search results can change as new research is published.