Pair page
IGF-1 DES with MGF
Mechanism-tag overlap and published literature for IGF-1 DES and MGF, pulled verbatim from each Kalios compound profile. Kalios is a literature reference, not a recommendation.
Mechanism overlap
Mechanism tags are verbatim labels on each compound's profile. Generic tags ("peptide", "small-molecule", "research-chemical") are excluded from this overlap view. Tags are descriptive — not an inference about combined effect.
igf-1-receptor-agonistmodified-proteinn-terminally-truncated-analog
igf-1-splice-variant-satellite-cell-activator
Co-administration notes from the literature
Verbatim summary text pulled from each compound's profile data. Researchers studying IGF-1 DES and MGF have published these mechanism-level observations. Not a co-administration recommendation.
MGF (Mechano Growth Factor) is an IGF-1 splice variant specifically activating skeletal-muscle satellite cells. Combining MGF with IGF-1 DES creates a potent local environment for both new muscle-cell formation (MGF) and existing-cell growth (DES). Bodybuilding-community combination; preclinical rationale exists but no human controlled evidence.
The biologically logical stack: MGF first (post-workout, IM local) to activate satellite cells, then IGF-1 DES (few hours later or next day) to drive protein synthesis in the newly activated cells. This mimics the natural MGF → IGF-1Ea sequence in muscle tissue after training. Protocol: MGF 100–200 mcg immediately post-workout IM, followed by IGF-1 DES 20–50 mcg into same muscle the following day.
Quick facts
IGF-1 DES
MGF
Literature table
Classified references from each compound profile. Click a column header to sort. Click a PMID to open PubMed. Findings are quoted verbatim from each profile's literature_summary; nothing here is added or interpreted.
| Year | Compound | Source | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | IGF-1 DES | Philipps AF, Kling PJ, Grille JG, Dvoráková S. Intestinal transport of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in the suckling rat. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2002;35(4):539-544. PMID: 12394383. (Colostrum IGF-1 DES context.) PMID 12394383 | preclinical, in vivo |
| 1993 | IGF-1 DES | Tomas FM, Knowles SE, Chandler CS, Francis GL, Owens PC, Ballard FJ. Anabolic effects of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and an IGF-I variant in normal female rats. J Endocrinol. 1993;137(3):413-421. PMID: 8371077. (In vivo anabolic effects of IGF-1 DES vs native IGF-1.) PMID 8371077 | preclinical, in vivo |
| 1991 | IGF-1 DES | Ballard FJ, Knowles SE, Walton PE, Edson K, Owens PC, Mohler MA, Ferraiolo BL. Plasma clearance and tissue distribution of labelled insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), des(1-3)IGF-I and IGF-II in rats. J Endocrinol. 1991;131(1):87-93. PMID: 1720984. PMID 1720984 | preclinical, in vivo |
| 1991 | IGF-1 DES | Williams ED, et al. Comparison of des(1-3)IGF-1 and IGF-1 in promoting wound healing. Growth Factors. 1991 context. (Wound-healing preclinical reference.) | preclinical, in vivo |
| 1989 | IGF-1 DES | Sara VR, Carlsson-Skwirut C, Bergman T, Jörnvall H, Roberts PJ, Crawford M, Håkansson LN, Civalero I, Nordberg A. Identification of Gly-Pro-Glu (GPE), the aminoterminal tripeptide of insulin-like growth factor 1 which is truncated in brain, as a novel neuroactive peptide. Bioche… PMID 2597159 | mechanism / discovery |
| 1988 | IGF-1 DES | Francis GL, Upton FM, Ballard FJ, McNeil KA, Wallace JC. Insulin-like growth factors 1 and 2 in bovine colostrum. Sequences and biological activities compared with those of a potent truncated form. Biochem J. 1988;251(1):95-103. PMID: 3401742. (Seminal characterization of IGFBP-… PMID 3401742 | mechanism / discovery |
| 1986 | IGF-1 DES | Sara VR, Carlsson-Skwirut C, Andersson C, Hall E, Sjögren B, Holmgren A, Jörnvall H. Characterization of somatomedins from human fetal brain: identification of a variant form of insulin-like growth factor I. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1986;83(13):4904-4907. PMID: 3459178. (Original… PMID 3459178 | mechanism / discovery |
| 2026 | IGF-1 DES | WADA. 2026 World Anti-Doping Code Prohibited List. Section S2 — Peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances and mimetics. World Anti-Doping Agency. (IGF-1 and analogs class prohibition.) | regulatory / registry |
| 2005 | IGF-1 DES | U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Increlex (mecasermin) Prescribing Information. Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals. First approved 2005. (Context: FDA-approved recombinant native IGF-1 — different molecule from IGF-1 DES.) | regulatory / registry |
| 2012 | IGF-1 DES | Pollak M. The insulin and insulin-like growth factor receptor family in neoplasia: an update. Nat Rev Cancer. 2012;12(3):159-169. PMID: 22473468. (IGF-1 pathway and cancer epidemiology — central class-level safety framing.) PMID 22473468 | research article |
| 2003 | IGF-1 DES | LeRoith D, Roberts CT Jr. The insulin-like growth factor system and cancer. Cancer Lett. 2003;195(2):127-137. PMID: 12767520. PMID 12767520 | research article |
| 2001 | IGF-1 DES | Musarò A, McCullagh K, Paul A, Houghton L, Dobrowolny G, Molinaro M, Barton ER, Sweeney HL, Rosenthal N. Localized Igf-1 transgene expression sustains hypertrophy and regeneration in senescent skeletal muscle. Nat Genet. 2001;27(2):195-200. PMID: 11175789. (Foundational muscle-s… PMID 11175789 | research article |
| 2009 | MGF | Stavropoulou A, Halapas A, Sourla A, Philippou A, Papageorgiou E, Papalois A, Koutsilieris M. IGF-1 expression in infarcted myocardium and MGF E peptide actions in rat cardiomyocytes in vitro. Mol Med. 2009;15(5-6):127-135. PMID: 19242589. PMID 19242589 | preclinical, in vivo |
| 2007 | MGF | Philippou A, Maridaki M, Halapas A, Koutsilieris M. The role of the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in skeletal muscle physiology. In Vivo. 2007;21(1):45-54. PMID: 17354613. PMID 17354613 | preclinical, in vivo |
| 2003 | MGF | Hill M, Goldspink G. Expression and splicing of the insulin-like growth factor gene in rodent muscle is associated with muscle satellite (stem) cell activation following local tissue damage. J Physiol. 2003;549(Pt 2):409-418. PMID: 12692182. DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2002.035832. PMID 12692182 | preclinical, in vivo |
| 2002 | MGF | Yang SY, Goldspink G. Different roles of the IGF-I Ec peptide (MGF) and mature IGF-I in myoblast proliferation and differentiation. FEBS Lett. 2002;522(1-3):156-160. PMID: 12095642. DOI: 10.1016/s0014-5793(02)02918-6. PMID 12095642 | preclinical, in vitro |
| 2010 | MGF | Matheny RW Jr, Nindl BC, Adamo ML. Minireview: Mechano-growth factor: a putative product of IGF-I gene expression involved in tissue repair and regeneration. Endocrinology. 2010;151(3):865-875. PMID: 20130113. PMID 20130113 | mechanism / discovery |
| 2025 | MGF | WADA. World Anti-Doping Code: The 2025 Prohibited List. Section S2 — Peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances and mimetics. World Anti-Doping Agency. | regulatory / registry |
| 2013 | MGF | Brisson BK, Barton ER. New modulators for IGF-I activity within IGF-I processing products. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2013;4:42. PMID: 23626586. PMID 23626586 | research article |
| 2009 | MGF | Pfeffer LA, Brisson BK, Lei H, Barton ER. The insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I E-peptides modulate cell entry of the mature IGF-I protein. Mol Biol Cell. 2009;20(17):3810-3817. PMID: 19605555. PMID 19605555 | research article |
| 2008 | MGF | Carpenter V, Matthews K, Devlin G, Stuart S, Jensen J, Conaglen J, Jeanplong F, Goldspink P, Yang SY, Goldspink G, Bass J, McMahon C. Mechano-growth factor reduces loss of cardiac function in acute myocardial infarction. Heart Lung Circ. 2008;17(1):33-39. PMID: 17881288. DOI: 10… PMID 17881288 | research article |
| 2007 | MGF | Mills P, Dominique JC, Lafrenière JF, Bouchentouf M, Tremblay JP. A synthetic mechano growth factor E peptide enhances myogenic precursor cell transplantation success. Am J Transplant. 2007;7(10):2247-2259. PMID: 17711551. PMID 17711551 | research article |
| 2007 | MGF | Philippou A, Halapas A, Maridaki M, Koutsilieris M. Type I insulin-like growth factor receptor signaling in skeletal muscle regeneration and hypertrophy. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2007;7(3):208-218. PMID: 17906394. PMID 17906394 | research article |
| 2005 | MGF | Goldspink G. Mechanical signals, IGF-I gene splicing, and muscle adaptation. Physiology (Bethesda). 2005;20:232-238. PMID: 16024512. DOI: 10.1152/physiol.00004.2005. PMID 16024512 | research article |
Related pair pages
More research context
Frequently asked
Have IGF-1 DES and MGF been studied together?
Researchers have published mechanistic-level co-administration discussion of IGF-1 DES and MGF. No human co-administration trials are catalogued in the Kalios profiles. The pair page lists each compound's classified literature; full citations sit on each individual profile.
What mechanisms do IGF-1 DES and MGF share?
IGF-1 DES and MGF do not share a specific mechanism tag on their Kalios profiles. They appear on the same pair page because at least one profile lists the other in its co-administration data.
What is the FDA status of IGF-1 DES and MGF?
IGF-1 DES: Not approved; research only. MGF: Not approved. FDA-status text is pulled verbatim from each compound profile. See /fda-pcac-2026.html for the broader FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee context.
Where can I find the full research on IGF-1 DES and MGF?
Full citation lists, dosing tables from the literature, reconstitution data, and the FDA / WADA status are on the individual compound profiles: the IGF-1 DES profile and the MGF profile. The Kalios Stack Research Tool hub lists every compound covered.
Last updated: April 2026