IGF-1, shown as a clear liquid inside a peptide vial, with the bottle set in front of a dark grey background.
An athletic, vascular man smiles in the mirror indicating good muscle performance and fitness
IGF-1, shown as a clear liquid inside a peptide vial, with the bottle set in front of a dark grey background.
An athletic, vascular man smiles in the mirror indicating good muscle performance and fitness
Activate & Strengthen

IGF-1

Drive muscle growth & maximize recovery

IGF-1 is widely regarded as a gold standard peptide for anti-aging, body composition support, and long-term physical vitality. Also known as somatomedin C, it is a peptide hormone synthesized in the liver as the principal downstream mediator of growth hormone activity; acting on receptors throughout the body and governing tissue integrity, bone metabolism, neurological health, vascular function, and fat utilization.

Administered as a subcutaneous injection five evenings per week, IGF-1 is prescribed for patients focused on healthy aging, body composition, bone density, cognitive support, and long-term physical vitality.
IGF-1
  • Overview
  • Specifications
  • Helps build muscle mass and increase strength
  • Prevents muscle wasting
  • Enhances physical performance and supports muscle recovery
  • Regulates levels of body fat
  • Builds strength in response to strength-training
  • Helps build bones and protect against bone loss
  • Can help regulate blood sugar levels and decrease diabetes risk factors
  • May help protect cognitive health and fight against neurological diseases
  • Supports vascular endothelial growth
  • Promotes healthy aging
  • IGF-1
  • 20IU SubQ
  • Monday-Friday (p.m.)
  • 5 or 10 weeks

IGF-1 is administered as a subcutaneous (SubQ) injection, with a 30G/31G syringe at the prescribed dosage.

Injection Tutorial

How IGF-1 Works

IGF-1 occupies a unique position in the body's hormonal architecture; it is both the primary mediator of growth hormone's anabolic effects and an independent signaling molecule with its own receptors and pathways throughout the body. While growth hormone stimulates the liver to produce IGF-1, injectable IGF-1 bypasses this requirement entirely, acting directly on target tissues without the need for upstream GH stimulation. This makes it particularly relevant for patients whose GH-to-IGF-1 conversion is compromised by age, liver function, or other factors that reduce the efficiency of the natural GH axis.

IGF-1's effect on body composition operates through protein synthesis regulation and fat metabolism support. It activates pathways that support the maintenance and integrity of lean tissue at the cellular level, particularly during caloric restriction or periods of physiological stress when the body would otherwise catabolize tissue for energy. Simultaneously, IGF-1 promotes the utilization of stored fat as fuel and supports insulin receptor sensitivity, contributing to healthier metabolic partitioning between fat storage and energy expenditure.

Bone health is one of IGF-1's most clinically documented secondary functions. IGF-1 receptors on osteoblasts; the cells responsible for bone formation; respond to IGF-1 stimulation by increasing bone matrix synthesis and mineralization. IGF-1 also supports collagen production in bone tissue and the regulation of the bone remodeling cycle that maintains skeletal density over time. These effects are relevant not only for patients concerned with age-related bone loss but for anyone seeking to support the structural foundation of long-term physical health.

IGF-1 crosses the blood-brain barrier and exerts neuroprotective effects within the central nervous system. It supports neurogenesis in the hippocampus, promotes myelination of nerve fibers, and protects neurons from oxidative and metabolic stress. Research links adequate IGF-1 levels to cognitive performance, processing speed, and neurological resilience; declining IGF-1 is associated with the same cognitive changes that accompany GH decline in aging.

IGF-1 also supports vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and endothelial cell integrity; contributing to cardiovascular function, wound healing, and the maintenance of vascular health throughout the body.

At RegenMD, IGF-1 is administered as a subcutaneous injection five evenings per week over a five or ten-week program. Your provider establishes dosing based on your hormonal profile and wellness objectives and monitors your response throughout.

What This Means For You

  • Promotes healthy body composition and lean tissue integrity
  • Strengthens bone density and skeletal health
  • Enhances cognitive function and neuroprotection
  • Promotes healthy aging through tissue maintenance
  • Fortifies vascular endothelial health
  • Optimizes fat metabolism and energy utilization
  • Encourages healthy blood sugar regulation

Also find IGF-1 in: Define Stack

Frequently Asked Questions

IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) is the primary downstream mediator of growth hormone activity; synthesized in the liver in response to GH stimulation and responsible for executing many of the anabolic and restorative effects attributed to growth hormone. It acts on receptors throughout the body governing tissue integrity, bone metabolism, cognitive health, vascular function, and fat utilization. At RegenMD, injectable IGF-1 bypasses the need for upstream GH stimulation and delivers growth factor signaling directly to target tissues over a five or ten-week evening protocol.

Growth hormone triggers the liver to produce IGF-1, and many of HGH's anabolic effects are actually mediated through this downstream conversion. Injectable IGF-1 skips the GH-to-IGF-1 conversion step and acts directly on IGF-1 receptors in target tissues; bone, muscle, brain, vascular endothelium, and connective tissue. This makes IGF-1 therapy particularly relevant for patients whose natural GH-to-IGF-1 conversion is reduced by age or metabolic factors, and it allows more targeted delivery to the tissues where IGF-1 activity is most needed.

Osteoblasts; the cells responsible for bone formation and mineralization; express IGF-1 receptors and respond to IGF-1 signaling by increasing bone matrix synthesis. IGF-1 regulates the balance between bone formation and bone resorption by influencing the activity of both osteoblasts and osteoclasts, supporting the remodeling cycle that maintains structural bone density over time. It also supports collagen production within the bone matrix, contributing to both the mineral and organic components of healthy bone architecture.

IGF-1 crosses the blood-brain barrier and acts on neurons directly; supporting hippocampal neurogenesis, promoting the myelination of nerve fibers that enables efficient neural signaling, and protecting neurons from oxidative stress and metabolic damage. Adequate circulating IGF-1 levels are associated with better cognitive performance, processing speed, and neurological resilience in aging populations. The decline of IGF-1 with age parallels the cognitive changes associated with reduced GH axis activity; restoring IGF-1 signaling supports the neurological infrastructure that underlies sharp, sustained cognitive function.

Sermorelin stimulates the pituitary to produce more growth hormone, which then triggers the liver to synthesize IGF-1 through the natural GH axis. IGF-1 injectable therapy bypasses both steps and delivers growth factor signaling directly.

Sermorelin works with the body's existing regulatory feedback loop and is often preferred for patients with a functioning GH axis who benefit from a physiologically regulated approach.

IGF-1 is more appropriate for patients who want direct growth factor activity at the tissue level or whose natural GH-to-IGF-1 conversion is insufficient to produce optimal IGF-1 levels through pituitary stimulation alone.

Getting Started Is Easy

Step 1: Consultation

A consultation to explore your goals, answer questions, and outline your wellness plan.

Step 2: Evaluation

Meet with a provider for a personalized evaluation and tailored peptide treatment plan.

Step 3: Activation

Finalize your order, receive treatment details, and begin your wellness journey.

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