ponchosnameisponcho
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Perfect! Thank you so much!
Igf -1 level (score ) before and after
- Thread starter Memo85
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Bird_of_Hermes
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Probably a dumb question, but if GH is what we are trying to raise here, why don’t we check for that too?
I get that the Igf-1 test is indirectly checking how our bodies handle the increase in GH, but it seems odd to not check that too (though it does look like a kinda expensive test)
I get that the Igf-1 test is indirectly checking how our bodies handle the increase in GH, but it seems odd to not check that too (though it does look like a kinda expensive test)
Because it’s fleeting. Natural GH is released in pulses lasting seconds. rHGH peaks after a few hours then declines. IGF-1 is fairly stable over the entire day, and used by endocrinologists as the primary biomarker to diagnose GH deficiency or excess, and to monitor effectiveness of treatment with rHGH.
Bird_of_Hermes
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So, is there much of a reason to ever check GH directly outside of suspected direct pituitary malfunction?
It’s pretty much useless as a random lab.
There an old bodybuilder “bro science” technique to check if your rHGH is legit. You inject 10 IU intramuscularly, as close as possible to 2 hours later check GH. It should be between 20-40ng. This was common pre Jano, pre dirt cheap rHGH from China, when rHGH was $8-12 IU, and fraud was rampant.
Today if you show signs of acromegally (like 75% of pro bodybuilders over 45 do), and IGF-1 tests above normal range, they’ll repeat the IGF-1 test on another day. If it’s still high, they’ll give you a shot of glucose to drink, then test GH at 30,60,90 and 120 minutes. It should be very low, less than 1ng (insulin released after drinking sugar should suppress growth hormone release).
If GH is higher than that, it means you have some anomaly, usually a tumor, causing GH to be continuously released, and therefore acromegaly.
Technically speaking, if you inject supraphysiological doses of rHGH, since it’s also “continuous” release and not suppressed by insulin, it’s “iatrogenic acromegally” and depending on how long it goes on and how high the dose, it’s possible to develop all the same symptoms of “late onset acromegally” (vs those who had it since childhood and look like giants). The shortest period to serious permanent changes I’ve seen in medical literature was 16 months at an IGF of roughly 400 in a 50 yo male (who stopped getting his IGF checked during the pandemic, his IGF crept up, but since docs didn’t know they never adjusted his 3iu dose.
It was discovered because he developed an underbite (lower jaw grew forward, very common) and a lisp (enlarged tongue, also common). Went up 2 shoe sizes.
MTSpace
GLP-1 Enthusiast
Just received my labs back on IGF-1.
-412 IGF-1
- 2.7 Z-score
I started taking 2IU HGH for 4 weeks & I thenstopped taking HGH 2 weeks before bloodwork at request of doctor to off all peptides & supplements in order to establish a baseline on all markers. Have follow up bloodwork in 5 weeks to follow up to this panel and will still be pausing all peptide and supplements until I speak with my doctor. Will update later, but this seems extremely high for only 2IU's for 4 weeks and then a 2 week stop until late July. Any experiences similar?
-412 IGF-1
- 2.7 Z-score
I started taking 2IU HGH for 4 weeks & I thenstopped taking HGH 2 weeks before bloodwork at request of doctor to off all peptides & supplements in order to establish a baseline on all markers. Have follow up bloodwork in 5 weeks to follow up to this panel and will still be pausing all peptide and supplements until I speak with my doctor. Will update later, but this seems extremely high for only 2IU's for 4 weeks and then a 2 week stop until late July. Any experiences similar?
IGF response varies wildly. Some people have gotten as high as IGF-1 600+ on 2iu, which is why it’s so important to monitor it. At a minimum, 2-4 weeks after starting, then at least once every 6 months. FYI, high serum IGF-1 is the main driver of the abnormal bone growth seen in acromegaly we all want to avoid.
Probobly worth noting it’s extremely rare for adults (who don’t make enough, or had their pituitary removed) to be prescribed replacement doses above 2iu, the vast majority are much lower than that. 3iu is highest I’ve seen in the literature. That’s with most endocrinologists aiming for the middle to slightly above the normal IGF-1 range the age, ie, a Z score of 0.0 to 1.0.
All things equal, an IGF-1 that’s hyper responsive to GH is usually a sign of pretty good health and nutrition, with the only exception being the possibility of producing too much insulin, due to low insulin sensitivity.
If there’s any chance of that (high fasting glucose or high HBA1C, family history of diabetes) suggest you get a HOMA-IR test (for actual insulin levels) and consider a GLP if not on one now.
MTSpace
GLP-1 Enthusiast
Glucose, A1C, and C-peptide have been excellent. I am at about 15% bf. Also have family history of type 1 & type 2 diabetes. A1C has been around 5.4-5.6 over last several years and glucose is 75-80 consistently for 30 years.
Thanks for sharing as I will review with my endo after my July labs. Just could not believe after only being on 2iu’s for a 4 weeks that my IGF-1 would be so high after a 2 week pause before my blood panel.
Thanks for sharing as I will review with my endo after my July labs. Just could not believe after only being on 2iu’s for a 4 weeks that my IGF-1 would be so high after a 2 week pause before my blood panel.
Terminix8
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This is close to me. IGF-1 score sitting at 136, 40 year old male, z-score 0.3. Was considering the CJC/Ipa combo or starting around 1 iu of HGH to try to boost z-score as close to 2.0 as possible. Leaning toward the HGH route myself due to cost.
