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Performance & Musclepreclinical

IGF-1 DES

des(1-3) IGF-1
Performance & Muscle
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Category
Performance & Muscle
Evidence grade
D
PubMed records
205
Female-tagged
47
Sex-analysis
0
CAS
—
D
Evidence grade D, Preclinical / animal evidence only across 205 indexed studies. No human trial data. How grades work →
Female evidence: None
IGF-1 DES: of 205 PubMed records, 47 are tagged as including female subjects and 0 carry a sex-analysis tag.Counts reflect PubMed records as of 2026-07-21. “Female” uses the Female MeSH filter and “sex-analysis” the Sex Factors MeSH filter, automated proxies pending manual study-level review. Methodology →

Overview

IGF-1 DES is a truncated variant of insulin-like growth factor 1, missing the first three N-terminal residues of the native molecule. This small structural change alters how the peptide interacts with its binding partners, which is what makes it a distinct and useful tool compound in growth-factor research.

In preclinical and in-vitro systems, IGF-1 DES has been studied for localized growth-factor signaling, reflecting its altered affinity for the binding proteins that ordinarily regulate IGF activity. Researchers characterizing tissue-level growth-factor mechanisms have used it as a research material to examine signaling behavior that differs from full-length IGF-1.

What makes IGF-1 DES a useful entry for a performance and muscle-physiology catalog is that its truncation offers a way to study growth-factor signaling under modified regulatory conditions. Whether these mechanisms translate to female physiology remains an open research question; our evidence review tracks how many of the underlying studies included women. Supplied for laboratory research use only.

Summary

IGF-1 DES is a truncated, more potent form of IGF-1 used mainly as a research reagent and, unapproved, for muscle growth. Its literature is largely biochemical and preclinical; there are no controlled human efficacy trials and no female-specific data.

Evidence in women

Menstrual cycle
Unstudied
No studies examine menstrual cycle interactions.
Pregnancy & lactation
Unstudied
No pregnancy or lactation safety data exist.
Hormonal interactions
Unstudied
IGF-1 is central to mammary and reproductive biology, but no controlled interaction data exist for this analog as a compound.
Perimenopause & menopause
Unstudied
No perimenopausal or menopausal data.
Sex differences
Unstudied
Biochemical studies did not report sex-stratified outcomes.

Mechanism

A des(1-3) truncation of IGF-1 with reduced binding-protein affinity and enhanced local IGF-1-receptor activity.

Reported dosing & routes

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We don't give dosing or medical advice. The figures below describe what was used in published research, not a recommendation. Decide with your clinician.

Reported range (literature)No established human dose; used as a laboratory reagent, with unregulated athletic use.
Routessubcutaneous
Female-specific dosingNot established

Contraindications: active malignancy (IGF-1 signaling, theoretical); hypoglycemia risk

Side effects

Reported in the research literature. Sex-specific incidence has not been separately analysed in the available records.

hypoglycemiainsufficient human safety data to fully characterize

IGF-1 DES reconstitution calculator

Enter this vial's amount, the bacteriostatic water you add, and a target amount to get the concentration and the U-100 syringe units to draw. Handling arithmetic for research use, not a dose recommendation.

Reconstitution

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Draw for IGF-1 DES

5
units on a U-100 insulin syringe
020406080100
U-100 insulin syringe — 1 mL = 100 units
That's 0.05 mL drawn to the 5-unit mark.
Concentration5 mg/mL (5,000 mcg/mL)
Volume to draw0.05 mL
Doses per vial40

Reference chart at 5 mg/mL

Target amountVolume (mL)U-100 units
100 mcg0.02 mL2
250 mcg0.05 mL5
500 mcg0.1 mL10
750 mcg0.15 mL15
1000 mcg0.2 mL20

Research-use arithmetic only. This tool converts a vial amount, diluent volume, and a target amount into a concentration and syringe draw for laboratory handling. It is not dosing guidance, a recommendation, or a claim of safety or efficacy, and it does not account for overfill, dead space, or peptide purity. Nothing here is medical advice. “U-100” means 100 units = 1 mL; confirm your syringe graduation before measuring. See the reconstitution & storage handbook for handling detail.

Frequently asked questions

Answers drawn only from IGF-1 DES's research facts and, where reviewed, its sex-disaggregated evidence. Nothing here is medical advice, dosing, or a claim of safety or efficacy.

What is IGF-1 DES?

IGF-1 DES, also known as des(1-3) IGF-1, is a research compound in our performance muscle category. IGF-1 DES is a truncated, more potent form of IGF-1 used mainly as a research reagent and, unapproved, for muscle growth.

Is IGF-1 DES studied in women?

IGF-1 DES: of 205 PubMed records, 47 are tagged as including female subjects and 0 carry a sex-analysis tag. We grade this none: no PubMed record for IGF-1 DES is tagged as including female subjects, so its effects in women are effectively unstudied. That blank is the finding, not a safety signal, and we do not fill it with guesses.

Has IGF-1 DES been studied during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Unstudied. No pregnancy or lactation safety data exist. This is not a safety clearance or a recommendation. Vera, our research chat, deliberately hard-stops on pregnancy, breastfeeding, and trying-to-conceive questions rather than answer them.

What evidence grade does IGF-1 DES have, and why?

IGF-1 DES carries evidence grade D. Preclinical / animal evidence only across 205 indexed studies. No human trial data.. Grades are derived from the research record, never hand-assigned; see how grades work.

Is there a female-specific dose for IGF-1 DES?

No. A female-specific dose for IGF-1 DES is not established, and this site does not provide dosing or medical advice. Any figures we show describe what published research used, not a recommendation. Decide anything about use with a qualified clinician.

How is IGF-1 DES administered in research?

In the published literature, IGF-1 DES is administered via subcutaneous. Reported dose ranges on the Dosing tab describe what studies used for laboratory research, not a protocol for people. We don't provide dosing.

What side effects have been reported for IGF-1 DES?

Effects reported in the research literature include hypoglycemia, insufficient human safety data to fully characterize. Sex-specific incidence has not been separately analysed in the available records, so these are not broken out for women.

How should IGF-1 DES be stored and handled?

IGF-1 DES sold for research is supplied as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder. Lyophilized peptides are generally kept cold and dry, at roughly -20°C for longer-term storage and 2-8°C short-term, protected from light. Once reconstituted they are typically refrigerated and used within a short window, avoiding repeated freeze-thaw cycles. This is general laboratory handling for research use only, not a directive for human use. Always follow the handling and purity details on the product's Certificate of Analysis.

Where can I buy IGF-1 DES for research?

IGF-1 DES is not currently listed by our research-use partner, Aurevena Research, but their catalog carries related compounds. Code research15 applies 15% off. We may earn a commission when you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you. Products are for laboratory research use only.

Browse the Aurevena catalog
Research-use supplier: IGF-1 DES isn't currently listed by our research-use vendor. Their catalog carries related compounds. Code research15 for 15% off, applied automatically at checkout. We may earn a commission when you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you. Products are for laboratory research use only.
Browse the catalog →

Citations (PMID)

8930132 · 9516076

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Educational information for laboratory and research use only. Not medical advice, a recommendation, or a claim of safety or efficacy; no personal dosing. “Unstudied” means no qualifying study was found, not that a compound is safe or unsafe.