Ok, time to bust out the endocrinology notes.
IGF-1 and
IGF-2 are what are called mediates of STH, which is somatotropic hormone (growth hormone). Not everything is known about IGF 1 and 2. IGF2 is only found prenatal. IGF1 is found in adults, and is believed to be the main mechanism by which growth hormone exerts its effects.
IGF-1 is released by the liver when STH binds to the receptors there. It has a molecular weight of around 7,000 daltons.
Now we all know that growth hormone mediates bone growth. The thing is, is that it is not necessarily known if it is JUST GH that affects bone growth, or if IFG-1 plays a role as well. This is because bone growth from GH ONLY occurs IN VIVO, which means in the whole test animal, not just cells in a petri dish.
Somatotropic hormone also affects carbohydrate metabolism. It has what is called a bi-phasic response. This means that when pathological amounts of GH are administered that serum glucose levels DROP at first, then SKYROCKET and eventually level off. Why does this matter? GH hormone and its mediates produce insulin resistance VERY QUICKLY in test animals. It is classified at a diabetogenic hormone, because it increases blood glucose, meaning its hyperglycemic.
There. Now you know something about IGF-1, which is, you shouldn't mess around with it.
Someone better give me reps for typing all this lol.
Edit- FURTHERMORE, IF you were to TAKE IGF-1 ORALLY, IT WOULDN'T EVEN WORK BECAUSE ITS A POLYPEPTIDE HORMONE! Its made of amino acids!!! so it would just get digested like regular protein.
AND, IF YOU INJECT IGF-1, ALL YOU ARE GOING TO DO IS CUT OFF YOUR OWN PRODUCTION OF GROWTH HORMONE! Somatomediates control the release of Somatotropic release ihibiting factor (somatostatin), so injecting it will make your body stop making GH, and you don't even know if the IGF-1 FREAKING BUILDS MUSCLE AT ALL! SO ITS USELESS! unless you want to be a human guinea pig.
