What is MGF?
MGF, the Mechano Growth Factor, is a special splice variant of IGF-1 (IGF-1Ec) that forms in muscle after mechanical load or damage. The idea: MGF is the first signal that triggers repair and growth after a training stimulus.
Up front: the exciting effects come from cell and animal models, in humans the data on injected MGF is thin.
Comparison
IGF-1 and growth in the lexicon
Where the compounds act according to the TPD lexicon. Tap a card to open its entry.
Simplified: no receptor of its own is known for MGF, IGF-1 LR3 acts directly on the IGF-1 receptor. 4
How it works
After a training stimulus the muscle briefly splices the IGF-1 gene to MGF. This activates satellite cells (the muscle's dormant repair cells) and triggers their proliferation. Only afterwards does the longer-lived IGF-1Ea form take over the actual building.
Injected MGF is very short-lived. If at all, it is therefore used close to training.
Where it acts
Where MGF acted in experiments
Tap a point or a card. All from cell and animal studies, no receptor of its own is known.
Known targets4
Compound MGF (IGF-1Ec, E-Peptid): one described target, Apparently not needed: in a cell study the E peptide still acted with the IGF-1 receptor blocked.
- Gene
- IGF1R
- UniProt
- P08069
- ChEMBL
- CHEMBL1957
- Action
- Apparently not needed: in a cell study the E peptide still acted with the IGF-1 receptor blocked
What you need
Supplies
2 things, numbered as in the picture
Tick off what you already have. Vial and BAC water are our real shop photos at the same size.
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MGF vial
The MGF vial (lyophilized powder).
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Water and supplies
Bacteriostatic water, U-100 insulin syringes, alcohol swabs.
Reconstitution
Use the peptide calculator. A 2mg vial with 2ml water gives 1000mcg per ml, 200mcg is then 20 units on the U-100 syringe. Just add the water to the vial and let it dissolve.
Step by step
Dissolving the powder
Four steps, the same for every vial size.
- 1Wipe the cap
Clean the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab.
- 2Add BAC water
Just add it, it does not matter if it hits the powder directly.
- 3Swirl or shake
Until everything has dissolved, both are fine.
- 4Draw up
With the U-100 insulin syringe.
Dosing
Dosing
Dosing, titration and syringe
Loading the dosing information …
- Getting started and stepping up, drawn as a staircase
- Units on the U-100 syringe for every step
- How long one vial lasts
Injection
The injection is subcutaneous, into the fat layer under the skin. Common spots are the abdomen (keep about two finger-widths clear of the navel), the front and the inner side of the thigh, or the back of the upper arm.
The short version:
Injection
Where and at what angle
Pick a spot or switch the angle. Subcutaneous means: into the fat layer, not the muscle.
Rotate the spot each time, never the same one twice in a row.
Rule of thumb: where there is more fat under the skin, insert straight at 90 degrees. In lean people with little fat, 45 degrees, so the needle stays in the fat layer. Simplified diagram.
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Clean the spot with an alcohol swab and let it dry
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Pinch up a small fold of skin
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Insert the needle: at 90 degrees where there is more fat under the skin, at 45 degrees in lean people with little fat
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Inject slowly, wait a moment, then withdraw
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Put the needle straight into the sharps container
Rotate the site each time so the tissue does not get irritated. Never the same spot twice in a row.
What the research shows
The foundational work (Hill & Goldspink, 2003) showed that after damage the muscle first forms MGF and through it activates satellite cells, before the IGF-1Ea form takes over. That is a clean mechanism but described in cells and animals.
For injected MGF in humans there are no solid studies. It is clearly experimental.
Study results
What the trials measured
Interactive: switch tabs, tap points, show or hide arms. Arms are named relative to each other, no dosing advice.
Damaged heart muscle after an infarction7
Change compared with animals without MGF in percent, sheep, eight days
Value according to the abstract about 35 percent less compromised heart muscle, heart function was better preserved. An animal model with few animals, not tested in humans. There is no study with figures on muscle growth that could be shown here.
Research status
Where the research stands
Where the compound stands on the way from lab research to approval. As of 26 Oct 2026. 8
Side effects
- Solid human data are missing, so little is known about side effects.
- Local reactions at the injection site.
- As with IGF-related compounds, a growth-promoting signal is theoretically critical with pre-existing growths.
Practice
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Keep expectations low, everything rests on cell and animal models.
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If at all, close to training.
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Banned in official competition.
Storage
Before mixing the powder is robust, normal room temperature (around 20 to 25 degrees) is fine, ideally kept in the dark. After mixing, keep in the fridge (2 to 8 degrees), do not freeze. It stays good there for at least 4 to 6 months with barely any loss of potency, in practice considerably longer. Swirl or shake to mix, both are fine.
Shelf life
How long it keeps
Robust, no fridge needed. Keeps for several months without trouble.
At least 4 to 6 months with barely any loss of potency. The bacteriostatic water brings a preservative.
- Keep it dark
- Dissolved: 2 to 8 degrees
- Note the mixing date on the vial
