MGF

Typical use cases

Dosing guidelines

Titration

Typically flat-dosed; native MGF is timed to the post-training window rather than ramped.

Reconstitution

5 mg vial: ~2 mL bacteriostatic water yields ~2500 mcg/mL (0.1 mL = 250 mcg).

Injection sites

Intramuscular or subcutaneous, often near the trained muscle group in research protocols (rotate sites).

Storage & handling

Lyophilized: stable months cool/dark, longer frozen. Reconstituted: refrigerate (2–8 °C).

Side effects

• Injection-site redness or irritation Mild · Common
• Transient low-blood-sugar-like symptoms Mild · Rare
• Theoretical promotion of unwanted cell proliferation (growth-factor concern) Severe · Rare

Research summary

MGF is a 24-amino-acid E-domain peptide derived from IGF-1Ec, a splice variant of insulin-like growth factor-1 expressed locally in muscle after mechanical overload; it is thought to be among the earliest signals triggering satellite (muscle stem) cell activation and proliferation. Work by Yang and Goldspink (2002) indicated the MGF E-peptide acts through a mechanism not blocked by IGF-1 receptor antibodies, suggesting a distinct interaction. Evidence is preclinical (rodent, cell culture, cardiac-injury models); there is essentially no controlled human data, and as a growth-factor peptide its theoretical proliferative effects warrant caution. Educational only — not medical advice.

Key references

• Yang & Goldspink, FEBS Letters (2002) — MGF E-domain peptide activates muscle satellite cells
• Hill & Goldspink, J. Physiol. (2003) — MGF expression and satellite-cell activation after muscle damage

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