Peptides / Growth hormone axis

Natural fragment · 67 amino acids

IGF-1 DES (des(1-3)IGF-I)

Banned in sport

IGF-1 DES is a shorter form of IGF-1 that lacks its first three amino acids, different from IGF-1 LR3 and MGF. No approval as a drug was found, it is banned in sport, and its studies are in animals and lab cells. PepBank shows 335 results on IGF-1 DES from animal and lab studies. No study in people has reported results yet. Data as of 2026-10-30.

Also known as IGF-1 DES, des(1-3)IGF-1, des(1-3)IGF-I

First 40 of 67 amino acids0 changed amino acids

Evidence level: Animal and lab studies onlyNo study in people has results. ClinicalTrials.gov lists no trial.

Results in people

0% of 335 results

Results in animals

148

44% of 335 results

Results in lab cells

187

56% of 335 results

From computer models

0% of 335 results

Overview

IGF-1 DES (des(1-3)IGF-I) at a glance

What it is	Natural fragment, 67 amino acids
Approval	Regulatory status not recorded
In sport	Banned in sport (WADA S2.3)
Studies	150 studies with results. 113 of them gave IGF-1 DES, with 335 results. 148 in animals187 in lab cells
Clinical trials	None registered
Community use	Muscle growth and exercise-related body composition

The science

What is IGF-1 DES?

The 67-residue IGF-1 fragment that lacks the first three residues of mature IGF-1. It is distinct from LR3 and MGF.

Amino acids in one chain

IGF-1 DES (des(1-3)IGF-I) structure and chemistry

The key facts about the molecule. Long codes are in the closed section below.

Sequence, 67 amino acidsFrom the first amino acid to the last

T1LCGA5−ELV−DA10LQFVC15G−D+RGF20YFN+KP25TGYGS30SS+R+RA35PQTGI40V−D−ECC45F+RSC−D50L+R+RL−E55MYCAP60L+KPA+K65SA

Darker means more water-repelling+ and − show charge in the body

Structure

IGF-1 DES (des(1-3)IGF-I) is a natural fragment of 67 amino acids, with no ring, 3 disulfide bonds, no changed amino acids.

CAS number

112603-35-7

Development

Highest phase: unknown.

Identifiers

UNII AG0WVP88OA, UniProt P05019

See charge, composition and 3D structure on the Scientific page

The evidence

What IGF-1 DES studies show

Results grouped by what the studies measured. Each card shows where its results come from.

Animal and lab studies onlyNo study in people has results. ClinicalTrials.gov lists no trial.

Weight and appetite

27 results · 27 animal

In rats, des-IGF-I increased body weight gain compared with resected controls. Gastroenterology, 1992

Top results

In rats, des-IGF-I increased body weight gain compared with resected controls. (Gastroenterology, 1992)
In rats, des(1‑3)IGF-I improved food utilization compared with vehicle. (Mineral and electrolyte metabolism, 1992)
In rats after gut surgery, all treatment groups, including des-(1-3)IGF-I, had heavier kidneys. (The American journal of physiology, 1991)

Muscles and tendons

31 results · 15 animal · 16 lab

In rats, des(1‑3)IGF-I reduced muscle protein degradation compared with vehicle. Mineral and electrolyte metabolism, 1992

Top results

In rats, des(1‑3)IGF-I reduced muscle protein degradation compared with vehicle. (Mineral and electrolyte metabolism, 1992)
In rats with diabetes, des(1‑3)IGF-I increased muscle protein synthesis, with IGF-I the least potent tested peptide. (The Biochemical journal, 1993)
In rats after gut surgery, des-(1-3)IGF-I improved nitrogen balance compared with controls. (The American journal of physiology, 1991)

Kidneys and bladder

15 results · 14 animal · 1 lab

In rats, des(1‑3)IGF-I reduced serum urea compared with vehicle. Mineral and electrolyte metabolism, 1992

Top results

In rats, des(1‑3)IGF-I reduced serum urea compared with vehicle. (Mineral and electrolyte metabolism, 1992)
In rats, des(1‑3)IGF-I restored kidney filtration rate compared with vehicle. (Regulatory peptides, 1993)
In animals with kidney transplants, des(1‑3)IGF-I improved early graft function. (Transplantation, 1997)

Stomach and gut

15 results · 13 animal · 2 lab

In rats, des-IGF-I increased duodenojejunal DNA content compared with resected controls. Gastroenterology, 1992

Top results

In rats, des-IGF-I increased duodenojejunal DNA content compared with resected controls. (Gastroenterology, 1992)
In rats after bowel resection, des(1‑3)IGF-I reduced fat malabsorption. (Growth factors, 1994)
In rats, des-IGF-I increased duodenojejunal protein content compared with resected controls. (Gastroenterology, 1992)

Growth hormone and growth

22 results · 12 animal · 10 lab

In rats, des-IGF-I increased circulating IGFBP-3 compared with resected controls. Gastroenterology, 1992

Top results

In rats, des-IGF-I increased circulating IGFBP-3 compared with resected controls. (Gastroenterology, 1992)
In rats with restricted dietary nitrogen, des(1‑3)IGF-I did not measurably prevent lower blood IGF-I levels. (The Journal of endocrinology, 1991)
In rats with diabetes, des(1‑3)IGF-I increased IGF-binding proteins. (The Biochemical journal, 1991)

Sex hormones and fertility

14 results · 10 animal · 4 lab

In IGF-I-null animals, des IGF-I alone increased terminal end buds versus controls. Endocrinology, 1999

Top results

In IGF-I-null animals, des IGF-I alone increased terminal end buds versus controls. (Endocrinology, 1999)
In rats without estradiol, des(1‑3) IGF-I increased mammary development compared with control pellets. (Endocrinology, 1995)
In mice lacking IGF-I, des(1‑3)-IGF-I partly restored prostate size. (Endocrinology, 1999)

All 150 IGF-1 DES studies by area Open the Scientific page

Key IGF-1 DES studies

Studies in people come first, then studies in animals and in the lab.

Animals
The effects of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, IGF-2, and des-IGF-1 on neuronal loss after hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in adult rats: evidence for a role for IGF binding proteins
Guan et al. 1996 · Endocrinology · 20 subjects · cited by 100
3 results
Animals
Insulin-like growth factor I and its variant, des(1-3)IGF-I, improve nitrogen balance and food utilization in rats with renal failure
Martin et al. 1992 · Mineral and electrolyte metabolism · 16 subjects · cited by 3
6 results
Animals
Pharmacokinetics and bioactivity of intact versus truncated IGF-I during a 24-h infusion into lactating goats
Prosser et al. 1995 · The Journal of endocrinology · 5 subjects · cited by 6
8 results
Animals
Cardioprotective effect of insulin-like growth factor I in myocardial ischemia followed by reperfusion
Buerke et al. 1995 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · cited by 269
2 results
Animals
Insulin-like growth factor I is essential for terminal end bud formation and ductal morphogenesis during mammary development
Ruan et al. 1999 · Endocrinology · cited by 173
2 results

All 150 IGF-1 DES (des(1-3)IGF-I) studies

IGF-1 DES clinical trials

ClinicalTrials.gov lists no trial of IGF-1 DES. A trial under another name may exist.

Status and safety

Is IGF-1 DES approved?

FDA

United States

Status unknown

Status unknown.

EMA

European Union

Status unknown

Status unknown.

WADA

Sport

Banned

On the 2026 Prohibited List, section S2.3.

Regulatory status not recorded. Banned in sport (WADA S2.3).

Laws and labels change, so check the regulator for the current status.

IGF-1 DES side effects and safety

PepBank has 4 safety results from studies of IGF-1 DES. None of them come from studies in people, so they do not show what happens in people.

Safety results from studies (4)

In rats, des(1‑3)IGF-I did not accelerate skin graft rejection. (Transplantation, 1997)
In lab tests, mouse tongues treated with high concentrations of des(1‑3)IGF-I had abnormal shapes. (The International journal of developmental biology, 2002)
In lab tests, mouse tongues treated with high concentrations of des(1‑3)IGF-I had low cell density. (The International journal of developmental biology, 2002)
In lab tests, mouse tongues treated with high concentrations of des(1‑3)IGF-I had low hematoxylin and eosin staining intensity. (The International journal of developmental biology, 2002)

See every safety result on the Scientific page

Doses studied (35 shown)

The doses that these studies used. They are not recommendations.

Dose as reported	Class	Species	Route	Duration	Design	Source
150 micrograms	Animal	rat	Lateral cerebral ventricle	Not reported	Study in live animals · n = 20	Guan 1996
20 micrograms	Animal	rat	Lateral cerebral ventricle	Not reported	Study in live animals · n = 17	Guan 1996
0.9 mg/kg/BW/day	Animal	rat	subcutaneous osmotic pump	7 days	Study in live animals · n = 16	Martin 1992
2 micrograms	Animal	rat	Lateral cerebral ventricle	Not reported	Study in live animals · n = 10	Guan 1996
1.5 mg/kg per day	Animal	rat	subcutaneous miniosmotic pump	7 days	Study in live animals	Vanderhoof 1992
0.96 mg/kg per day	Animal	rat	Not reported	7 days	Study in live animals	Lemmey 1991
1.2 mg/kg per day	Animal	rat	Not reported	7 days	Study in live animals	Tomas 1991
1.08 mg/kg per day	Animal	rat	infusion	7 days	Study in live animals	Tomas 1991
278 micrograms/day	Animal	rat	subcutaneous infusion	7 days	Study in live animals	Lemmey 1994
0.9 mg/kg per day	Animal	rat	Not reported	7 days	Study in live animals	Martin 1991
3 micrograms daily	Animal	mouse	injection	3 weeks	Study in live animals	Gillespie 1990
30 micrograms daily	Animal	mouse	injection	3 weeks	Study in live animals	Gillespie 1990
20 and 50 micrograms/kg body weight	Animal	pig	bolus injection	Not reported	Study in live animals	Tomas 1997
2.0 mg/kg per day	Animal	rat	subcutaneous osmotic pump	7 days	Study in live animals	Martin 1994
1 ng/ml plasma	Animal	sheep	Infusion into the intestinal arterial supply	45 min	Study in live animals	Lord 1994
10(-10)-10(-8) M	Lab	rat	Not reported	Not reported	Study on tissue taken from a body	Kar 1997
100-400 nM	Lab	bovine	Not reported	Not reported	Study on tissue taken from a body	Bhakta 2000
50 ng/ml	Lab	rat	Not reported	Not reported	Study on tissue taken from a body	Russo 1994
13.3 nM	Lab	rat	perifusion	Not reported	Study on tissue taken from a body	Hill 1997
10 ng/ml	Lab	human	Not reported	Not reported	Study on cells in a dish	Lee 1996
100 ng/ml	Lab	human	Not reported	Not reported	Study on cells in a dish	Edmondson 1999
40 ng/ml	Lab	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Study on cells in a dish	Babajko 1997
0.1-10 ng/mL	Lab	human	Not reported	Not reported	Study on cells in a dish	Irwin 1995
100 ng/mL	Lab	human	Not reported	Not reported	Study on cells in a dish	Irwin 1995
1-100 ng/ml	Lab	human	Not reported	Not reported	Study on cells in a dish	Gucev 1997
20 ng/ml	Lab	pig	Not reported	24 h	Study on cells in a dish	Yang 1999
10 nmol/L	Lab	bovine	Not reported	Not reported	Study on cells in a dish	Giannini 1997
50 ng/ml	Lab	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Study on cells in a dish	Guo 1995
6.5 nM	Lab	human	Not reported	20 min	Study on cells in a dish	Jin 1993
12.5 micrograms/l	Lab	bovine	Not reported	Not reported	Study on cells in a dish	Zhao 1993
100 micrograms/l	Lab	bovine	Not reported	Not reported	Study on cells in a dish	Zhao 1993
10 ng/ml	Lab	human	Not reported	Not reported	Study on cells in a dish	Lindgren 1993
3-10 micrograms/l	Lab	human	Not reported	24 h	Study on cells in a dish	Lindgren 1993
10 micrograms/l	Lab	human	Not reported	8 h	Study on cells in a dish	Lindgren 1993
0.1-10 micrograms/l	Lab	human	Not reported	4 h	Study on cells in a dish	Lindgren 1993

From the community

How people use it

What people report online. It comes from forums and guides, not from studies.

Community-reported. Not tested in trials.

A community wiki reports IGF-1 DES use for muscle growth around exercise. It states that localized muscle growth is unproven in humans.

Reported routines and cautions

What people use it for

Muscle growth and exercise-related body compositionS1

Reported regimens

Regimens that community sources report for IGF-1 DES. Community-reported, not tested in trials.
Context	Route	Amount	How often	How long	Agreement	Sources
Before exercise, site injection	intramuscular injection	50 to 100 mcg per total dose	training days only	4 to 6 weeks	Single source. The source carries seller advertisements or affiliate links.	S1
After exercise	intramuscular or subcutaneous injection	50 to 100 mcg per dose	immediately after exercise	4 to 6 weeks	Single source. The source carries seller advertisements or affiliate links.	S1
Lower reported subcutaneous amount	subcutaneous injection	20 to 50 mcg per dose	once daily on training days	4 weeks	Single source. The source carries seller advertisements or affiliate links.	S1
Target muscle-group reports	intramuscular injection	25 to 50 mcg per muscle group	training days for target muscles	4 to 6 weeks	Single source. The source carries seller advertisements or affiliate links.	S1

Reported side effects

Low blood sugarS1
Injection-site discomfortS1

Reported benefits (claims, not shown in trials)

Perceived local muscle growthS1

Cautions

The wiki states that no human dosing studies establish these regimens. It identifies hypoglycemia as a significant concern.S1

Community sources

S1IGF-1 DES community protocolswww.peptideprotocolwiki.comcarries seller links, not linked

Gaps

One affiliate wiki supports all regimens. Product identity and user outcomes are not independently verified.

Questions and more

Ask a question about IGF-1 DES

The answer links to every study it uses.

What does the evidence say about IGF-1 DES?Is IGF-1 DES tested in people?Compare with IGF-1 LR3 Compare with Hexarelin

Sources

Database: PepBank data for IGF-1 DES (data version 308560)
Regulator: FDA status record
Regulator: EMA status record
Regulator: WADA status record
Community: community sources (forums and guides), as summarized in the PepBank community file

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.

Ask your AI about IGF-1 DES

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IGF-1 DES (des(1-3)IGF-I)

Banned in sport

Also known as IGF-1 DES, des(1-3)IGF-1, des(1-3)IGF-I

What it is

Natural fragment, 67 amino acids

Approval

Regulatory status not recorded

In sport

Banned in sport (WADA S2.3)

Studies

150 studies with results. 113 of them gave IGF-1 DES, with 335 results.
148 in animals187 in lab cells

Clinical trials

None registered

Community use

Muscle growth and exercise-related body composition

Dose as reported

Class

Species

Route

Duration

Design

Source

150 micrograms

Animal

rat

Lateral cerebral ventricle

Not reported

Study in live animals · n = 20

Guan 1996

20 micrograms

Animal

rat

Lateral cerebral ventricle

Not reported

Study in live animals · n = 17

Guan 1996

0.9 mg/kg/BW/day

Animal

rat

subcutaneous osmotic pump

7 days

Study in live animals · n = 16

Martin 1992

2 micrograms

Animal

rat

Lateral cerebral ventricle

Not reported

Study in live animals · n = 10

Guan 1996

1.5 mg/kg per day

Animal

rat

subcutaneous miniosmotic pump

7 days

Study in live animals

Vanderhoof 1992

0.96 mg/kg per day

Animal

rat

Not reported

7 days

Study in live animals

Lemmey 1991

1.2 mg/kg per day

Animal

rat

Not reported

7 days

Study in live animals

Tomas 1991

1.08 mg/kg per day

Animal

rat

infusion

7 days

Study in live animals

Tomas 1991

278 micrograms/day

Animal

rat

subcutaneous infusion

7 days

Study in live animals

Lemmey 1994

0.9 mg/kg per day

Animal

rat

Not reported

7 days

Study in live animals

Martin 1991

3 micrograms daily

Animal

mouse

injection

3 weeks

Study in live animals

Gillespie 1990

30 micrograms daily

Animal

mouse

injection

3 weeks

Study in live animals

Gillespie 1990

20 and 50 micrograms/kg body weight

Animal

pig

bolus injection

Not reported

Study in live animals

Tomas 1997

2.0 mg/kg per day

Animal

rat

subcutaneous osmotic pump

7 days

Study in live animals

Martin 1994

1 ng/ml plasma

Animal

sheep

Infusion into the intestinal arterial supply

45 min

Study in live animals

Lord 1994

10(-10)-10(-8) M

Lab

rat

Not reported

Study on tissue taken from a body

Kar 1997

100-400 nM

Lab

bovine

Not reported

Study on tissue taken from a body

Bhakta 2000

50 ng/ml

Lab

rat

Not reported

Study on tissue taken from a body

Russo 1994

13.3 nM

Lab

rat

perifusion

Not reported

Study on tissue taken from a body

Hill 1997

10 ng/ml

Lab

human

Not reported

Study on cells in a dish

Lee 1996

100 ng/ml

Lab

human

Not reported

Study on cells in a dish

Edmondson 1999

40 ng/ml

Lab

Not reported

Study on cells in a dish

Babajko 1997

0.1-10 ng/mL

Lab

human

Not reported

Study on cells in a dish

Irwin 1995

100 ng/mL

Lab

human

Not reported

Study on cells in a dish

Irwin 1995

1-100 ng/ml

Lab

human

Not reported

Study on cells in a dish

Gucev 1997

20 ng/ml

Lab

pig

Not reported

24 h

Study on cells in a dish

Yang 1999

10 nmol/L

Lab

bovine

Not reported

Study on cells in a dish

Giannini 1997

50 ng/ml

Lab

Not reported

Study on cells in a dish

Guo 1995

6.5 nM

Lab

human

Not reported

20 min

Study on cells in a dish

Jin 1993

12.5 micrograms/l

Lab

bovine

Not reported

Study on cells in a dish

Zhao 1993

100 micrograms/l

Lab

bovine

Not reported

Study on cells in a dish

Zhao 1993

10 ng/ml

Lab

human

Not reported

Study on cells in a dish

Lindgren 1993

3-10 micrograms/l

Lab

human

Not reported

24 h

Study on cells in a dish

Lindgren 1993

10 micrograms/l

Lab

human

Not reported

8 h

Study on cells in a dish

Lindgren 1993

0.1-10 micrograms/l

Lab

human

Not reported

4 h

Study on cells in a dish

Lindgren 1993

Context

Route

Amount

How often

How long

Agreement

Sources

Before exercise, site injection

intramuscular injection

50 to 100 mcg per total dose

training days only

4 to 6 weeks

Single source. The source carries seller advertisements or affiliate links.

After exercise

intramuscular or subcutaneous injection

50 to 100 mcg per dose

immediately after exercise

4 to 6 weeks

Single source. The source carries seller advertisements or affiliate links.

Lower reported subcutaneous amount

subcutaneous injection

20 to 50 mcg per dose

once daily on training days

4 weeks

Single source. The source carries seller advertisements or affiliate links.

Target muscle-group reports

intramuscular injection

25 to 50 mcg per muscle group

training days for target muscles

4 to 6 weeks

Single source. The source carries seller advertisements or affiliate links.

IGF-1 DES (des(1-3)IGF-I)

IGF-1 DES (des(1-3)IGF-I) at a glance

What is IGF-1 DES?

IGF-1 DES (des(1-3)IGF-I) structure and chemistry

What IGF-1 DES studies show

Weight and appetite

Muscles and tendons

Kidneys and bladder

Stomach and gut

Growth hormone and growth

Sex hormones and fertility

Key IGF-1 DES studies

IGF-1 DES clinical trials

Is IGF-1 DES approved?

IGF-1 DES side effects and safety

How people use it

What people use it for

Reported regimens

Reported side effects

Reported benefits (claims, not shown in trials)

Cautions

Community sources

Ask a question about IGF-1 DES

Related peptides

Sources

IGF-1 DES (des(1-3)IGF-I)

IGF-1 DES (des(1-3)IGF-I) at a glance

What is IGF-1 DES?

IGF-1 DES (des(1-3)IGF-I) structure and chemistry

What IGF-1 DES studies show

Weight and appetite

Muscles and tendons

Kidneys and bladder

Stomach and gut

Growth hormone and growth

Sex hormones and fertility

Key IGF-1 DES studies

IGF-1 DES clinical trials

Is IGF-1 DES approved?

IGF-1 DES side effects and safety

How people use it

What people use it for

Reported regimens

Reported side effects

Reported benefits (claims, not shown in trials)

Cautions

Community sources

Ask a question about IGF-1 DES

Related peptides

Sources