Follistatin vs Ipamorelin

A detailed comparison to help you understand the differences and choose the right peptide for your research goals.

Follistatin

Follistatin is a glycoprotein that inhibits myostatin, the protein responsible for limiting muscle growth. By blocking myostatin, follistatin can theoretically allow for increased muscle development beyond natural limits.

Full details →

Ipamorelin

Ipamorelin is a selective growth hormone secretagogue that stimulates the release of growth hormone from the pituitary gland without significantly affecting cortisol or prolactin.

Full details →

Side-by-Side Comparison

Aspect	Follistatin	Ipamorelin
Dose Range	50 mcg–100 mcg	100 mcg–300 mcg
Frequency	1x daily	2x daily
Cycle Length	2–4 weeks	8–12 weeks
Route	subcutaneous	subcutaneous
Mechanism	Binds to and neutralizes myostatin and activin, both of which are negative regulators of muscle mass. This removes the natural brake on muscle growth, allowing for enhanced hypertrophy.	Acts as a ghrelin mimetic, binding to the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R) in the pituitary to stimulate GH release. Highly selective with minimal effect on other hormones.
Typical Dosage	Research protocols typically use 100-300mcg daily, though optimal dosing is not well established. Gene therapy approaches have also been studied.	Typical dosing ranges from 200-300mcg administered 2-3 times daily, often combined with CJC-1295.
Administration	Subcutaneous injection. Different isoforms exist (FS344, FS315) with varying properties. Requires careful sourcing due to complexity.	Subcutaneous injection. Best results when administered fasted or before sleep. Often stacked with GHRH peptides.
Side Effects	Limited human data. Theoretical concerns about effects on other organs where activin signaling is important.	Generally well-tolerated. May cause mild headaches, lightheadedness, or increased hunger initially.
Best For	Muscle Growth	Muscle Growth Fat Loss Recovery & Healing Sleep Quality