Follistatin vs MGF (Mechano Growth Factor)
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 →MGF (Mechano Growth Factor)
MGF (Mechano Growth Factor) is a splice variant of IGF-1 that is produced locally in muscle tissue in response to mechanical stress. The non-PEGylated form has a very short half-life.
Full details →Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aspect | Follistatin | MGF (Mechano Growth Factor) |
|---|---|---|
| Dose Range | 50 mcg–100 mcg | 400 mcg–1.2 mg |
| Frequency | 1x daily | Less than daily |
| Cycle Length | 2–4 weeks | 4–6 weeks |
| Route | subcutaneous | intramuscular |
| 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. | Activates muscle satellite cells (stem cells) and promotes their proliferation without differentiation, priming them for fusion with existing muscle fibers during repair and growth. |
| Typical Dosage | Research protocols typically use 100-300mcg daily, though optimal dosing is not well established. Gene therapy approaches have also been studied. | Due to extremely short half-life (minutes), typical protocols use 100-200mcg injected directly into target muscles immediately post-workout. |
| Administration | Subcutaneous injection. Different isoforms exist (FS344, FS315) with varying properties. Requires careful sourcing due to complexity. | Intramuscular injection into trained muscles within minutes of workout completion. Must be used immediately after reconstitution due to instability. |
| Side Effects | Limited human data. Theoretical concerns about effects on other organs where activin signaling is important. | Injection site soreness, potential hypoglycemia, localized swelling. Short half-life limits systemic effects. |
| Best For |
What They Have in Common
Follistatin, MGF (Mechano Growth Factor) are both commonly used for:
Key Differences
Unique to MGF (Mechano Growth Factor):
Which Has Stronger Evidence?
| Goal | Follistatin | MGF (Mechano Growth Factor) |
|---|---|---|
| Muscle Growth | medium | medium |
Key Studies
Follistatin
- Heart to Heal: Unveiling Follistatin's Potential for Myocardial Regeneration.
Circulation research, 2025
- Fructose and follistatin potentiate acute MASLD during complete hepatic insulin resistance.
Nature communications, 2025
- Follistatin drives neuropathic pain in mice through IGF1R signaling in nociceptive neurons.
Science translational medicine, 2024
MGF (Mechano Growth Factor)
- The role of mechano growth factor in chondrocytes and cartilage defects: a concise review.
Acta biochimica et biophysica Sinica, 2023
- Pretreatment with mechano growth factor E peptide attenuates osteoarthritis through improving cell proliferation and extracellular matrix synthesis in chondrocytes under severe hypoxia.
International immunopharmacology, 2021
- Mechano growth factor interacts with nucleolin to protect against cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity.
Experimental neurology, 2020
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