Follistatin vs Octreotide
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 →Octreotide
Octreotide (Sandostatin) is a synthetic somatostatin analog FDA-approved for acromegaly, carcinoid tumors, and VIPomas. It inhibits growth hormone and various GI hormones.
Full details →Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aspect | Follistatin | Octreotide |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Binds to somatostatin receptors (primarily SSTR2 and SSTR5) to inhibit GH, glucagon, insulin, and gastric secretions. Reduces blood flow to GI tract and inhibits tumor hormone secretion. |
| Typical Dosage | Research protocols typically use 100-300mcg daily, though optimal dosing is not well established. Gene therapy approaches have also been studied. | Varies by indication. Acromegaly: 50-100mcg three times daily initially, up to 500mcg TID. LAR (long-acting): 20-30mg IM every 4 weeks. |
| Administration | Subcutaneous injection. Different isoforms exist (FS344, FS315) with varying properties. Requires careful sourcing due to complexity. | Subcutaneous injection for immediate-release (between meals). Intramuscular for LAR depot form. Requires monitoring of gallbladder, glucose, and thyroid. |
| Side Effects | Limited human data. Theoretical concerns about effects on other organs where activin signaling is important. | GI effects (diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain), gallstones (up to 25% of long-term users), injection site reactions, and blood glucose changes. |
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