Follistatin vs Thymulin
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 →Thymulin
Thymulin (Facteur Thymique Sérique) is a zinc-dependent nonapeptide hormone produced by thymic epithelial cells. It plays important roles in T-cell differentiation and immune system maturation.
Full details →Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aspect | Follistatin | Thymulin |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Requires zinc for biological activity. Promotes T-cell differentiation, modulates cytokine production, and influences neuroendocrine function. Levels decline significantly with age. |
| Typical Dosage | Research protocols typically use 100-300mcg daily, though optimal dosing is not well established. Gene therapy approaches have also been studied. | Research protocols vary. Often studied alongside zinc supplementation. Typical research doses in the microgram range. |
| Administration | Subcutaneous injection. Different isoforms exist (FS344, FS315) with varying properties. Requires careful sourcing due to complexity. | Subcutaneous or intramuscular injection in research settings. Requires adequate zinc status for activity. |
| Side Effects | Limited human data. Theoretical concerns about effects on other organs where activin signaling is important. | Limited data on exogenous administration. Theoretical effects on immune function require monitoring. |
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