Side-by-side · Research reference

MGFvsProstamax

Side-by-side comparison across mechanism, dosage, evidence, side effects, administration, and stack synergies. Citations on every claim where available.

AAnimal-StrongHUMAN-REVIEWED14/55 cited

BAnimal-MechanisticHUMAN-REVIEWED11/38 cited

MGF

IGF-1Ec Splice Variant · Muscle-Specific

IGF-1EcSplice variantArmakolas 2016

24-AASynthetic E-domain

Animal onlyHuman evidence

SQ · Research context only

Prostamax

Khavinson Bioregulator · Tissue-Specific Peptide

0.05 ng/mLActive concentrationZakutskiĭ 2006

2.5×SCE frequency increaseDzhokhadze 2012

4 AAPeptide length

SQ · Protocol per Khavinson tradition

01Mechanism of Action

Parameter

MGF

Prostamax

Primary target

Satellite cells (Pax7+) in skeletal muscleMoore 2018

Chromatin in prostatic cells — pericentromeric heterochromatin regions

Pathway

Mechanical stress → IGF-1Ec mRNA upregulation → Local E-domain peptide release → Satellite cell activation

Epigenetic modulation → heterochromatin decondensation → transcriptional derepressionDzhokhadze 2012

Downstream effect

Satellite cell proliferation, myoblast differentiation, muscle fiber repair

Increased sister chromatid exchange, Ag-NOR activation, reduced C-heterochromatin condensation; tissue-specific regenerative stimulation in prostate organotypic culturesDzhokhadze 2012 Zakutskiĭ 2006

Feedback intact?

—

Origin

Alternative splicing of IGF-1 gene (exons 4-6) produces IGF-1Ec precursor; E-domain cleaved post-translationallyArmakolas 2016 Vassilakos 2017

Synthetic tetrapeptide modeled on naturally occurring protein-derived bioregulators isolated between lysine-arginine motifs in long-lived speciesKhavinson 2017

Antibody development

—

02Dosage Protocols

Parameter

MGF

Prostamax

Synthetic peptide

24-amino-acid E-domain sequence

Corresponds to human IGF-1Ec exons 4-6 region.

—

Rodent cardiac model

200 μg/kg via peptide-eluting microstructures

Post-MI injection; improved ejection fraction by 8 weeks.

—

Acute delivery (mouse MI)

Single bolus within 12 hrs post-infarctionShioura 2014

Delayed decompensation; no human protocol established.

—

Human evidence

None — no published clinical trials

All dosing extrapolated from animal models.

—

Detection in doping

Full-length MGF detected via LC-MS in illicit productsThevis 2014

WADA-prohibited since 2005; no therapeutic indication.

—

Evidence basis

Animal models + in vitro only

Animal / organotypic cultureZakutskiĭ 2006 Dzhokhadze 2012

No randomized controlled trials in humans.

Effective concentration (in vitro)

—

0.05 ng/mLZakutskiĭ 2006

Organotypic culture model; demonstrated tissue-specific stimulation.

Human clinical dose

—

Not established

No published human trials; dosing extrapolated from Russian clinical tradition (not peer-reviewed).

Age groups studied

—

Young (3-week) and aged (18-month) rats; elderly humans (75–86 years) in vitroZakutskiĭ 2006 Dzhokhadze 2012

Duration

—

Not specified

Khavinson protocols typically 10–20 days per cycle; no long-term safety data.

04Side Effects & Safety

Parameter

MGF

Prostamax

Human safety data

None — no clinical trials published

Absent — no published Phase 1/2/3 trials

Theoretical IGF-1 axis risk

Chronic IGF-1Ec overexpression linked to cancer progression (prostate, colorectal, breast)

—

Tumor promotion

IGF-1Ec overexpressed in osteosarcoma, colorectal polyps with dysplasia, endometrial cancer

—

Antibody development

Unknown — no longitudinal human exposure data

—

Local injection reaction

Presumed similar to other peptides (erythema, induration) — no direct evidence

—

Dysregulated expression with age

Older adults (70+ yrs) show blunted IGF-1Ec response post-exercise vs youngMoore 2018

—

Published adverse events

—

None reported in available literature

Genotoxicity signals

—

Increased sister chromatid exchange (SCE) — marker of DNA recombination/repair; unclear long-term implications

Metal ion interactions

—

Modulates Cu(II) and Cd(II) chromatin effects; unknown clinical relevance

Absolute Contraindications

MGF

·Active malignancy or history of IGF-1-sensitive cancers (prostate, colorectal, breast, osteosarcoma)
·No established therapeutic use — investigational only

Prostamax

·Active prostate malignancy — epigenetic modulation effects unknown in cancer

Relative Contraindications

MGF

·Family history of IGF-1-axis malignancies
·Use outside research setting

Prostamax

·History of prostate cancer — theoretical concern re: transcriptional activation
·Undiagnosed prostatic nodules or elevated PSA

05Administration Protocol

Parameter

MGF

Prostamax

1. No validated protocol

MGF (E-domain peptide) has no approved clinical protocol. All published data derive from animal models or in vitro experiments.

Subcutaneous or intramuscular — per Khavinson bioregulator tradition. No published human pharmacokinetic data.

2. Synthetic peptide form

Commercially available MGF corresponds to the 24-amino-acid human E-domain (hEc). Rodent E-domain (Eb) is structurally distinct and not interchangeable.

If lyophilised: reconstitute with sterile water per manufacturer protocol (not standardized in literature).

3. Animal delivery models

Rodent studies used peptide-eluting polymeric microstructures (cardiac) or direct intramuscular injection. Routes and doses non-translatable to humans.Peña 2015 Shioura 2014

Typically daily or every-other-day in Russian clinical tradition; duration 10–20 days per cycle.

4. WADA prohibition

MGF peptides prohibited in sport since 2005. Detection via LC-MS established for full-length MGF products.Thevis 2014

No established biomarkers. Theoretical: PSA, prostate imaging, symptom scores (IPSS for BPH).

5. Research context only

Any human use falls outside approved medical practice and regulatory frameworks. No safety or efficacy data exist.

All protocols derived from non-peer-reviewed Russian clinical practice; Western regulatory approval absent.

06Stack Synergy

MGF

+ BPC-157

Multi-pathway

View BPC-157 →

MGF activates satellite cells for muscle fiber repair; BPC-157 promotes angiogenesis, collagen synthesis, and tendon healing via distinct pathways (VEGF, FAK, integrin signaling). Theoretical synergy in post-injury contexts combines myogenic (MGF) and stromal (BPC-157) repair mechanisms. Both lack human validation.

MGF: No established dose
BPC-157: 250–500 mcg SQ near injury site
Context: Animal models only
Primary benefit: Theoretical multi-tissue repair (muscle + tendon/ligament)

+ TB-500

Moderate

View TB-500 →

TB-500 (thymosin beta-4 fragment) enhances actin polymerization, cell migration, and angiogenesis—complementary to MGF satellite cell activation. Both upregulated post-injury; combined use presumed additive for muscle regeneration in preclinical models.

MGF: No established dose
TB-500: 2–5 mg SQ weekly
Context: Animal models only
Primary benefit: Satellite cell activation + enhanced migration/angiogenesis

Prostamax

— no documented stacks