⚖️Head-to-Head📊Clinical Data2026 Updated

Igf1 Lr3 vs Igf1 Des

Which Is Right for You? Complete Comparison (2026)

Detailed comparison of IGF-1 LR3 and IGF-1 DES. Understand half-lives, localized vs systemic muscle growth, and optimal protocol timing for bodybuilding.

Dashboard
Your complete health overview in one place
🔥
14-day streak
Logged 18 of 18 scheduled shots
Next Shot Reminder
ACTIVE MEDICATIONS
Igf1 Lr3B12
IGF1 LR3
🔥 14
2
days away
Thursday · 7.5mg
Medication Supply
Igf1 Lr3
6.2 / 10 mg · Vial
~42 days left · Mar 15
B12
4.4 / 5 ml · Vial
~88 days left · May 8
Retatrutide
1.2 / 5 mg · Vial
~6 days left · refill soon
Medication Levels
7 Days2 Weeks1 Month90 Days
CURRENT LEVEL
5.42mg
Mar 6
Today
ACTIVE MEDICATIONS
Igf1 Lr3Retatrutide
0mg2.7mg5.4mg
18
Total Injections
💉 All time
122/78
Average BP
🩺 mmHg
8.4
Avg Mood
😊 /10
Health Chart
1mAll
218.6lb
↓ 8.4 lb · 3.7%
WeightInjectionsBPMood
2282222162102277.5mg7.5mg4mg10mg218
Feb 6Feb 14Feb 22Mar 2Today
Photos
12 photos · 2w streak
Week 1
Week 7
Today
Scheduled Reminders
Weight
Due today
Mood
Done
Blood Pressure
Tomorrow
Body Measurements
In 3 days
Dashboard
Your complete health overview in one place
🔥
14-day streak
Logged 18 of 18 scheduled shots
Next Shot Reminder
ACTIVE MEDICATIONS
Igf1 Lr3B12
IGF1 LR3
🔥 14
2
days away
Thursday · 7.5mg
Medication Supply
Igf1 Lr3
6.2 / 10 mg · Vial
~42 days left · Mar 15
B12
4.4 / 5 ml · Vial
~88 days left · May 8
Retatrutide
1.2 / 5 mg · Vial
~6 days left · refill soon
Medication Levels
7 Days2 Weeks1 Month90 Days
CURRENT LEVEL
5.42mg
Mar 6
Today
ACTIVE MEDICATIONS
Igf1 Lr3Retatrutide
0mg2.7mg5.4mg
18
Total Injections
💉 All time
122/78
Average BP
🩺 mmHg
8.4
Avg Mood
😊 /10
Health Chart
1mAll
218.6lb
↓ 8.4 lb · 3.7%
WeightInjectionsBPMood
2282222162102277.5mg7.5mg4mg10mg218
Feb 6Feb 14Feb 22Mar 2Today
Photos
12 photos · 2w streak
Week 1
Week 7
Today
Scheduled Reminders
Weight
Due today
Mood
Done
Blood Pressure
Tomorrow
Body Measurements
In 3 days
01COMPARISON

Igf1 Lr3 vs Igf1 Des: At a Glance

IGF1 LR3
Igf1 Lr3
  • Primary mediator of growth hormone anabolic effects
  • Produced mainly by the liver in response to GH stimulation
  • Promotes muscle protein synthesis and bone growth
  • Inhibits protein breakdown (anti-catabolic)
  • LR3 variant has extended half-life and greater potency
IGF1 DES
Igf1 Des
  • Primary mediator of growth hormone anabolic effects
  • Produced mainly by the liver in response to GH stimulation
  • Promotes muscle protein synthesis and bone growth
  • Inhibits protein breakdown (anti-catabolic)
  • LR3 variant has extended half-life and greater potency
02FULL DATA

Detailed Comparison

📊 Detailed Comparison
Igf1 Des = winning arm
FeatureIgf1 Lr3Igf1 Des
MechanismGrowth factorGrowth factorBest
DosingIGF-1 LR3: 20-60 mcg SC daily; Des(1-3): 50-100 mcgIGF-1 LR3: 20-60 mcg SC daily; Des(1-3): 50-100 mcg
AdministrationSubcutaneous injectionSubcutaneous injection
Half-lifeNative: ~20 hours; LR3: ~20-30 hoursNative: ~20 hours; LR3: ~20-30 hours
FDA StatusIGF-1 FDA-approved (Increlex) for severe GH insensitivityIGF-1 FDA-approved (Increlex) for severe GH insensitivity
Key TrialLaron Z. Mol Pathol 2001 — IGF-1 reviewLaron Z. Mol Pathol 2001 — IGF-1 review
Side EffectsHypoglycemia, joint pain, potential tumor growth riskHypoglycemia, joint pain, potential tumor growth risk
03BACKGROUND

Which Should You Choose?

IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor) (growth factor) and IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor) (growth factor) serve different clinical roles despite both being in the Growth factor space. IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor) anabolic growth factor primarily produced by the liver in response to gh. IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor) anabolic growth factor primarily produced by the liver in response to gh.

Whichever you choose, track your protocol in Shotlee to build clean data for dose optimization and outcomes comparison.

Track Both in Shotlee
Shotlee supports tracking any medication or peptide. Compare your results across different protocols with clean dose logs and outcome data.
04DEEP DIVE

Making an Informed Choice Between Igf1 Lr3 and Igf1 Des

Choosing between Igf1 Lr3 and Igf1 Des depends on multiple individual factors including your specific health goals, tolerance profile, insurance coverage, and prescriber recommendation. While clinical trial data provides population-level efficacy and safety comparisons, your personal response may differ based on genetics, baseline health, concurrent conditions, and lifestyle factors. Use this comparison as a starting framework and discuss the specifics with your healthcare provider.

Head-to-head clinical trial data between Igf1 Lr3 and Igf1 Des is the gold standard for comparison, but such direct comparisons are not always available for every pair of compounds. Where head-to-head data is lacking, cross-trial comparisons provide useful but imperfect approximations — differences in patient populations, trial design, and endpoint definitions mean that numbers from separate trials are not directly interchangeable. Keep this context in mind when evaluating the comparison data presented here.

Tracking your personal response data in Shotlee is particularly valuable when switching between medications or considering a change. By documenting your outcomes on your current protocol — including efficacy metrics, side effect profile, adherence rate, and quality of life measures — you create an objective baseline for comparison if you transition to the alternative compound. This data transforms a subjective switching decision into an evidence-based protocol optimization.

05FAQ

Igf1 Lr3 vs Igf1 Des: Frequently Asked Questions

IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor) is a growth factor while IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor) is a growth factor. They differ in mechanism, dosing, and clinical evidence. Your choice should depend on your specific goals and medical history.

Switching should be done under medical supervision. Your prescriber can advise on transition protocols. Track both in Shotlee for comparison data.

IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor) works as a growth factor (IGF-1 LR3: 20-60 mcg SC daily; Des(1-3): 50-100 mcg), while IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor) is a growth factor (IGF-1 LR3: 20-60 mcg SC daily; Des(1-3): 50-100 mcg). They have different half-lives (Native: ~20 hours; LR3: ~20-30 hours vs Native: ~20 hours; LR3: ~20-30 hours), side effect profiles, and levels of clinical evidence.

Yes. Shotlee supports tracking any medication or peptide. You can compare your results across different protocols.

Neither is universally better — the right choice depends on your individual health profile, treatment goals, side effect tolerance, insurance coverage, and prescriber recommendation. Clinical trial data shows efficacy differences in specific populations, but personal response varies. Track your experience with either medication in Shotlee to generate objective comparison data with your healthcare provider.

Switching between these medications should be done under medical supervision. Your prescriber will consider factors including your current response, reason for switching, dose equivalence, and transition timing. Use Shotlee to document your outcomes on the current medication so you have a clear baseline for comparison after switching.

Free · Always

Track Igf1 Lr3 or Igf1 Des in Shotlee

Free dose tracking, side effect logging, and outcome comparison for any medication protocol.

📚References & sources

Start tracking