Compare · Head-to-head
Follistatin vs IGF-1 LR3.
Evidence, risk, regulatory flags, cost, and vendor coverage compared side by side. We don’t sell peptides — we help you choose between them.
Which should you research first?
Start with IGF-1 LR3, then use the table to confirm fit.
IGF-1 LR3 is the cleaner first read based on the current evidence, risk, and regulatory data stored for this pair. The right answer can still change if your goal, sport testing status, vendor constraints, or monitoring tolerance makes the other option a better fit.
Comparison next step
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Take the quiz before converting a comparison into a compound, vendor, or protocol decision.
01· Subject
Follistatin
Myostatin/activin antagonist — human work is largely via gene therapy, not consumer peptide vials.
01 · At a glance
| Decision factor | Follistatin | IGF-1 LR3 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary fit | muscle growth & strength research where you want a clear starting point | muscle growth & strength research where you want a clear starting point |
| Evidence | Tier C-D | Tier C |
| Risk | extreme | extreme |
| Experience level | advanced | advanced |
| Budget tier | premium | premium |
| Administration route | subcutaneous | subcutaneous |
02 · Use case & timing
| Decision factor | Follistatin | IGF-1 LR3 |
|---|---|---|
| Goal fit | Muscle Growth & Strength | Muscle Growth & Strength |
| What users compare it for | Myostatin inhibition / muscle growth narrative. Legitimate modality is gene therapy, not RUO peptide. | Growth factor signaling; muscle growth narratives in gray market. High mitogenic/glucose risk. |
| Onset timeline | Gene therapy effects measured over months. Consumer peptide timelines are speculative. | Acute metabolic effects possible; anabolic narratives are speculative in consumer context. |
| Main tradeoff | Potential upside comes with much more safety and screening caution than lower-risk alternatives. | Potential upside comes with much more safety and screening caution than lower-risk alternatives. |
03 · Safety & restrictions
| Decision factor | Follistatin | IGF-1 LR3 |
|---|---|---|
| Adverse effects | Systemic muscle-growth modulation carries theoretical off-target risks; extreme risk. | Hypoglycemia, mitogenic signaling, growth-factor class risks. |
| Contraindications | No consumer-grade data. | Active malignancy (by analogy to growth factor class). High interaction potential with insulin/glucose-lowering agents. |
| Interaction notes | Unknown; likely interacts with anabolic pathways and endocrine status. | High interaction potential with insulin/glucose-lowering agents; avoid prescriptive guidance. |
| Regulatory status | Not approved | Not approved |
| FDA flag | FDA status unclear | FDA status unclear |
| WADA status | Status unclear | WADA S2 |
04 · Age & monitoring
| Decision factor | Follistatin | IGF-1 LR3 |
|---|---|---|
| Supported age ranges | No age guidance yet | No age guidance yet |
| Life-stage note | Not yet documented | Not yet documented |
| Monitoring burden | Not specified | Not specified |
| Follow-up cadence | Not yet documented | Not yet documented |
05 · Cost & sourcing
| Decision factor | Follistatin | IGF-1 LR3 |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cycle cost | No reliable estimate yet | $97.99 |
| Estimated monthly cost | No reliable estimate yet | $130.65 |
| Cost confidence | No estimate | High confidence |
06 · Before you buy
| Decision factor | Follistatin | IGF-1 LR3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tracked vendor listings | 0 listings | 2 listings |
| Sourcing note | No tracked product page yet, so sourcing takes more manual review. | Tracked product pages are available, which makes it easier to review the listing before you click out. |
| Stack-friendly? | Usually stack-friendly | Usually stack-friendly |
Sources and review notes
- Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks - U.S. Food and Drug Administration - accessed 2026-05-15
Used for FDA compounding-risk context and peptide safety flags.
- The Prohibited List - World Anti-Doping Agency - accessed 2026-05-15
Used for athlete-facing WADA risk and peptide-class restrictions.
- Peptide therapeutics: current status and future directions - PubMed / Nature Reviews Drug Discovery - accessed 2026-05-15
Used for broad peptide-therapeutics background and evidence framing.
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