MGF: what it is, what the studies show and where it stands
MGF (mechano growth factor) is the name given to IGF-1Ec, a form of insulin-like growth factor 1 that muscle makes after loading. The peptide sold as MGF is a synthetic copy of the 24 amino acids at the end of its E domain.
At a glance
US Not approved
Canada Not authorized
Group Healing and recovery
Sources 12
Checked 10 Oct 2026What is MGF?
MGF (mechano growth factor) is the name given to IGF-1Ec, a form of insulin-like growth factor 1 that muscle makes after loading. The peptide sold as MGF is a synthetic copy of the 24 amino acids at the end of its E domain. [8]
Other names: mechano growth factor, mechano-growth factor, IGF-1Ec, IGF-I Ec, MGF E peptide, MGF-E, MGF-Ct24E.
How it has been given to people: no human use on record.
Looking for doses? MGF dosage chart and vial math
Is MGF approved in the US and Canada?
United States: Not FDA approved. FDA lists the pegylated form, PEG-MGF, among bulk substances that were in compounding category 2 and whose nominations were then withdrawn; the plain peptide is not named. [9]
Canada: No MGF product, current or cancelled, is in Health Canada's Drug Product Database. Injectable peptides are regulated as prescription drugs in Canada. [10]
Both were checked on 10 Oct 2026 against the regulators' own product databases.
Which approved products contain MGF?
No approved medicine containing MGF was found in the US or Canada. Anything sold under this name is not a regulated product, so there is no label to check a dose against.
What human studies of MGF exist?
The 8 findings listed here: 1 from smaller or observational human studies and 7 from animal or lab work.
The human data are about the body's own MGF, not the injected peptide: after heavy leg exercise, MGF messenger RNA rose in the muscle of 8 young men but not of 7 elderly men. Nobody was given MGF. [6]
In gerbils with a temporary cut in brain blood flow, the synthetic peptide protected vulnerable neurons. [4]
In sheep with an induced heart attack, the E domain peptide preserved heart function over eight days. [5]
The founding cell study: in a mouse muscle cell line, the E domain peptide raised myoblast proliferation and held back the final step of differentiation. [1]
In cultured human muscle cells the 24 amino acid peptide extended the dividing life of satellite cells from newborn and young adult muscle, but not from old adult muscle. [2]
Two pharmaceutical companies tried to repeat the muscle cell findings and could not: the peptide did not raise proliferation of mouse or human myoblasts. [3]
The same group concluded that it is doubtful the peptide has a role in the body at all. [3]
A Canadian lab reported that the peptide made human muscle precursor cells migrate more, as a possible aid to cell transplants in muscular dystrophy. [7]
What are the side effects of MGF?
Reported in human studies or on a label:
- No human study of MGF peptide was found, so no side effects have been recorded in people. Writing about the pegylated form, FDA says it has no human exposure data and names immune reactions and peptide impurities as possible risks of compounded product. [9]
How does MGF compare with others in its group?
These are the peptides filed under healing and recovery. The last column says whether a randomized human trial is on record for each.
| Peptide | US | Canada | Half-life | Randomized human trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BPC-157 | Not approved | Not authorized | Not found | No |
| TB-500 | Not approved | Not authorized | Not found | Yes |
| KPV | Not approved | Not authorized | Not found | No |
| ARA-290 | Not approved | Not authorized | About 20 minutes after injection under the skin and about 2 minutes after intravenous injection, as given in a 2016 review written by the trial group (full text). | Yes |
| MGF | Not approved | Not authorized | Not found | No |
| Cartalax | Not approved | Not authorized | Not found | No |
What could not be found
These were searched for and did not turn up. They are listed so a missing number is not mistaken for a hidden one.
- No published human study in which MGF peptide was given, by any route or at any dose. PubMed searches for mechano growth factor with human, injection, pharmacokinetics and half-life returned cell, animal and doping-test papers only.
- No trial registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. A search for mechano growth factor as the intervention returns 40 studies through the IGF-1 synonym, all of them growth hormone, IGF-1 or unrelated work; none tests MGF peptide.
- No human half-life or other pharmacokinetic figure for the peptide.
- No human safety data.
- No approved label in the US or Canadian sources searched, so no official dose, contraindications or storage instructions.
- No published human data on the pegylated form, PEG-MGF, either. FDA says it has identified none [9].
MGF questions
Is MGF approved in the US?
Not FDA approved. FDA lists the pegylated form, PEG-MGF, among bulk substances that were in compounding category 2 and whose nominations were then withdrawn; the plain peptide is not named.
Is MGF authorized in Canada?
No MGF product, current or cancelled, is in Health Canada's Drug Product Database. Injectable peptides are regulated as prescription drugs in Canada.
Has MGF been tested in a randomized human trial?
No randomized human trial was found. What exists is listed under the studies heading on this page.
Sources
Each one was opened on 10 Oct 2026 and matched to the line it supports.
- Yang SY et al. Different roles of the IGF-I Ec peptide (MGF) and mature IGF-I in myoblast proliferation and differentiation. FEBS Lett 2002. PubMed 12095637.
- Kandalla PK et al. Mechano Growth Factor E peptide (MGF-E), derived from an isoform of IGF-1, activates human muscle progenitor cells and induces an increase in their fusion potential at different ages. Mech Ageing Dev 2011. PubMed 21354439.
- Fornaro M et al. Mechano-growth factor peptide, the COOH terminus of unprocessed insulin-like growth factor 1, has no apparent effect on myoblasts or primary muscle stem cells. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2014. PubMed 24253050.
- Dluzniewska J et al. A strong neuroprotective effect of the autonomous C-terminal peptide of IGF-1 Ec (MGF) in brain ischemia. FASEB J 2005. PubMed 16144956.
- Carpenter V et al. Mechano-growth factor reduces loss of cardiac function in acute myocardial infarction. Heart Lung Circ 2008. PubMed 17581790.
- Hameed M et al. Expression of IGF-I splice variants in young and old human skeletal muscle after high resistance exercise. J Physiol 2003. PubMed 12562960.
- Mills P et al. A new pro-migratory activity on human myogenic precursor cells for a synthetic peptide within the E domain of the mechano growth factor. Exp Cell Res 2007. PubMed 17156777.
- Thevis M et al. Mass spectrometric characterization of a biotechnologically produced full-length mechano growth factor (MGF) relevant for doping controls. Growth Horm IGF Res 2014. PubMed 25466910.
- US Food and Drug Administration Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks 2026. fda.gov.
- Health Canada Health Canada Drug Product Database, active ingredient searches: mechano growth factor and mgf (0 records) 2026. health-products.canada.ca.
- Health Canada Think twice before injecting peptides bought online: unauthorized products can seriously harm you 2026. recalls-rappels.canada.ca.
- World Anti-Doping Agency The Prohibited List 2026. wada-ama.org.
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