AICAR vs IGF-1 DES
Head-to-head comparison of AICAR (5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide Ribonucleotide (Acadesine)) and IGF-1 DES (Des(1-3) Insulin-like Growth Factor 1) — benefits, dosing, side effects, research data, and where to buy.
| Property | AICAR | IGF-1 DES |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Performance | Growth Hormone |
| Full Name | 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide Ribonucleotide (Acadesine) | Des(1-3) Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 |
| Molecular Weight | 338.21 g/mol | 7365 Da |
| Half-Life | ~2-3 hours | ~20-30 minutes |
| Amino Acids | Nucleoside analog | 67 |
| Typical Dose | — | — |
| Route | — | — |
| Purity | >99% | >98% |
| Studies Count | 180 | 65 |
| Research Status | Active Research | Active Research |
AICAR Benefits
- ✓Increases endurance capacity, enhances fatty acid oxidation, promotes mitochondrial biogenesis, improves glucose uptake, cardioprotective effects
IGF-1 DES Benefits
- ✓Highly potent localized muscle growth, enhanced protein synthesis, satellite cell proliferation, does not bind to IGFBPs, rapid onset
AICAR Dosing
Research doses: 50-150 mg subcutaneously. Typically administered 30-60 minutes before physical activity in research settings.
IGF-1 DES Dosing
50-150 mcg per injection site bilaterally post-workout. 4-6 week cycles due to potency. Multiple daily injections in research.
AICAR Side Effects
- ⚠Potential hypoglycemia, lactic acidosis at high doses, injection site reactions. Banned by WADA as a metabolic modulator.
IGF-1 DES Side Effects
- ⚠Hypoglycemia (dose-dependent), localized swelling, shorter duration limits systemic exposure compared to IGF-1 LR3.
Research Overview
AICAR
Salk Institute researchers demonstrated AICAR could increase endurance in sedentary mice by 44% without exercise training. Activates AMPK, triggering PGC-1α expression, mitochondrial biogenesis, and enhanced fatty acid β-oxidation.
IGF-1 DES
Missing first three amino acids (Gly-Pro-Glu) eliminates IGFBP binding, resulting in 100% bioavailable IGF-1R stimulation. Activates PI3K/Akt/mTOR for protein synthesis and satellite cell proliferation.
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