Here's my take on it. des (1-3) igf-1 is 10 times as potent as regular igf-1 because it is resistant to igf-1 binding proteins- much greater uptake by the receptors instead of wasted.
Now, when thinking about igf-1 receptors we should realize that igf1-lr3 is potent mostly because of its insulin-like effects, not because it binds so well to the igf-1 receptors. It is purely my opinion, but I believe people are getting good results with lr3 only because of this effect. It is basically a really effective insulin for bodybuilding purposes- great for nutrient storage/disposal. And, insulin is the most anabolic hormone there is! So, all kinds of people who are afraid to mess around with insulin feel safe to try igf1-lr3 because "it isn't insulin" are really getting all the great effects they'd be getting with humulin-r in a friendlier package. At the doses used by most, igf1-lr3 is similar in effect to the minimum effective dose of a short acting insulin. That's why some have problems going hypo and others don't. It's probably not enough to put you in a coma, but it is enough to effectively store nutrients. Again, it's a good insulin product- that's what makes it unique- it's effective at safer doses than humalog and humulin-r are at doing very similar things.
Ok, that said, understand that original, bio-identical igf-1 is a whole different animal. Our goals for its use are basically completely different because we aren't talking about nutrient storage here. It doesn't last long enough in the system to have enough of that effect. But, old-school (relatively anyway) bodybuilders like Dave Palumbo are advocates of it vs lr3 because of its hyperplasia inducing effects/site-enhancement. The stories you hear about guys adding an inch and a half to their arms using igf-1 back in the day were not guys using lr3. That's why so many scratch their heads at the end of a couple runs of lr3 and when all the swelling from the acetic acid goes away they think, "Hey, what happened to my 'site-enhancement'?" But, that wasn't the case with original igf-1. Guys would use for the prescribed 4 week runs on and off for a year and make noticeable improvements in muscle shape and size in the muscles injected. The same effect is seen with regular mgf if done correctly- though it is to a lesser extent than what was reported with original igf-1. That's just the way it is. Mgf is effective, but the original reports with igf-1 were a little more positive.
The problem was that it was so expensive that almost no one gave it the chance (a full year or so of 4 weeks on, 4 weeks off) to see it's full benefits. No one could afford it. When it was popular it was about $1000 for receptor grade stuff per mg! Then the media grade stuff came out cheaper around 2001 or 2002 and everyone jumped on it only to be dissapointed. The quality just wasn't there. If it was 50-75% purity it may as well have just been bunk because who knows what the actual structure of the chemical was at that low of a grade. That's why Ron rejected the raw materials he was sent. He knows how this shit works. Basically it can't work at that low of a grade! It's not like protein powder where we're still actually getting 75% of the good from it. The chemical is fucked up, it's not going to be picked up by our receptors. With igf-1 our bodies are already picky enough as it is and little was getting used in the first place. With even less useable material available how would we see benefit?
When lr3 came out it was somewhat cheaper, and when people used media grade/low grade stuff they still saw results. Remember my protein powder example? Well, with lr3 it doesn't matter
as much whether the quality is 75% or 98% because it is manifesting insulin-like effects, binding strongly to the insulin receptors as well as the igf-1 receptors systemically. So, at 75% potency you really are getting 75% of the benefit because it is longer acting and acting systemically instead of locally on specific receptors. It actually has the chance to work because of its half-life and because it is acting in a different manner that is less specific- and, overall a much simpler task. I know it's conjecture, but let's all agree- hyperplasia is a much more difficult task than nutrient disposal! It takes a very specific set of variables/circumstances for hyperplasia to take place whereas half the things we do in bodybuilding increase nutrient use/disposal.
Now, all this
is simply my take/theories on this whole topic. I have anecdotal information to back it up, but little hard science. But, if any of what I'm saying here "rings true" and seems to make sense then you can see the specific value of DES (1-3) igf-1: It is 10 times more effective/potent at binding to the actual igf-1 receptors (mostly locally in the muscle injected as it is short acting) than bio-identical igf-1 (the previously most-potent hyperplasia inducing most mis-understood bodybuilding drug there ever was). On paper it makes total sense and I am willing to bet my hard-earned money that it'll make sense in my protocol as well!
What will that protocol be? My basic structure to my yearly schedule is a balance of "on" and "off" times. On meaning I'm on steroids and insulin, off meaning I'm "only" on gh peptides, low dose gh, and sarms. I also take gh peps/gh while "on." So, my schedule including des igf-1 would look something like this:
"On"
weeks 1-8 test cyp 1000 mg/week
weeks 1-4 some kind of oral steroid
GH and gh peptides constant on or off
weeks 4-8 mgf 100 mcg immediately post workout 3 x week followed by dextrose, bcaas etc.
weeks 4-8 des igf-1 40 mcg 1/2 hr after mgf dose
weeks 1-8 humalog 10 iu pre-workout with dextrose, bcaas, creatine etc (research this before building up to a dose like this!!! Don't jump straight into slin use!)
"Off"
weeks 1-8 gh peps/gh (look around for my thread on my melatonin, peptide protocol or pm me)
weeks 3-8 d-aspartic acid 3-5 mg per day
weeks 1-8 sarm s4 and ostarine (25 mg/day and 8 mg per day respectively)
weeks 4-8 same mgf/des igf-1 protocol as above
weeks 3-7 aromasin 10 mg/day (prevent estrogen rebound from the test and help boost "the boys" back into action)
I'd really like to hear Ron's take on whether to use the des pre or post workout though and why. When it comes to nutrient disposal, pre-workout is the way to go (slin or igf1-lr3). But, I'm not sure the best time to hit it for hyperplasia/site-enhancement.
I know I did a lot of rambling on this. It's late, lol. I hope some of this made sense!