I agree with Elektrobot and you that he determines his baseline and does a serum test to determine if his gear is bunk.
I also agree with you his bloodwork is mostly in check and he is in a bulk so that should be good too. The outlier to me is the e2. I don't know if that is the specific issue but it would be interesting to see him get his natural baseline, test his gear, and then optimize his e2 to see the results.
My understanding is too little/too high e2 will inhibit igf1. Is 120 enough to inhibit igf1 this much when you'd expect more from 10iu? I'm not sure but its well out of normal range.
Stealing more from ghoul below.
"E2 is “permissive” for the liver’s conversion of GH to IGF. A tiny bit is needed to for the process to function so:
Very low, below range E2 will inhibit IGF-1.
In range, and moderately above range, does not inhibit IGF-1.
Very high E2 will inhibit IGF-1."
Estrogen induces a state of GH resistance in the liver. It enhances GH secretion but decreases the efficiency with which GH stimulates IGF-1 production.
Estrogen interferes with GH receptor in the liver, suppressing STAT5b receptor activation, critical for IGF-1 conversion. .
1. Weissberger AJ, Ho KK, Lazarus L. J Clin Invest, 1991
“Estrogen administration was associated with a marked increase in mean serum GH concentrations, but a reduction in serum IGF-I levels, consistent with a state of hepatic resistance to GH.”
2. Leung KC, Johannsson G, Leong GM, Ho KK. Endocr Rev, 2004...