Does Low E2 Crush IGF-1 Conversion on GH?

[Necessary Evil]

Hey guys,

I’ve been diving into the endocrinology behind the relationship between Estradiol (E2) and IGF-1, and I wanted to get some input from the seasoned guys here.

Basically, my main question is this: If someone has low or completely crushed estrogen, is their growth going to be severely stunted compared to someone running normal or high E2 levels while on HGH?

Here is my current situation as an example:

- I’m currently in a cutting phase, entering reverse dieting next week.
- I naturally run low E2.
- I’m currently running 6IU of GH per day.
- I just got my bloods back, and my IGF-1 came in at a mere 104 ng/mL.

I should mention that I unfortunately didn't test my baseline IGF-1 prior to starting the HGH, so I don't have a pre-GH number to compare this to.

However, given that 104 ng/mL is basically baseline anyway (or even low depending on age), does this mean I am essentially not getting the anabolic/growth benefits from the exogenous GH?

I know there are a few variables at play here. Since I'm cutting, my calories and insulin are low, which I know downregulates hepatic conversion of GH to IGF-1. But I'm also wondering how much of a role my low E2 is playing in this. We know estrogen is highly neuroprotective, great for joints, and generally anabolic, but does a lack of systemic E2 directly blunt the liver's ability to pump out IGF-1, or local IGF-1 expression in the muscle tissue?

Am I just wasting my GH right now, or is the lipolysis/fat burning still happening efficiently despite the low IGF-1 serum levels?

Would love to hear your thoughts or see any studies you guys have dug up on this.

Thanks.

 

[Ateam2023]

Hey guys,

I’ve been diving into the endocrinology behind the relationship between Estradiol (E2) and IGF-1, and I wanted to get some input from the seasoned guys here.

Basically, my main question is this: If someone has low or completely crushed estrogen, is their growth going to be severely stunted compared to someone running normal or high E2 levels while on HGH?

Here is my current situation as an example:

- I’m currently in a cutting phase, entering reverse dieting next week.
- I naturally run low E2.
- I’m currently running 6IU of GH per day.
- I just got my bloods back, and my IGF-1 came in at a mere 104 ng/mL.

I should mention that I unfortunately didn't test my baseline IGF-1 prior to starting the HGH, so I don't have a pre-GH number to compare this to.

However, given that 104 ng/mL is basically baseline anyway (or even low depending on age), does this mean I am essentially not getting the anabolic/growth benefits from the exogenous GH?

I know there are a few variables at play here. Since I'm cutting, my calories and insulin are low, which I know downregulates hepatic conversion of GH to IGF-1. But I'm also wondering how much of a role my low E2 is playing in this. We know estrogen is highly neuroprotective, great for joints, and generally anabolic, but does a lack of systemic E2 directly blunt the liver's ability to pump out IGF-1, or local IGF-1 expression in the muscle tissue?

Am I just wasting my GH right now, or is the lipolysis/fat burning still happening efficiently despite the low IGF-1 serum levels?

Would love to hear your thoughts or see any studies you guys have dug up on this.

Thanks.

Being in a calorie deficit is a igf1 crusher IME, your still gonna get the stimulus of lypolysis independent of igf1, so fat burning benefits are still present, possibly enhanced, what’s not getting maximized is possible protein synthesis signaling because of low IGF1, but if fat loss is what you’re after you’re good but with IGF 1 that low, you’re not maximizing anabolic or repair benefits. The good thing is that if you’re on testosterone, it’s at least preserving your muscle.

 

[Ateam2023]

Also to answer your question, Estrogen enhances hepatic growth hormone receptor expression, improves growth hormone to IGF1 conversion in the liver, and improves igf1 receptors in tissue , so with low E2 you’re gonna see a lower IGF1 which is apparent from your lower score, reduce collagen synthesis, more poor connective tissue response, and reduced GH efficiency so basically at 6 ius you’re kind of wasting GH imo, even if you’re GH dose is high, I was in a steep calorie deficit for around two years and struggled with low IGF1 myself, it wasn’t until I started eating at a maintenance level of calories then my IGF1 started to get into an acceptable range.