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Mec3.5

Mecasermin (IGF-1) Research

Mostly mechanism / observational

96 peer-reviewed studies

What the evidence says

Mostly mechanism / observational

Most Mecasermin (IGF-1) studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.

Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 1992–2026 with a typical study size of 76 participants.

Based on 96 studies · 2 meta-analyses · 87 RCTs · 349 total participants

Confidence

High confidence

By outcome

Glucose & insulin-like activity
Mostly mechanism / observational75 studies
Growth & anabolismImproves muscle-protein balance only in catabolic illness; no muscle/performance benefit shown in healthy people, and hypoglycemia is common. · Not established for muscle-building in healthy adults
Mostly mechanism / observational73 studies
Safety profile
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies

Slowing down

Only 8 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2026

199220092026

1Meta-Analysis2012

Beauverd M, Mitchell JD, Wokke JH, Borasio GD · Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2012)

Mecasermin (IGF-1) Research

Mostly mechanism / observational

Recombinant human insulin-like growth factor I (rhIGF-I) for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 for the prevention or treatment of retinopathy of prematurity.

Mecasermin for the treatment of Rett Syndrome: a systematic review.

Administration of human recombinant insulin-like growth factor-I to patients following major gastrointestinal surgery.

Effect of Transdermal Estradiol and Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 on Bone Endpoints of Young Women With Anorexia Nervosa.

Acute leptin regulation in end-stage renal failure: the role of growth hormone and IGF-1.

Cardiovascular and metabolic effects of insulin-like growth factor I at rest and during exercise in humans.

Acute cardiovascular effects of insulin-like growth factor I in patients with chronic heart failure.

Beneficial effects of intrathecal IGF-1 administration in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Normalisation of insulin-like growth factor-I does not improve insulin action in cirrhosis.

Pharmacokinetics of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-1 in dialysis patients.

rhIGF-1/rhIGFBP-3 in Preterm Infants: A Phase 2 Randomized Controlled Trial.

Effects of short-term insulin-like growth factor-I or growth hormone treatment on bone turnover, renal phosphate reabsorption and 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 production in healthy man.

Effect of postoperative insulin-like growth factor I supplementation on protein metabolism in humans.

Insulin-like growth factor I stimulates lipid oxidation, reduces protein oxidation, and enhances insulin sensitivity in humans.

Intravenous insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in moderate-to-severe head injury: a phase II safety and efficacy trial.

The effect of recombinant human IGF-I on protein metabolism in post-operative patients without nutrition compared to effects in experimental animals.

Effects of recombinant human IGF-I and oral contraceptive administration on bone density in anorexia nervosa.

Effects of combined recombinant insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF binding protein-3 in type 2 diabetic patients on glycemic control and distribution of IGF-I and IGF-II among serum binding protein complexes.

A comparison of the effects of IGF-I and insulin on glucose metabolism, fat metabolism and the cardiovascular system in normal human volunteers.