A daily injectable that prompts the body's own growth hormone in natural pulses. Its best-proven effect is shrinking the deep abdominal fat around the organs, plus reducing liver fat, modestly building muscle, and improving blood fats. Evidence comes almost entirely from people with HIV; long-term value for healthy adults is untested, and benefits fade once injections stop. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| IGF-1 | Mid-to-upper age/sex reference range, not above | Primary safety and effect marker; excess signals over-stimulation |
| Fasting glucose | 70–90 mg/dL (functional); conventional up to 99 mg/dL | GH opposes insulin and can raise blood sugar |
| HbA1c | < 5.4% (functional); conventional < 5.7% | Detects sustained glucose worsening the drug can cause |
| Fasting insulin | 2–5 µIU/mL (functional) | Early marker of insulin resistance before glucose rises |
| Visceral fat (waist circumference or imaging) | Waist < 94 cm (men) / < 80 cm (women) | Tracks the primary intended benefit |
| Liver fat / ALT-AST (liver enzymes) | ALT < 25 U/L (men) / < 20 U/L (women) functional | Tracks liver-fat benefit and liver safety |
| Lipid panel (triglycerides, HDL) | Triglycerides < 100 mg/dL; HDL > 50 mg/dL | Captures the metabolic benefit of visceral-fat loss |
Cadence: Baseline before the first dose, at ~3 months after starting, then every 3–6 months during continued use, with IGF-1 and glucose as priority markers.