IGF-1 (Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1)

A peptide hormone structurally similar to insulin that mediates many of the growth-promoting effects of growth hormone. IGF-1 is primarily produced by the liver in response to GH stimulation and acts on nearly every cell in the body. It plays a central role in growth, tissue repair, and metabolic regulation. IGF-1 levels are commonly measured as a biomarker of growth hormone activity in research settings.