ASK DR. TESTOSTERONE | INSULIN & IGF-1

Insulin is one of three anabolic hormones, but actually it is a metabolic hormone produced from the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas.

It takes part in the metabolism of simple and complex carbohydrates, fats and proteins. 

Therefore it has a fundamental role in cellular nourishment.

Its purpose is to lower blood glucose, when it increases after a meal. 

The property of insulin to carry all the nutrients into the muscle cell, i.e. amino acids, starch, sugars, fats, vitamins, minerals, creatine,being  one of the greatest anabolic benefits for an athlete.

 However, insulin also regulates protein synthesis through mTOR stimulation,the rapamycin protein that triggers actually muscular development synthesis.

 Its disadvantage is lipogenesis and fat storage through  lipoprotein lipase enzyme, which makes it forbidden for periods of cutting.

 It gives the body a feeling and an image of being “full and jacked” and muscles contract and pump better, veins increase vascularity.

Muscle glycogen synthesis comes out of glycogen synthase enzyme, through insulin rush right after a workout, when insulin sensitivity is particularly high.

The risk of a hypoglycemic episode is always possible, therefore it is advisable to eat first and then administer it, subcutaneously. 

Slow-release insulin can become dangerous under certain conditions.

 Slow-release insulin bears the risk of a hypoglycemic episode during sleep, which can lead to a hypoglycemic coma and brain death.

On the contrary, fast-acting insulin is ideal for post-training, as long as you are ready with the proper amount of nutrients.

 This is actually based on the theory of the “anabolic window”, when muscles absorb and utilize in maximum capacity for an hour after exercise. 

Besides, insulin blocks cortisol, which comes out post-training as antiinflammatory hormone and in case it’s not controlled, it catabolizes muscle tissue.

Insulin in combination with growth hormone-somatropin and testosterone is the ultimate gaining stack.

 The recommended safe dose is: one (1) IU per ten (10) kilograms of bodyweight.

 So an athlete whose weight is a hundred (100) kilograms, should use: ten (10)IU in total, divided in two doses preferably (breakfast and post training).

 The amount of carbohydrates for every ten (10)IU is 100gr of simple and complex form (50/50) 

Insulin’s administration helps the pancreas not to get fatigued.

Insulin use will ensure that glycemia & insulin resistance coming from GH use, will be compensated, thus DM2 won't be an issue.

 Moreover,insulin combined to GH will make the liver to release more efficiently IGF1.

However, it has been shown to DM2 patients who don't cooperate with metformin, diet, and exercise, that using insulin will lead to cardiovascular disease and vasculopathy.

Insulin-like growth factor-somatomedin C (IGF-1) is a peptide consisting of 70 amino acids produced in the liver, which has a similar action as insulin on the metabolism of carbohydrates.

Therefore, it promotes lipogenesis and fat storage.   

IGF-1 has a regenerative property on connective tissues, cartilage and muscle tissues as well;hence, it promotes chondroblastic activity and repair.

IGF1 has a half life of 20min, while IGFRL3 is a prolonged time-released somatomedin C.

 IGF1 is the peptide released from the liver, under the exogenous use of somatotropin (HGH).

 Also under the presence of insulin released from the pancreas, IGF1 is also released from the liver.

Somatomedin C, when used exogenously, inhibits the secretion of somatropin (HGH, growth hormone), through GHRIH (somatostatin) from the pancreatic gland.

A high caloric meal increases IGF-1 concentration, while fasting reduces it.IGF-1 can be administrated intramuscularly, for instance, quads, deltoids, preferable post-workout at the trained muscle groups.

Metformin (Glucophage), the most widely used medication for diabetes mellitus type II taken per os to avoid insulin resistance effects.

Metformin does not interfere with insulin release from the pancreas.

 On the contrary, it makes cellular receptors more sensitive to insulin, thus lowering insulin resistance and decreases gluconeogenesis from the liver.

Therefore, metformin has a beneficial impact on many components of the metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus type II (non-insulin-dependent).

Metformin’s main effect is to decrease glucose by:

-     enhancing the action of insulin in the liver primarily by suppressing hepatic glucogenesis.

-     increasing glucose intake by the muscle tissue

-     increasing glucose metabolism on a gut level

However, the most serious potential side effect of metformin use is diabetic ketoacidosis.

Metformin has also been reported to decrease the blood levels of cobalamine and rapamycin mTOR.

Therefore a major concern would be to hinder anabolic drive that comes out of somatropin.

The combination of berberine, vanadyl sulfate, alpha-lipoic acid, and chromium picolinate assists as glucose and insulin stabilizers.

An athlete using insulin can absorb large amounts of carbohydrates and proteins per meal, leading to remarkable muscle glycogen stores.

Recent studies report that increases in circulating IGF-1 levels are associated with a significantly increased risk for cancer development (prostate, colorectal, breast cancer).

Interestingly, an elevated incidence of tumors is observed also in acromegalic patients, who have elevated IGF-1 levels.

Therefore, factors that promote IGF-1 hypersecretion could be linked with carcinogenesis.

These are:

-   abuse of somatropin (HGH >8 IU/24h)

-   hypersecretion of insulin from the pancreas (insulinoma), followed by the release of IGF-1 from the liver, as a response to a high caloric meal.

 Collectively,low-calorie diet and endurance exercise, which lowers insulin levels, modulate metabolic factors and reduce cancer risk.

The mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects of calorie restriction theory on cancer prevention include:

-  decreased production of growth factors and anabolic hormones (HGH, IGF-1, insulin, sex steroids)

-decreased plasma concentrations of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF) and prostaglandins (PGs).

-increased levels of AMPK protein, linked to fat burning and longevity, produced under IF and caloric restriction.

George Touliatos, MD is an author, lecturer, champion competitive bodybuilder and expert in medical prevention regarding PED use in sports. Dr. Touliatos specializes in medical biopathology and is the medical associate of Orthobiotiki.gr and Medihall.gr, Age Management and Preventive Clinics in Athens, Greece. Heis the author of four Greek books on bodybuilding, has extensively developed articles for www.anabolic.org and is the medical associate for the book Anabolics, 11th Edition (2017). Dr. Touliatos has been a columnist for the Greek editions of MuscleMag and Muscular Development magazines, and has participated in several seminars across Greece and Cyprus, making numerous TV and radio appearances, doing interviews in print and online. His personal website is https://gtoul.com/

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