Hormones
IGF-1 (Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1)
Hormones
IGF-1 reflects your growth hormone activity without the guesswork. It drives cell renewal, tissue repair, and muscle maintenance — and it naturally declines with age.
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Growth hormone gets the headlines, but IGF-1 is the one doing most of the actual work. Produced in the liver in response to growth hormone, IGF-1 is the effector — it drives cell renewal, tissue repair, and metabolic regulation. And unlike growth hormone (which comes in unpredictable bursts), IGF-1 stays relatively stable in your blood. That makes it the smarter marker to measure.
IGF-1 testing sheds light on growth hormone status without the hassle of trying to catch a pulsatile hormone. It's used to investigate suspected GH deficiency in adults (think fatigue, muscle loss, increased belly fat), assess acromegaly, evaluate growth in children, and monitor GH therapy dosing.
What a high value can mean
High IGF-1 may suggest excess growth hormone — as seen in acromegaly (adults) or gigantism (children). It can also be elevated during puberty, pregnancy, or with high protein and calorie intake, or insulin resistance. Chronically high levels are being studied for possible links to cancer risk. Watch for enlarged hands, feet, or facial features, joint pain, headaches, and excessive sweating.
What a low value can mean
Low IGF-1 may indicate GH deficiency from pituitary dysfunction, normal ageing, poor liver function, chronic illness, malnutrition, or hypothyroidism. Common signs: fatigue, muscle loss, increased body fat (especially around the belly), weakened bones, mood changes, and delayed growth in children.
Bring valid ID.
Order your test
Choose your test and pay online. Your lab referral is created straight away.
Give your sample
Visit any of our partner sampling locations. No appointment needed at most of them.
The lab analyses it
Your sample is analysed at an accredited Swedish laboratory.
Get your results
Your values appear in your account with reference ranges and an explanation of each marker.
GH comes in pulses and jumps around throughout the day — one measurement tells you very little. IGF-1 stays stable, giving a much more reliable overall picture of GH activity.
Yes. It naturally drops as you get older. That decline is part of normal ageing but may contribute to reduced muscle mass, weaker bones, and lower energy.
It can. High protein and calorie intake tends to raise IGF-1, while calorie restriction or malnutrition can lower it.