Informational only. Not medical advice.INFORMATIONAL PLATFORM ONLY — NOT MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT
Head-to-head comparison of KPV and PEG-MGF — mechanism, dosing, side effects, legal status, and pricing.
KPV (Lys-Pro-Val) is the C-terminal tripeptide of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH residues 11-13), the smallest alpha-MSH fragment retaining anti-inflammatory activity. Research-only; not FDA-approved. Evidence is primarily preclinical with no controlled human trials.
PEG-MGF is the pegylated form of Mechano Growth Factor (MGF), the distinct 24-amino-acid C-terminal E-peptide encoded by the IGF-1Ec splice variant (IGF-1Eb in rodents) that is transiently upregulated in muscle after mechanical loading or damage. MGF is related to but pharmacologically distinct from mature IGF-1 and IGF-1 LR3. Pegylation extends its half-life from minutes to several hours, and the compound is marketed as a research chemical for muscle repair protocols. It is not FDA-approved for any indication.
KPV
PEG-MGF
Category
Legal Status
Mechanism
Dose Range
Route
COA-verified vendors · trust score ≥70 required · single-vial price — bulk/bundle deals may be lower
KPV
PEG-MGF
COA corpus from Disclosed Labs — independently tested batches only.
KPV
89
COAs
99.5%
Avg purity
15
Labs
PEG-MGF
12
COAs
99.6%
Avg purity
5
Labs
Dalmasso et al. (Gastroenterology 2008; PMID 18061177) demonstrated PepT1-mediated uptake of KPV and reduction of DSS- and TNBS-induced colitis in mice. Kannengiesser et al. (Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 2008; PMID 18092346) showed anti-inflammatory effects in two murine colitis models at least partly independent of MC1R signaling. Brzoska et al. (Endocrine Reviews 2008; PMID 18612139) reviewed alpha-MSH and related tripeptides, summarizing NF-kB suppression across cell types. Subsequent preclinical work (largely from the Merlin group at Georgia State) has explored oral nanoparticle and polysaccharide-hydrogel delivery for IBD. No controlled human trials have been published.
Key references
Yang and Goldspink (FEBS Lett 2002, PMID 12095637) established that the MGF E-peptide promotes myoblast proliferation and delays terminal differentiation through a receptor distinct from IGF-1R, separating MGF pharmacology from mature IGF-1. Kandalla et al. (Mech Ageing Dev 2011, PMID 21354439) showed the 24-aa MGF E-peptide activates human muscle progenitor cells and enhances their fusion potential even from older donors. Qin et al. (Mol Cell Biochem 2012, PMID 22875667) confirmed MGF drives satellite-cell proliferation while inhibiting differentiation by down-regulating MyoD and p21. Comprehensive reviews by Matheny, Nindl & Adamo (Endocrinology 2010, PMID 20130113) and Zabłocka, Goldspink et al. (Front Endocrinol 2012, PMID 23125840) summarize the evidence across muscle, cardiac and neural tissue and caution that MGF's receptor, in vivo pharmacokinetics, and safety profile remain incompletely characterized. No randomized controlled human trials of PEG-MGF have been published. MGF and IGF-1 analogs are prohibited at all times under the WADA Code.
KPV (Immune) and PEG-MGF (Performance) are in different categories and target different biological pathways. This is a common pattern in multi-compound research protocols. Researchers should monitor the biomarkers from both profiles and watch for interactions listed in each compound’s contraindications. Consult a licensed healthcare provider before combining any research compounds.
This platform provides informational tools only, not medical advice. This comparison is for educational purposes only. Consult a licensed provider.
Frequency
Dosing Notes
Half-life
Side Effects
Contraindications
Lab Testing
Key references