IGF-1 LR3 vs GHK-Cu
Side-by-side comparison of IGF-1 LR3 and GHK-Cu: mechanism, half-life, dose range, safety profile, and vendor pricing.
Price snapshot
IGF-1 LR3
GHK-Cu
IGF-1 LR3
IGF-1 LR3 (Long R3 IGF-1) is a synthetic analog of human insulin-like growth factor 1 modified at two positions to dramatically extend its serum half-life and amplify its tissue bioactivity compared to native IGF-1. The…
Lowest listed price: $49.99 across 4 listings
Full IGF-1 LR3 profileGHK-Cu
GHK-Cu is the copper(II) complex of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine, a molecule Pickart and Thaler first pulled out of human plasma in 1973. The free peptide (GHK, C14H24N6O4) weighs about 340.4 Da; bind it 1:1…
Lowest listed price: $34.99 across 7 listings
Full GHK-Cu profileSide-by-side comparison
| Attribute | IGF-1 LR3 | GHK-Cu |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Growth Hormone / IGF-1 Axis | Skin, Hair & Aesthetics |
| Research Stage | Preclinical | Approved/marketed as a topical cosmetic ingredient (Copper tripeptide-1) with supporting small human studies. Injectable use is preclinical/off-label, research-use-only, with no human clinical trials. |
| Mechanism of Action | IGF-1 Receptor Signaling IGF-1 LR3 binds the IGF-1 receptor (IGF1R) - a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase expressed on virtually every cell type in the human body. IGF1R activation triggers two principal intracellular signaling cascades: PI3K / Akt / mTOR… | GHK-Cu works mostly as a copper shuttle and a signaling peptide. It binds Cu(II) with high affinity (log K around 16.4, close to albumin's 16.2) and can supply or regulate copper for copper-dependent enzymes like SOD1, lysyl oxidase, cytochrome c oxidase, and… |
| Half-Life | 20-30 hours (community/vendor estimate; no published human PK study of IGF-1 LR3) vs ~12 minutes for native IGF-1 | ~30-60 min (plasma; approximate legacy figure, no robust modern human PK study) |
| Typical Dose Range | 20-80 mcg per day | 200-500 mcg SC daily (community/RUO; no clinically established injectable dose) |
| Dosing Frequency | Once daily, typically post-workout or in the morning | Once daily subcutaneous; some run 5 days on / 2 days off. Topical: 1-2x daily to cleansed skin. |
| Administration | Subcutaneous, Intramuscular | Subcutaneous, Topical |
| Side Effects | Acute and Common - Hypoglycemia — The primary acute safety concern. Post-injection blood glucose drops can produce shakiness, sweating, confusion, palpitations, and in severe cases loss of consciousness. Mitigation: 30-40g of fast-digesting carbohydrate within… | Topical GHK-Cu is generally well tolerated; higher-concentration formulations (4-5%) raise the odds of irritation, redness, or stinging. Injectable use has no safety data from controlled trials; the main theoretical concern is copper accumulation with repeated… |
| Molecular Weight | 9117 Da | Free peptide (GHK): 340.38 Da (C14H24N6O4). Copper complex (GHK-Cu): 401.9 Da (C14H22CuN6O4, neutral 1:1 Cu(II) complex). |
| Common Vial Sizes | 100mcg, 1mg | 50 mg, 100 mg |
Price History
3 data points- Half Nattys
- Ion Peptide
- Disguised Alpha
Price History
4 data points- OF
- BM
- Half Nattys
- BHG Labs
IGF-1 LR3: potential benefits
- Muscle hypertrophy
- Recovery
- Protein synthesis
- Fat metabolism
- Glucose uptake
GHK-Cu: potential benefits
- Stimulates type I collagen synthesis in human fibroblasts at low nanomolar-to-picomolar concentrations (PMID: 3169264)
- Increases glycosaminoglycans (dermatan/chondroitin sulfate) and upregulates decorin in wound models (PMID: 11121126)
- Modulates matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors, partially correcting the MMP-9/TIMP-1 imbalance in a smoke-induced emphysema model (PMID: 35936787)
- Drives tissue remodeling and chemoattracts macrophages, mast cells, and capillary cells to injury sites (PMID: 18644225)
- Modulates expression of ~4,000+ human genes via the Broad Institute Connectivity Map, including DNA-repair and antioxidant genes (PMID: 25302294)
- Increases stemness and proliferative potential of epidermal basal cells and keratinocytes (PMID: 23019153)
- Acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory copper regulator in the context of aging (PMID: 22666519)
- Broad skin-regeneration effects on collagen, proteoglycans, MMPs, and immune/endothelial cell recruitment (PMID: 26236730)
Frequently asked
What's the difference between IGF-1 LR3 and GHK-Cu?
IGF-1 LR3 is a growth hormone / igf-1 axis that igf-1 receptor signaling igf-1 lr3 binds the igf-1 receptor (igf1r) - a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase expressed on virtually every cell type in the human body. igf1r…. GHK-Cu is a skin, hair & aesthetics that ghk-cu works mostly as a copper shuttle and a signaling peptide. it binds cu(ii) with high affinity (log k around 16.4, close to albumin's 16.2) and can supply or regulate copper…. The two differ in mechanism, half-life (20-30 hours (community/vendor estimate; no published human PK study of IGF-1 LR3) vs ~12 minutes for native IGF-1 vs ~30-60 min (plasma; approximate legacy figure, no robust modern human PK study)), and typical dose range.
Which has the longer half-life, IGF-1 LR3 or GHK-Cu?
IGF-1 LR3 has a half-life of 20-30 hours (community/vendor estimate; no published human PK study of IGF-1 LR3) vs ~12 minutes for native IGF-1. GHK-Cu has a half-life of ~30-60 min (plasma; approximate legacy figure, no robust modern human PK study). Longer half-lives generally mean less frequent dosing but slower on/off kinetics.
Which is cheaper, IGF-1 LR3 or GHK-Cu?
Lowest listed price on BodyHackGuide: IGF-1 LR3 from $49.99, GHK-Cu from $34.99. Prices are pulled from the vendor listings tracked on BHG and change frequently. See the compare tables on each compound page for the current set of offers.
Can you stack IGF-1 LR3 and GHK-Cu?
Stacking depends on mechanism overlap, safety profile, and goals. IGF-1 LR3 and GHK-Cu should only be stacked after reviewing each compound's individual protocol page, side effect profile, and any published interaction data. Use the BodyHackGuide stack builder for a structured review before combining research compounds.
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Listings from the vendors we track. Prices change often, so check the vendor before you buy.
Before you buy IGF-1 LR3 or GHK-Cu
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Related comparisons
Research use only. BodyHackGuide is a research and price-comparison reference. The compounds discussed on this page are not approved by the FDA for human consumption and are sold strictly for laboratory research. Prices shown are pulled from vendor listings tracked on BHG and are subject to change. Every vendor is ranked on the same public, reproducible methodology. See editorial standards and affiliate disclosure.