Rankings / Muscle & Strength

Growth-factor doping agents (FGF / HGF / PDGF / VEGF / MGF)

Muscle & Strength · Growth factor / tissue-remodeling signal

Tier F

High-risk evidence profile

wadagrowth-factorrepairbanned-sport
High-risk evidence profile
1.7 / 10
Tier F
Ev 2 Bn 5 Sf 0

Bottom line

Read Off Label grades Growth-factor doping agents (FGF / HGF / PDGF / VEGF / MGF) as F (1.7/10) based on preclinical evidence, unclear benefit magnitude, and a very high-risk safety profile.

Its high-risk evidence profile reflects a Safety score of 0/10; reported benefits and harms can differ by indication, dose, route, duration, and population.

WADA coverage: fibroblast growth factors/FGFs, hepatocyte growth factor/HGF, mechano growth factors/MGFs, platelet-derived growth factor/PDGF and vascular endothelial growth factor/VEGF.

Studied, labeled, or reported-use context: No approved enhancement dose — Research/biologic context; WADA S2 prohibited; not individualized guidance.

What the evidence says

WADA coverage: fibroblast growth factors/FGFs, hepatocyte growth factor/HGF, mechano growth factors/MGFs, platelet-derived growth factor/PDGF and vascular endothelial growth factor/VEGF. Dihexa is a separate HGF/c-Met-adjacent nootropic row; this row covers direct growth-factor doping concepts. Additional WADA alias coverage: Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1, mecasermin) and its analogues; Thymosin-beta4 and its derivatives.

Mechanism

Growth-factor pathways are marketed for repair, angiogenesis, hypertrophy or regeneration, but systemic enhancement use is largely speculative and biologically high-risk.

Studied, labeled, or reported dose & route

No approved enhancement dose

This records doses and routes described in studies, approved labeling, clinical practice, or documented use. It is not individualized guidance and does not establish safety; context changes with indication, formulation, health history, monitoring, and other medicines.

Citations

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Common questions

What does the evidence show about Growth-factor doping agents (FGF / HGF / PDGF / VEGF / MGF)'s effects?
Read Off Label rates the evidence for Growth-factor doping agents (FGF / HGF / PDGF / VEGF / MGF) as Preclinical and the benefit magnitude as unclear, producing an overall grade of F (1.7/10). WADA coverage: fibroblast growth factors/FGFs, hepatocyte growth factor/HGF, mechano growth factors/MGFs, platelet-derived growth factor/PDGF and vascular endothelial growth factor/VEGF.
What safety findings are reported for Growth-factor doping agents (FGF / HGF / PDGF / VEGF / MGF)?
Growth-factor doping agents (FGF / HGF / PDGF / VEGF / MGF) has a very high risk profile in the database. Very High (angiogenesis/tumor-biology concerns, fibrosis/remodeling risk, immune/procedural risk) Legal status: Research/biologic context; WADA S2 prohibited.
What does the low Safety score for Growth-factor doping agents (FGF / HGF / PDGF / VEGF / MGF) represent?
The Safety score is 0/10. It records the substantial harms described for one or more use contexts; the Benefit score, indication, dose, route, duration, population, and legal status remain separate parts of the evidence profile.
What doses or routes are reported for Growth-factor doping agents (FGF / HGF / PDGF / VEGF / MGF)?
No approved enhancement dose This is context from studies, approved labeling, clinical practice, or documented use; it is not individualized guidance and does not establish safety.
How does Growth-factor doping agents (FGF / HGF / PDGF / VEGF / MGF) work?
Growth-factor pathways are marketed for repair, angiogenesis, hypertrophy or regeneration, but systemic enhancement use is largely speculative and biologically high-risk.

This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.