I have been researching GDF11 for the past half a year or so, so this thread is timely. GDF11 is complex and the research is still in its infancy, so I hope the following information can be of benefit. The following is based on my research of GDF11 and some conversations I have had with GDF11 users.
I believe the existing evidence does show overall that GDF11 has a rejuvenating effect on the body by restoring the body's stem cells to a more youthful state. Scientists still aren’t sure where GDF11 is made in the body, but the hypothalamus seems the most likely candidate. GDF11 is found in all mammals, which would suggest that it serves some important function. I think we will see a lot of interesting research coming from this area in the near future.
Having said that, I do not think that GDF11 is something that should be casually taken without a proper dosing protocol, nor do I think it is safe to acquire GDF11 from just any online vendor, for the reasons I will explain below. GDF11 appears to be an extremely powerful molecule that, like insulin or T3, can help or harm depending on its dosage.
For a list of links to the current research, visit the Wikipedia page on GDF11. The page cites dozens of scientific studies, which are a good starting point for research. Several of these studies show positive effects from GDF11 administered in isolation. Some additional research has been released that may not yet be included on the Wikipedia page, so I recommend a search on one of the scientific paper databases or on google scholar.
Before I continue, I believe it is important to address the mixed results that some of the initial research on GDF11 has produced, as well as the likely reasons for these mixed results:
- Measuring GDF11 – During youth, about 90% of GDF11 is stored in the platelets, and this is where GDF11 has its effect. GDF11 levels in serum increase with age, while GDF11 in platelets decreases with age. Studies must be careful while measuring GDF11 to distinguish between serum and platelets. Several studies have failed to make this distinction.
- Similarity to Myostatin – GDF11 has a molecular structure that is very similar to Myostatin (GDF8). Myostatin levels are 500 times greater in the body than GDF11 levels. Consequently, insensitive GDF11 assays will mistakenly pick up Myostatin.
- Dosage sensitivity – Several studies have shown negative results from GDF11 administration. These studies dosed the rats with large amounts of GDF11. In large doses GDF11 cross binds to myostatin receptors, which negates the beneficial effects and can cause muscle wasting. GDF11, like other powerful substances in the body such as Insulin, IGF-1, or T3, has negative effects when administered in excess.
Therefore, to get an accurate picture of GDF11’s potential benefits, a study must (1) measure GDF11 in the right place, (2) measure GDF11 accurately, and (3) dose GDF11 in appropriate amounts.
If someone is planning to supplement with GDF11, I strongly recommend they do lots of research, and pay a visit to the website gdf11rejuvenation.com. Steve Perry, the first known person to supplement with GDF11, manages a growing group of individuals that take GDF11. Steve is adamant that careful tracking of biomarkers along with occasional lab tests is essential for successful GDF11 administration, especially at the beginning while people are initially discovering their ideal dosage. Young people tend to require much less GDF11 than old people, non-smokers require less than smokers, etc. However, everyone’s GDF11 dosage is slightly different. Furthermore, the dosage amount can change with time. The dosing starts in the pg/ml range - miniscule! The amount of GDF11 in the body is small, perhaps because GDF11 only needs to interact with stem cells, and stem cells are a fraction of all the cells in the body. Steve has on his website an informative paper on the science behind GDF11 supplementation as well as a description of his results from self-administering GDF11 for several years. He also has a writeup with some testimonials from GDF11 users available for download.
You may be wondering why bother supplementing with GDF11 if it requires such careful dosing and can have negative effects when dosed excessively? Besides the results from Steve Perry and his cohort, I have communicated with a few GDF11 users, and they have seen significant improvements in the following areas, verified whenever possible with lab tests: (1) Heart rate variability, (2) Resting heart rate,(3) Blood pressure,(4) Reaction time, (5) Epigenetic age, (6) Immune markers, (7) Increased energy and strength, (8) Increased cardiovascular health, (9) Increased muscle mass / improved body composition, (10) Skin elasticity, (11) Inflammatory markers, (12) Hemoglobin, (13) Prostate size, (14) sharper vision & smell, (15) gray hair reversal.
The greater the age of the user, the greater the benefit they receive from GDF11, on average. Someone who is already fit and muscular and is taking anabolic substances or growth hormone likely won’t experience an improvement in body composition and strength from GDF11, but they may still benefit in the other areas. The above benefits, and the fact that older users experience them more profoundly than younger users, seems to agree with the theory that GDF11 is rejuvenating and stimulating stem cells.
I hope this information has helped someone. GDF11 is a young, complicated, and dynamic area of research so I thought it was important for me to share. Although, if you are going to supplement with GDF11, I think to be safe you should buy your GDF11 from the most reputable and professional supplier possible, such as an official research chemical supplier, even if this means spending extra money. The dosage amounts are so small, even a small order of GDF11 will last you for a while. As I discussed, GDF11 dosing must be precise and carefully monitored. It would be a shame if you received a bunk product and then wrote off GDF11 as useless or if you received an improperly labeled vial of GDF11 and injected more than you intended to.
Edited by dlewis1453, 03 September 2019 - 08:25 PM.