How does the L-Dopa in IGF-2 help with testosterone production and growth hormone secretion?
The variety of mucuna pruriens used in IGF-2 is standardized to 25% L-Dopa, delivering large amounts of this active ingredient per capsule. Two important mechanisms of action of L-Dopa is increased growth hormone (GH) release, and increased testosterone secretion through prolactin inhibition. Prolactin is a hormone that regulates testosterone production, and too much of it can hinder testosterone production. By inhibiting prolactin, IGF-2 increases endogenous testosterone levels dramatically. L-Dopa is a precursor to Dopamine, a potent GH and testosterone agonist, meaning that dopamine inhibits prolactin release and somatostatin secretion in the hypothalamus, which allows for a greater stimulatory effect of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and secretion of testosterone by the testes. GHRH signals the pituitary to release GH, which is produced by the pituitary gland. GH is an important anabolic hormone that stimulates skeletal muscle cells to grow and, in some cases, divide. Acti