DETAILS
A COMPLETE GUIDE TO ACE-031
How ACE-031 Works
ACE-031 operates through myostatin inhibition - removing natural genetic limits on muscle growth.
The Myostatin System:
Myostatin (GDF-8):
- Naturally occurring protein that inhibits muscle growth
- Ensures muscles don't grow excessively (evolutionary safeguard)
- Binds to activin receptors on muscle cells
- Signals: "STOP growing"
Why myostatin exists:
- Prevents resource depletion (muscle is metabolically expensive)
- Maintains functional balance
- Evolutionary advantage for survival (not aesthetics)
Genetic myostatin mutations:
- Rare mutations causing myostatin deficiency
- Results: Extreme muscularity from birth
- Belgian Blue cattle, "bully" whippet dogs, rare human cases
- Demonstrates what's possible without myostatin
ACE-031's Mechanism:
ActRIIB Receptor Fusion:
- ACE-031 is a "decoy receptor"
- Soluble version of the activin receptor
- Circulates in bloodstream
- Binds myostatin before it reaches muscle cells
The blocking cascade:
- ACE-031 injected → enters circulation
- Myostatin released naturally → binds to ACE-031 instead of muscle receptors
- Muscle cells never receive "stop growing" signal
- Muscles grow larger than normally possible
Not just myostatin:
ACE-031 also binds other TGF-beta family members:
- Activin A and B
- GDF-11
- Other growth-limiting factors
- Broader muscle growth promotion
The Result:
Muscle Hypertrophy:
- Rapid increase in muscle fiber size
- Enhanced protein synthesis
- Increased satellite cell activation
- More muscle growth per unit of training
Clinical observations:
- 3.5kg lean mass gain in 4 weeks (no training intervention)
- Strength increases reported
- Muscle fullness and size dramatic
- Effects visible within 2-3 weeks
Systemic vs. Localized:
ACE-031 works systemically (affects all muscles), unlike site-injection compounds. All muscle groups respond.
Research Dosing Protocols
Clinical Trial Dosing (Reference):
Phase 2 trial used:
- 1mg/kg, 2mg/kg, or 3mg/kg
- Single injection or multiple doses over weeks
- For 70kg (154lb) woman: 70-210mg per dose
Research peptide context:
These doses are NOT practical for research use (prohibitively expensive at pharmaceutical trial amounts). Research community uses significantly lower doses.
Practical Research Dosing:
Conservative Protocol:
- 100-200mcg per injection
- Once weekly or bi-weekly
- 4-8 week cycle
- Assess response before increasing
Moderate Protocol (More Common):
- 200-400mcg per injection
- Once weekly
- 6-8 week cycle
- Monitor for side effects
Higher Protocol:
- 400-600mcg per injection
- Bi-weekly (every 14 days)
- 4-6 week cycle
- Maximum practical research dose
Important Notes:
⚠️ ACE-031 is extremely expensive - 1mg vials don't last long at effective doses
⚠️ Lower doses than clinical trials - research use operates at fraction of pharmaceutical doses
⚠️ Individual response varies enormously - some respond strongly to low doses
⚠️ Not extensively studied at these doses - research territory
Frequency:
Weekly:
- Maintains more stable levels
- Consistent muscle-building signal
- More common approach
Bi-weekly:
- ACE-031 has ~2 week half-life
- Allows higher individual doses
- Reduces injection frequency
- Cost consideration
Cycle Length:
4-6 Weeks (Conservative):
- Assess response
- Minimize side effect risk
- See significant results
- First cycle recommendation
6-8 Weeks (Standard):
- Maximum muscle gain
- Well-tolerated in trials
- Diminishing returns beyond this
Off-Cycle:
- Minimum 4-8 weeks between cycles
- Allows assessment of maintained gains
- Muscle gained typically retained (real tissue)
- Monitor for any lingering side effects
Administration:
Subcutaneous Injection:
- Abdomen, thigh, upper arm
- Systemic effect (site doesn't matter)
- Rotate injection sites
Reconstitution:
Mix 1mg with 1ml bacteriostatic water.
For 1mg in 1ml: each 0.1ml = 100mcg
- For 100mcg dose: 0.1ml (10 units)
- For 200mcg dose: 0.2ml (20 units)
- For 400mcg dose: 0.4ml (40 units)
Vials Needed:
- At 200mcg weekly: 1mg vial = 5 weeks
- At 400mcg weekly: 1mg vial = 2.5 weeks
For 6-week cycle at 200mcg weekly: 2 vials minimum. ACE-031 is one of the most expensive peptides.
Side Effects & Management
Common Side Effects (from Clinical Trials):
Facial Flushing/Telangiectasia:
- Small dilated blood vessels on face
- Visible redness or "spider veins"
- Occurred in significant percentage of trial participants
- This was primary reason trials halted (cosmetic concern)
- May be temporary or persistent
- Monitor carefully
Epistaxis (Nosebleeds):
- Increased nosebleed frequency
- Related to vascular effects
- Usually mild
- More common at higher doses
Mild Headaches:
- Reported in some participants
- Usually transient
- Hydration helps
Less Common:
Gingival Bleeding:
- Gum bleeding
- Related to vascular effects
- Monitor dental health
Elevated Liver Enzymes:
- Mild elevations observed in some
- Monitor with bloodwork if using long-term
- Usually reversible
Potential Theoretical Concerns:
Cardiovascular:
- ACE-031 affects vascular smooth muscle
- Theoretical impact on blood vessels
- Monitor blood pressure
- Long-term effects unknown
Fertility/Reproductive:
- Activin plays role in reproductive function
- Effects on fertility unknown
- Not studied in this context
- Avoid if trying to conceive
Stacking & Combinations
ACE-031 + IGF-1 LR3:
- Myostatin inhibition + direct growth factor
- Synergistic muscle growth
- Maximum hypertrophy potential
- Advanced stack for serious athletes
ACE-031 + High-Quality Training Program:
- NOT optional - essential
- Progressive overload critical
- Hypertrophy-focused programming
- ACE-031 amplifies training stimulus
ACE-031 + Adequate Nutrition:
- Protein 1.5g per lb bodyweight
- Caloric surplus
- Recovery nutrition
- Supplements: creatine, BCAAs
ACE-031 + BPC-157/TB-500:
- Muscle growth + injury prevention
- Protects connective tissue
- Enhanced recovery
- Good "insurance policy"
What NOT to Stack:
- Multiple myostatin inhibitors (redundant)
- Anabolic steroids (unless very experienced and accepting risks)
- Assess ACE-031 alone first cycle
Who This Is/Isn't For
ACE-031 is appropriate if you:
- Have trained consistently 3+ years
- Maximized natural muscle-building
- Want to push beyond genetic limits
- Are serious physique competitor or athlete
- Can afford expensive peptide ($200-400+ per cycle)
- Have training and nutrition dialed in perfectly
- Understand this is cutting-edge research territory
- Are comfortable with limited human data
- Accept potential cosmetic side effects (flushing, telangiectasia)
- Want muscle growth without androgenic effects
NOT recommended for:
- Beginners (less than 2 years serious training)
- Anyone not maximizing training/nutrition already
- Those expecting magic without work
- Casual fitness enthusiasts
- Budget-conscious (very expensive)
- Risk-averse individuals (limited safety data)
- Anyone trying to conceive, pregnant, breastfeeding
- Those with cardiovascular concerns
- Anyone unwilling to monitor for side effects
PRODUCT CERTIFICATES
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How does ACE-031 differ from steroids for muscle building?
Completely different mechanism. Steroids work through androgen receptors (hormonal pathway). ACE-031 blocks myostatin (removes genetic growth limits). For women, ACE-031 has massive advantage: NO androgenic side effects (no voice deepening, body hair, virilization). Much safer for female muscle development.
How much muscle will I gain?
Clinical trials: 3.5kg (7.7lbs) lean mass in 4 weeks average. Research use at lower doses: expect 4-8 lbs lean muscle over 6-8 weeks with proper training/nutrition. Individual variation enormous. Training and nutrition quality determine results.
Do I need to train hard or can I gain muscle without exercise?
Clinical trials showed muscle gain WITHOUT training intervention. However, results dramatically amplified with training. ACE-031 creates growth POTENTIAL - training realizes that potential. Don't waste expensive peptide on poor training.
Will gains disappear when I stop?
No - muscle gained is real tissue, not water or temporary effect. Most gains retained (80-90%) post-cycle. Unlike steroids where much is lost, ACE-031 muscle is permanent if maintained with training. Myostatin returns to normal but muscle remains.
What are the side effects I should worry about?
Primary concern: Facial flushing and telangiectasia (visible small blood vessels on face). This caused trial halt - cosmetic issue, not dangerous. Also possible: nosebleeds, mild headaches. Monitor blood pressure. Long-term effects unknown - limited data.
Is ACE-031 safe for women?
Theoretically safer than steroids (no androgenic effects). However, limited data exists. Clinical trials included women safely. Main concerns: vascular effects (flushing, telangiectasia), unknown fertility impacts. NOT for pregnant/breastfeeding women. Research territory - assess your own risk tolerance.
How expensive is ACE-031?
Very expensive - one of the costliest peptides. 1mg vial = $150-300 typically. At 200mcg weekly for 6 weeks, need 2+ vials ($300-600). Much more expensive than most peptides. Budget accordingly.
Can I stack ACE-031 with IGF-1 LR3 or other peptides?
Yes - ACE-031 + IGF-1 LR3 is popular advanced stack (myostatin inhibition + direct growth factor). Synergistic muscle growth. Also stacks well with BPC-157/TB-500 for injury prevention. Assess ACE-031 alone first cycle before stacking.
How long should I cycle ACE-031?
4-8 weeks typical. Clinical trials used single dose or few weeks. Diminishing returns beyond 8 weeks. Take 4-8 weeks off between cycles. Muscle gained is retained, can repeat cycles as desired.
What nutrition do I need on ACE-031?
HIGH protein critical: 1.5g per lb bodyweight minimum. Example: 140lb woman = 210g protein daily. Caloric surplus helpful (200-500 above maintenance). Adequate carbs for training fuel. Without proper nutrition, results mediocre despite myostatin inhibition.
Why were clinical trials stopped if it works so well?
NOT safety concerns - cosmetic issues. Facial flushing and telangiectasia deemed unacceptable for long-term use in muscular dystrophy patients. For short-term research or physique purposes, risk-benefit different. Company halted development, not because dangerous but because cosmetic sides problematic for target market.
Will ACE-031 help me lose fat?
No - purely muscle-building compound. May improve body composition through muscle gain (more muscle = higher metabolic rate) but not direct fat loss mechanism. For fat loss, use dedicated compounds (GLP-1s, AOD-9604). ACE-031 for growth phases.
Can I use ACE-031 while trying to conceive, pregnant, or breastfeeding?
Absolutely not. Activin (which ACE-031 blocks) plays role in reproductive function. Effects on fertility and fetal development unknown. Do not use if trying to conceive, pregnant, or breastfeeding. No safety data exists.
⚠️ Important Legal & Safety Information
Regulatory Status:
This product is sold for research purposes. ACE-031 was in clinical development but trials were discontinued (due to cosmetic side effects, not safety). It is not approved by TGA (Australia) or FDA (USA). It is a research compound. By purchasing, you acknowledge this product is intended for research use.
Clinical Development Context:
ACE-031 completed Phase 2 trials showing significant muscle mass increases. Development halted due to facial flushing and telangiectasia (cosmetic concerns for long-term muscular dystrophy treatment), NOT serious safety issues. However, long-term safety data in healthy populations is limited.
Medical Disclaimer:
ACE-031 is a powerful myostatin inhibitor with limited human data. Consultation with healthcare provider recommended, particularly if you have cardiovascular conditions, bleeding disorders, or other medical concerns. This is research territory with inherent unknowns.
Known Risks:
Facial flushing, telangiectasia (visible facial blood vessels), nosebleeds, potential vascular effects. Long-term cardiovascular effects unknown. Effects on fertility/reproduction unknown.
Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning pregnancy should not use ACE-031.
Must be 18+ to purchase. Users assume all responsibility for handling and use.
Appropriate Use:
ACE-031 is used in research settings for studying myostatin inhibition, muscle hypertrophy mechanisms, and potential applications in muscle-wasting conditions. Requires proper training stimulus and nutrition for optimal results.
SHIPPING AND RETURNS
Shipping: Australia Post Express. Orders fulfilled within 24 hours of payment confirmation. Delivery: 2-5 business days Australia-wide. Tracking provided.
Returns: Due to the temperature-sensitive nature of research peptides, we cannot accept returns once shipped. We offer replacements for damaged, incorrect, or lost parcels. Please contact us within 48 hours of delivery for any issues.