Glossary and Lab Reference
Acronyms used throughout the guide and adult lab reference ranges.
Acronyms and glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 503A / 503B | FDA compounding pharmacy categories |
| AAS | Anabolic androgenic steroid (Testosterone, EQ, Tren) |
| ABCDE | Mole criteria: Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolution |
| AI | Aromatase inhibitor |
| AMPK | AMP-activated protein kinase |
| ASA | American Society of Anesthesiologists |
| AST / ALT | Liver enzymes |
| BAC | Bacteriostatic water (sterile water + 0.9% benzyl alcohol) |
| BDNF / NGF | Brain-derived / nerve growth factor |
| BMP / CMP | Basic / comprehensive metabolic panel |
| BRCA | Hereditary breast/ovarian cancer syndrome |
| BUN | Blood urea nitrogen |
| CBC | Complete blood count |
| Hct | Hematocrit (RBC %) |
| CD3/CD4/CD8/NK | Immune T-cell / NK panel |
| CIRS | Chronic inflammatory response syndrome |
| CKD | Chronic kidney disease |
| AKI | Acute kidney injury |
| COA | Certificate of analysis (purity/potency) |
| CYP3A4 | Cytochrome P450 3A4 |
| DAC | Drug Affinity Complex (albumin-binding; long-acting CJC-1295) |
| DOAC | Direct oral anticoagulant |
| DPP-4 | Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (degrades GLP-1) |
| eGFR | Estimated glomerular filtration rate |
| EOD | Every other day |
| FDA / EMA | US / European medicines regulators |
| GERD | Gastroesophageal reflux disease |
| GHRH | Growth hormone releasing hormone (CJC-1295, Tesamorelin) |
| GHRP | Growth hormone releasing peptide (Ipamorelin) |
| GHS-R | GH secretagogue (ghrelin) receptor, GHRP-2/6, Hexarelin |
| GIP | Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide |
| GLP-1 | Glucagon-like peptide-1 (Semaglutide) |
| GnRH | Gonadotropin-releasing hormone |
| GSH / GSSG | Reduced (active) / oxidized (spent) glutathione |
| gyno | Gynecomastia (male breast-tissue growth) |
| HbA1c | Glycated hemoglobin (3-mo glucose avg) |
| HPA axis | Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis |
| HPG axis | Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis |
| HPTA | Hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis (male HPG axis) |
| hsCRP | High-sensitivity C-reactive protein |
| IBD | Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's, UC) |
| ICH-GCP | Good clinical practice standard |
| IGF-1 | Insulin-like growth factor 1 |
| IGFBP | IGF binding protein |
| IM | Intramuscular |
| IV | Intravenous |
| ID | Intradermal |
| IU | International unit |
| LH / FSH | Luteinizing / follicle-stimulating hormone |
| Li-Fraumeni | Hereditary multi-cancer (TP53) syndrome |
| Lynch | Hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome |
| MAOI | Monoamine oxidase inhibitor |
| mcg / µg | Microgram (1/1000 of a milligram) |
| MEN 2 | Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 |
| MI | Myocardial infarction |
| MMA | Methylmalonic acid (B12 marker) |
| MTC | Medullary thyroid carcinoma |
| NAD+ | Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide |
| NMPA | China medical products administration |
| NNMT | Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase |
| NSAID | Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug |
| OHSS | Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome |
| PCT | Post-cycle therapy |
| PDE5 | Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor |
| PK / PD | Pharmacokinetics / pharmacodynamics |
| PSA | Prostate-specific antigen |
| RCT | Randomized controlled trial |
| SCFE | Slipped capital femoral epiphysis |
| SERM | Selective estrogen receptor modulator |
| SHBG | Sex hormone binding globulin |
| SSRI / SNRI | Serotonin / serotonin-norepi reuptake inhibitors |
| SubQ / SC | Subcutaneous (under the skin) |
| t½ | Half-life |
| Tmax | Time to peak plasma |
| T2DM | Type 2 diabetes mellitus |
| TMAO | Trimethylamine N-oxide |
| TNF-α | Tumor necrosis factor alpha |
| TRT / HRT | Testosterone / hormone replacement therapy |
| TSH / fT4 | Thyroid stimulating hormone / free thyroxine |
| U-100 | 100-unit/mL insulin syringe (1u = 0.01 mL) |
| ULN | Upper limit of normal |
| USPI / EPAR | US label / EU assessment report |
| USPSTF | US Preventive Services Task Force |
| VEGF | Vascular endothelial growth factor |
Monitoring schedule by class
| Class / examples | Baseline | Wks 4–8 | Wk 12 / End & chronic |
|---|---|---|---|
| A, GLP-1 / dual / triple agonists (Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, Retatrutide) | BMP/CMP, CBC, HbA1c, lipid panel, TSH, β-hCG (women) | BMP at every dose escalation; lipase if abdominal pain | HbA1c & lipids; repeat eGFR; HbA1c every 3 months, BMP every 6 months, eye exam yearly |
| B, GH secretagogues (CJC No DAC, Tesamorelin, Ipamorelin) | IGF-1, fasting glucose, HbA1c, lipids, cancer screening | Fasting glucose Wk 4–8 | IGF-1 every 3 months (target ULN for age); derm every 6–12 months |
| C, Melanocortin agonists (MT-1, MT-2, PT-141) | Dermatology mole map (photo), BP log | BP before each dose | Repeat course 2–3×/yr; no continuous monitoring |
| D, Khavinson short peptides (Epithalon, Pinealon) | CBC, CMP; tissue marker (salivary melatonin) | — | Subjective follow-up |
| E, Russian nootropics (Selank, Semax) | CBC, CMP | — | — |
| F, HPG axis (HCG, Kisspeptin) | Total+free T, LH, FSH, sensitive E2, SHBG, prolactin, CBC+Hct, lipids, PSA (men 40+), semen analysis | E2 + Hct Wk 4–6 | Hct every 3 months; E2 every 3 months; PSA per age; D-dimer if clotting concern |
| G, Lipotropic blends (Lipo-C, LC120/216/526, MIC, HHB, SHB, L-Carnitine) | B12, folate, MMA, homocysteine, TSH, liver enzymes, Hct | — | B12 + homocysteine every 3–6 months on chronic use |
| H, Recombinant proteins (HGH/Somatropin, IGF-1, IGF-1 LR3) | IGF-1, fasting glucose, HbA1c, TSH/fT4, AM cortisol, lipids, cancer screening | Fasting glucose Wk 4–8 | IGF-1 every 3 months (target ULN); HbA1c every 3 months; TSH/fT4 every 6 months |
| I, Anabolic androgenic steroids (Test Cyp/Enth, Equipoise, Trenbolone) | Total+free T, sensitive E2, CBC+Hct, full lipids, PSA (men), LFTs, BP; ECG if cardiac risk | Hct + E2 Wk 6 | Hct, lipids, E2 every 8–12 wks; PSA per age; LFTs as needed; plan PCT or stay-on |
Topical / aesthetic items (Matrixyl, SNAP-8, AHK-Cu, GHK-Cu cream) need no routine labs; Botox & Lemon Bottle are clinician-administered procedures. Experimental compounds (Adipotide, ACE-031, PNC-27, B7-33, PE-22-28) have no validated human monitoring; see each page’s cautions.