The Complete Guide to SARMs: Research, Results, and Scientific Studies
There's been a lot of talk about SARMs lately, and I want to take a moment to examine what the research shows. Many fitness experts are beginning to analyze these supplements, and many studies are being done that need to be examined further.
First off however, what are SARMs? Let us take a moment to explore the following topics, that may be of use to anyone trying to build muscle:
- What are SARMs?
- What are the best SARMs?
- What does the research say about SARMs?
- Ostarine, Ligandrol, and RAD 140
- The Legality of SARMs
So, with this in mind, let me present a comprehensive, research-backed paper, which shows both the good sides and the bad sides of SARMs.
What Are SARMs?
SARMs, put simply, are "Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators." This means that they selectively bind to androgen receptors in your body, which are associated with muscle growth. In addition to this, they also avoid certain androgen receptors which are known for causing side effects when binded to.
Masculine Development's Guide to SARMs reports:
SARMs, or selective androgen receptor modulators, have been around for a lot longer than most people realize. The first wave of the best SARMs was introduced in the 1940’s by pharmaceutical companies, and was marketed as a way to help treat cancer, osteoporosis, and other diseases. These were known as “steroidal SARMs.”
It wasn’t long before researchers discovered that these “steroidal SARMs” had a lot of side effects. Patients would often see huge gains in muscle, of up to 30 pounds within a matter of months. Needless to say, doctors very quickly realized that there were a number of negative side effects as well.
Steroids, and steroidal SARMs, often cause side effects such as gynecomastia, low libido, damaged to the liver, and heart disease. It was clear that doctors couldn’t continue prescribing these steroidal SARMs in their current form, so they were put on the shelf. Not much would be spoken of steroidal SARMs for decades.
Fast forward some 50 years however, and researchers in the 1990’s began to create “non-steroidal SARMs,” which are what we now simply call “SARMs.” Due to the protein-based chemical structure of these wonder drugs, they’re able to give us many of the benefits of steroids, with almost no side effects.
It is for this reason, that SARMs have very few side effects. Whereas steroids bind to many androgen receptors, SARMs such as Ostarine, Cardarine, Ligandrol, and RAD 140, only bind to specific androgen receptors which lead to muscle growth.
But, what does the research say?
Research on SARMs Benefits
Much of the research supports the idea that SARMs are incredible for muscle growth, and a multitude of other factors.
One study, for example, conducted by researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine, found that SARMs present an incredible opportunity for users to gain massive amounts of muscle, lose tons of fat, and experience very few side effects in the process:
“The last decade has witnessed unprecedented discovery effort to develop selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) that improve physical function and bone health without adversely affecting the prostate and cardiovascular outcomes. SARMs hold promise as a new class of function promoting anabolic therapies for a number of clinical indications, including functional limitations associated with aging and chronic disease, frailty, cancer cachexia, and osteoporosis.“
Another study conducted by researchers in China, found that a SARM known as Cardarine can drastically increase running endurance:
GW501516 increased the running distance of sedentary and trained KM mice on endurance tolerance tests.
To examine whether GW501516 can enhance the running endurance capacity of mice, we treated age-matched wild-type KM cohorts with either vehicle or GW501516 for 3 weeks. Trained mice increased their exhaustive running distance by 744.4 m (31.2%) after 3 weeks of GW501516 treatment (TG versus TN) (Fig. 1a). GW501516 treatment for 3 weeks in sedentary KM mice also significantly enhanced running distance by 750.3 m (68.6%) compared to untrained control mice (p < 0.01 for NG versus NN).Similarly, even GW501516 treatment alone (NG group) for only 1 week improved the running distance by 671.8 m (48.6%) compared to the vehicle control group (NN group) (Supplementary Fig. S1a online).
Many other studies have been conducted, which show the efficacy and effectiveness of SARMs. But let us explore some specific SARMs, to see how well they operate in the body, and what the further research and scientific studies can show us.
Best SARMs (Science-Based Approach)
If you're wondering what the best SARMs are, you're not alone. Many users wonder about the effectiveness of SARMs, and which the best ones will be for them.
In my experience, and according to the data, these are the best SARMs:
- Ostarine (MK-2866)
- Ligandrol (LGD-4033)
- Testolone (RAD 140)
So, with this in mind, let us explore further.
Ostarine
Ostarine, otherwise known as MK-2866, is a popular SARM which has had an enormous amount of research conducted on it. According to this guide to Ostarine:
Ostarine was originally developed by Merck & Company, one of the largest pharmaceutical corporations in existence, but it was quickly acquired by a smaller, more specialized company known as GTX, Incorporated. These guys quickly began developing and researching ostarine, until it eventually became what we now know it as.
After further development, numerous studies were done to prove why Ostarine is by far one of the best SARMs. Here is one for example, which was a Phase II, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical study, which found the following:
RESULTS: GTx-024 treatment resulted in dose-dependent increases in total lean body mass that were statistically significant (P < 0.001, 3 mg vs. placebo) and clinically meaningful. There were also significant improvements in physical function (P = 0.013, 3 mg vs. placebo) and insulin resistance (P = 0.013, 3 mg vs. placebo). The incidence of adverse events was similar between treatment groups.
CONCLUSION: GTx-024 showed a dose-dependent improvement in total lean body mass and physical function and was well tolerated. GTx-024 may be useful in the prevention and/or treatment of muscle wasting associated with cancer and other chronic diseases.
Furthermore, many of the anecdotal evidence is incredible. Take a look at these SARMs before and after pictures, which show the results of Ostarine, Cardarine, and Ligandrol.
You can see that the user gained 18 pounds of muscle and lost 7 pounds of fat, in just 90 days, which is nothing short of a scientific revolution.
Ligandrol
Ligandrol, otherwise known as LGD-4033, is another incredible SARM, which is giving users incredible results. According to another guide written on Ligandrol:
LGD-4033 was initially discovered by Ligand Pharmaceuticals, hence the name “Ligandrol.” Researchers believed it could help medical patients with muscle-wasting diseases, such as cancer and HIV, but it was very quickly shown to have other effects such as rapid muscle growth and shredding fat in record time (like an ECA Stack)
Ligandrol is now undergoing testing by Viking Therapeutics, and is being used by numerous bodybuilders and amateur lifters all across the globe. Its current legal status makes it available to sell online, classified as a “research chemical.” The FDA is attempting to change this, though.
According to studies, Ligandrol has some of the following benefits:
- More Muscle Mass
- Very Low Liver Toxicity
- Higher Bone Density
- Faster Recovery
- Rapid Fat Loss
The anecdotal evidence appears to support this, as well. More research must be conducted however, to confirm the safety of this supplement.
RAD 140
Testolone, otherwise known as RAD 140, is another SARM which is sweeping the market by storm. According to the anabolic/androgenic ratio theory, a SARM such as RAD 140 is not only 90% as effective as pure testosterone, but only has 1% of the negative side effects traditionally associated with steroids.
According to this guide to RAD 140, Testolone is extremely effective:
RAD 140, which is otherwise known as “Testolone,” is by far the most powerful SARM in existence. Coming in at a whopping androgenic ratio of 90:1, it’s literally 90% as effective as injecting yourself with pure testosterone… with only 1% of the side effects.
In fact, using just a small dosage of RAD 140, you can quite literally transform your physique in just a matter of 2-3 months. I’ve posted my RAD 140 results below for you to see, so you can decide for yourself.
When I started my RAD 140 cycle, I started breaking my personal records within just the first week or two. I also put on a shit ton of muscle (21 pounds in 2 months).
In addition to this, I also lost 12 pounds of fat—and I was already pretty skinny. I didn’t experience any side effects either, which was incredible.
In short, taking RAD 140 has the potential to completely transform your body.
In addition to this, researchers at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, found that RAD 140 was far safer than testosterone replacement therapy:
"In this regard, SARMs like RAD140 can be better alternatives to T because they are only partial agonists or antagonists to androgenic regulation of prostate while still having androgenic effects on other tissues such as muscle and brain. In addition, higher doses of SARMs as compared with T might still promote neuron viability and not induce apoptosis, making them a suitable therapeutic strategy against age-related disorders such as AD.”
It appears that RAD 140 is then one of the best SARMs out there, and can be used for a wide variety of purposes. Let us explore further, however.
The Legality of SARMs (Banned By The IOC)
Are SARMs legal? Well, the short answer is yes. They are currently in a legal gray zone, being sold as "research chemicals" however many users are choosing to consume them.
They are extremely effective however, which is why organizations such as the IOC (International Olympic Committee) have banned them from being used in competitions.
SARMs are highly effective at building muscle, increasing endurance, and allowing users to melt off fat very rapidly, so it makes sense that they are outlawed from competitions.
Of course, this will still not stop everyone from using them. Steroids are outlawed in the olympics, and yet many users still use them.
SARMs: The Final Conclusion
All in all, SARMs present an unprecedented opportunity for users to build muscle, lose fat, and get in very good shape, in very little time.
Much of the preliminary research shows that SARMs are safe, and have incredible benefits. This being said however, more research must be conducted.
Many users recommend using a PCT, or "Post Cycle Therapy," after they get off SARMs, to get your hormones back on track. Whatever you decide to do however, realize that SARMs are still relatively new, and the long term effects have not been documented.
Be sure to consult with your healthcare professional before you decide to get on SARMs, and if you do decide to get on your own Ostarine cycle, be sure to ask your doctor first.
