High 5 Most secure SARMs (and Ones to Keep away from)


Dr George TouliatosDisclaimer: SARMs are solely for use for analysis functions, as they’re non-FDA accredited compounds and thus might trigger opposed results. If in case you have any questions or issues, Dr. Touliatos is at the moment out there for consultations.


SARMs (selective androgen receptor modulators) have change into very fashionable in bodybuilding circles, because of them being perceived as a secure various to anabolic steroids.

Thus, similar to with steroids, there are secure and riskier SARMs you may take. Learn under to search out out which SARMs current the least danger based mostly on scientific research and our exams.

Are SARMs Secure?

Firstly, we aren’t stating that SARMs are 100% secure and risk-free, particularly as there may be restricted scientific analysis out there relating to their results.

We’ve got noticed notable fluctuations in ALT/AST ranges, blood lipids and serum testosterone ranges (amongst different signs) in our sufferers who’ve utilized SARMs.

Thus, though some individuals might make a case for SARMs being safer than anabolic steroids, it’s naïve to count on no unintended effects from them.

Most secure SARMs

These are the 5 mildest SARMs in the marketplace.

  1. Ostarine
  2. Andarine
  3. Stenabolic
  4. Cardarine
  5. Ibutamoren

Word: The final 3 compounds on this listing will not be technically SARMs, however are included because of them usually being known as SARMs by the bodybuilding group. 

1. Ostarine (MK-2866)

Ostarine (MK-2866) is usually the primary SARM inexperienced persons take, because of its gentle nature and average efficiency. We regularly see novices construct as much as 10lbs of lean muscle, while decreasing subcutaneous fats shops and considerably growing power on Ostarine.

The drawbacks to Ostarine is that it’s going to elevate liver enzyme values, signifying some hepatic stress. These rapidly drop again to regular ranges upon cycle cessation; nonetheless, Ostarine could also be unsuitable for somebody with earlier liver harm or irritation.

Ostarine can even have an effect on HDL/LDL ldl cholesterol, inflicting a brief and modest enhance in blood strain.

Our SHBG exams present Ostarine to be suppressive, nonetheless, not all customers will expertise low testosterone signs. This can be because of Ostarine decreasing complete testosterone however not free testosterone. Thus, a PCT is optionally available, with some desirous to right their complete testosterone rating promptly, while others let their HPTA get well naturally.

Ostarine Dosage

The next dosages are tailor-made for inexperienced persons. 

  • Males: 15mg/day for 8 weeks
  • Girls: 10mg/day for 8 weeks

Word: In our expertise, girls achieve notably extra muscle hypertrophy than males on Ostarine, regardless of taking a decrease dose. Greater dosages than this can enhance the danger of unintended effects.

2. Andarine (S4)

Andarine, like Ostarine, is taken into account a light SARM because of it posing much less cardiac, hepatic and HPTA-related unintended effects.

We’ve got discovered Andarine to be significantly helpful for enhancing vascularity and pumps. The power positive factors on Andarine are additionally important, with customers constructing comparable quantities of hypertrophy to Ostarine (5-10lbs).

One distinctive facet impact related to Andarine is imaginative and prescient points. We’ve got had studies of Andarine inflicting yellow/inexperienced rings to seem when wanting within the path of a light-weight supply. Moreover, when customers transition from a darkish setting to a light-weight setting, it may take longer for the eyes to regulate on Andarine. It’s unclear precisely why this happens extra usually with Andarine than different SARMs. Andarine having a better binding affinity to ocular receptors could also be a believable clarification.

Anecdotally, now we have discovered this facet impact to be momentary, with regular imaginative and prescient restoring rapidly upon cycle cessation. Thus, Andarine ranks excessive on our most secure SARMs listing, with it solely having gentle opposed results.

Andarine Dosage

  • Males: 25-50mg/day for 8 weeks
  • Girls: 12.5-25mg/day for 8 weeks

Word: Imaginative and prescient points usually tend to happen on increased dosages.

3. Stenabolic (SR9009)

Stenabolic is sometimes called a SARM, however is as an alternative a Rev-ErbA agonist.

Stenabolic has potent fats burning properties, because of it inhibiting glucose expression, growing mitochondria, decreasing blood sugar ranges and growing basal metabolic fee.

In our expertise, even sedentary people can burn notable quantities of fats from Stenabolic, because of it working at a hormonal degree. Nevertheless, combining it with weight coaching or/and cardio will maximize fats loss.

We’ve got additionally seen customers bear important enhancements in athletic efficiency on Stenabolic, which can be attributed to the rise in mitochondria. Customers shouldn’t count on to construct notable quantities of muscle on Stenabolic, because it ought to as an alternative be seen as a fats burning agent.

Anecdotally, now we have not discovered Stenabolic to supply any notable unintended effects. Thus, regardless of being a analysis chemical, it does seem like  secure, at the very least within the short-term.

Stenabolic doesn’t suppress the HPTA, and even has optimistic results on ldl cholesterol and liver values (1), thus it doesn’t essentially must be cycled like a SARM. Nevertheless, it could nonetheless be advisable to take it in 4-8 week cycles till its long-term results are extra completely established.

Stenabolic Dosage

  • Males: 50mg day for 4-8 weeks.
  • Girls: 30mg day for 4-8 weeks.

4. Cardarine (GW501516)

Cardarine (GW501516) is a PPARD (Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor Delta) receptor agonist, that acts as a potent fats burner.

Our sufferers have additionally skilled huge enhancements in muscle endurance when on Cardarine, because of PPARδ regulating muscle metabolism and the repogramming of muscle fibres (2).

Cardarine lowers ldl cholesterol and improves insulin resistance. In analysis, we discover Cardarine has the potential to be hepatotoxic in mice (3), though most people anecdotally don’t expertise such points.

The largest concern for customers is the carcinogenic danger with Cardarine with it inflicting tumors in mice. Nevertheless, it’s price noting that the rodents had been taking very excessive dosages (5mg/kg per day) repeatedly for two years; whereas Cardarine is usually cycled at a fraction of that dosage (0.3mg/kg per day). Extra analysis is required for us to raised perceive Cardarine’s reference to most cancers, nonetheless, many customers are taking Cardarine with none proliferation or apparent unintended effects.

Cardarine Dosage

  • Males: 10-20mg/day for 8 weeks
  • Girls: 7.5-15mg/day for 8 weeks

5. Ibutamoren (MK-677)

Ibutamoren (MK-677) is a progress hormone secretagogue that’s usually included within the ‘SARM’ household which builds muscle and burns subcutaneous fats.

Some individuals within the bodybuilding group imagine that Ibutamoren doesn’t have an effect on endogenous testosterone and is free from unintended effects. Nevertheless, our exams present that Ibutamoren may cause HPTA problems in lots of customers.

Ibutamoren makes this listing as a result of it is not uncommon for customers to note no unintended effects from a cycle, while constructing 7lbs of muscle and decreasing their physique fats share by a couple of factors.

Nevertheless, now we have seen a couple of people expertise gentle types of gynecomastia, because of raised prolactin ranges. Ibutamoren can even spike blood sugar ranges, inflicting a rise in blood strain and visceral fats storage. Thus, Ibutamoren will burn subcutaneous fats shops, however enhance visceral fats mass.

Apparently, our SHBG exams present that Ibutamoren suppresses testosterone ranges. This seems to be an oblique impact (associated to prolactin), as Ibutamoren doesn’t immediately have an effect on androgen ranges. Ibutamoren might also trigger water retention, with GH-stimulating compounds growing sodium retention (4).

Ibutamoren Dosage

  • Males: 25mg/day for 16 weeks
  • Girls: 15mg/day for 16 weeks

Harshest SARMs

YK-11 is technically a myostatin inhibitor, relatively than a SARM. We’ve got seen YK-11 trigger harsh unintended effects, that may be likened to anabolic steroids, relatively than SARMs. Our sufferers have skilled testosterone suppression, raised liver enzymes, elevated ldl cholesterol, pimples and joint ache from YK-11.

S23 could also be an distinctive SARM for muscle power and pumps, however it additionally poses harsh unintended effects, most notably being extreme testosterone suppression.

RAD 150 is a stronger and harsher SARM than its predecessor, RAD 140. In distinction, we class RAD 140 and LGD 4033 as average SARMs with regard to unintended effects. These are two well-liked SARMs that customers will make the most of after their first cycle (more likely to be Ostarine).

Most secure SARM Stacks

The most secure SARM combos are those who embody 1 SARM with Cardarine or Stenabolic. This fashion you may improve outcomes by combining a SARM with one other compound that doesn’t exacerbate testosterone ranges, ldl cholesterol or liver values.

Combining two or three SARMs collectively will trigger harsher unintended effects to the HPTA, ALT/AST enzymes and LDL/HDL ldl cholesterol — versus operating only one SARM.

Among the most secure SARM stacks we see are (so as of mildest to strongest):

  • Stenabolic/Cardarine (slicing)
  • Ostarine/Andarine (lean bulk)
  • RAD 140/Ostarine (bulking)

Are SARM Options Secure?

sarms alternatives

SARM options intention to copy the optimistic results of SARMs with pure and FDA-approved elements. These dietary supplements are very secure, posing no unintended effects to males or girls. Nevertheless, their effectiveness has not but been established, and based mostly on their ingredient profile, customers’ outcomes are more likely to be significantly much less (in comparison with actual SARMs).

Co Authors :

References

(1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7529425/

(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4421799/

(3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3361396/

(4) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9701701/