SARMs or selective Androgen Receptor Modulators have been a huge thing in the world of fitness and bodybuilding, as a possible alternative to anabolic steroids for muscle growth. SARMs, also known for their promise to help people gain muscle, lose fat, and get better at sports, have become a fitness lover’s go-to. But as their popularity increases, questions surrounding safety, long term side effects, and efficacy are regularly asked.
In this blog, I hope to explore the science of SARMs, their benefits for building muscle, and their safety concerns. At the end of this article, you should understand whether SARMs are a viable way to add to your muscle while being safe or if risking too much.
Understanding SARMs: The Basics
SARMs are a class of compounds designed to act as anabolic steroids but with more selectivity. Although anabolic steroids affect tissues throughout the body, SARMs are designed to work with androgen receptors only in muscle and bone. The selective targeting, which makes SARMs attractive to those who want to increase muscle growth without the side effects that usually come with steroids, like liver damage, hair loss or prostate problems.
The story of SARMs begins in the 1990s when researchers tried to develop drugs that would mimic the muscle building effects of testosterone, but without the side effects. SARMs attach to androgen receptors in muscle and bone and stimulate growth and repair. While SARMs are not as bad as steroids, they don’t bind to androgen receptors in other tissues, such as liver or skin, so less adverse effects are said to be associated with them.
The Science of Muscle Growth
To understand how SARM work you first need to understand how muscle grows at the cellular level. When muscle fibers are stressed through weightlifting, for example, resulting in tiny tears, muscle growth, or hypertrophy, occurs. Muscle tears are repaired by adding new muscle proteins to the body, which causes muscle growth. However, the regulation of this process is dependent on hormonal signals from androgen receptors.
The muscle and bone cells have androgen receptors which are proteins and are important in the development of muscle. These receptors, when androgens such as testosterone bind, trigger a cascade of cellular events that promote muscle protein synthesis and muscle growth.
SARMs and Muscle Growth: What Does the Research Say?
Since SARM have been studied in several ways to determine how well they work in promoting muscle growth and fat loss, there are a lot of reports. SARM have shown promise in clinical trials, and research has suggested that they can help increase lean muscle mass, improve bone density, and aid in fat loss. For instance, in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, a study found that a particular SARM, RAD140, increased lean muscle mass and strength in both animals and humans.
In addition, SARM have been demonstrated to aid in the preservation of muscle mass during caloric deficit, making them potentially useful for those interested in preserving muscle while shedding fat. This makes SARMs tempting to bodybuilders and athletes wanting to enhance their body composition by increasing muscle mass and reducing fat.
But the research is just in its infancy, with pros and cons highlighted in scientific literature. Although the potential benefits are clear, there are still concerns about the long term safety and efficacy of SARMs.
While some users report positive effects, such as increased strength and muscle gains, others have noted a lack of consistent results.
Are SARMs Safe for Long-Term Use?
SARM are one of the most controversial supplements around, and one of the biggest concerns is safety, especially when used for long. Some short term studies have found positive effects with very mild side effects, however the long term effects on health from SARM’s are unknown. One concern with SARMs is that the human body can respond in slightly different ways to the compounds over time, and there’s potential for hormonal imbalances or organ damage to occur long term.
Generally, SARMs have been considered safe when used as directed in short term use. But few studies look at long term effects, and lack of study raises questions about the safety of chronic use. While SARMs are not regulated by the FDA, some researchers worry that long term use of SARMs could cause irreversible side effects including testosterone suppression, liver damage and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has also banned SARMs as they are of concern for the misuse in sports, making their legal status even more complicated.
Potential Risks and Side Effects of SARMs
Just like any other supplement influencing the system, the body’s hormonal system, SARMs have potential risks. The most commonly reported side effects include hormonal imbalances, liver toxicity and changes in lipid profiles (cholesterol). The side effects of the SARM vary depending on what type of SARM it is. An example of this is that some SARM have more severe suppression of natural testosterone production, resulting in lower libido, fatigue and symptoms of low testosterone.
Using SARMs responsibly, under the care of a healthcare professional, can help to minimize the risks involved. While SARMs are generally considered safer than anabolic steroids, they are not risk free and using them without adequate post cycle therapy (PCT) to aid in natural hormone production can lead to great risk to your health.
Should You Use SARMs for Muscle Growth?
There is no reason to take the decision to use SARM for muscle growth lightly. SARMs have some advantages — targeted muscle growth and fat loss — but they have risks to be carefully weighed. If you’re looking to grow muscle by purchasing SARMs are not your only option, as safe and effective legal supplements like creatine, protein, and branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) are also available.
If you have already hit a plateau in your muscle building efforts and are considering all of your options, SARMs might be better for you. However, the best choice for most people is sticking to natural methods of muscle growth – proper diet, exercise and legal supplements.
SARM can also be used as stack with other compounds like Epithalon Peptide.
Conclusion
Finally, SARMs are a class of compounds with great potential for muscle growth and fat loss, but with major risks. SARMs are based on science, they selectively activate androgen receptors in the muscle and bones, resulting in muscle gains and fat loss without anabolic steroids’ side effects. While the long term safety of SARMs is unclear, and they should be used with caution.
