SARMs (selective androgen receptor modulators) have become very popular in bodybuilding circles due to being considered a safe alternative to anabolic steroids.
So, just like with steroids, there are safe and riskier SARMs that you can take. Read below to find out which SARMs pose the least risk, based on results from clinical studies and our tests.
Are SARMs safe?
First, we do not claim that SARMs are 100% safe or risk-free, especially since scientific research into their effects is limited.
During the studies, there were marked fluctuations in ALT/AST, blood lipids, and serum testosterone (among other symptoms) of our patients who used SARMs.
So, while some people may argue that SARMs are safer than anabolic steroids, it would be naive to expect them to have no side effects.
The safest SARMs
These are the five mildest SARMs on the market.
The last three compounds on this list are not technically SARMs but are included because they are often referred to as SARMs in the bodybuilding community.
1. Ostarine (MK-2866)
Ostarine (MK-2866) is often the first SARM that beginners take due to its mild nature and moderate potency. Beginners will gain up to 5kg of lean muscle, reduce body fat, and significantly increase strength by taking Ostarine.
The disadvantage of Ostarine is that it increases liver enzyme levels, which indicates some liver stress. These levels quickly return to normal after stopping use, but Ostarine may not be suitable for those who have previously had liver injury or inflammation.
Ostarine may also affect HDL and LDL cholesterol levels, causing a temporary and mild increase in blood pressure.
Tests for SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) show that Ostarine suppresses testosterone, however, not all users experience symptoms of low testosterone. This may be because Ostarine reduces total testosterone, but not free testosterone. Thus, PCT is an optional procedure: some want to quickly correct their total testosterone levels, while others want to allow their HPTA (hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis function) to recover naturally.
Ostarine Dosage
The following dosages are for beginners.
- Men: 15 mg/day for 8 weeks
- Women: 10 mg/day for 8 weeks
Note: In the experience of athletes, despite the lower dosage, women gain significantly more muscle hypertrophy than men taking Ostarine. Higher dosages increase the risk of side effects.
2. Andarine (S4)
Andarine, like Ostarine, is considered a mild SARM due to fewer heart, liver, and HPTA-related side effects.
Andarine is especially useful for strengthening blood vessels and muscles. Strength gains with Andarine are also significant, with users achieving hypertrophy comparable to Ostarine (2-5 kg).
One of the unique side effects associated with Andarine is vision problems. Andarine causes yellow or green rings to appear when looking in the direction of a light source. Additionally, when users move from a dark room to a light room, it may take longer for the eyes to adjust to Andarine. It is unclear why this happens more often with Andarine than with other SARMs. Andarine has a higher binding affinity for ocular receptors, which may be a plausible explanation.
This side effect is temporary and normal vision is quickly restored after stopping the drug. This puts Andarine high on our list of the safest SARMs, with only mild side effects.
Andarine dosage
- Men: 25-50 mg/day for 8 weeks
- Women: 12.5-25 mg/day for 8 weeks
Note: At higher dosages, vision problems are more likely to occur.
3. Stenabolic (SR9009)
Stenabolic is often classified as a SARM, but it is actually a Rev-ErbA agonist.
Stenabolic has potent fat-burning properties by inhibiting glucose expression, increasing mitochondrial number, lowering blood sugar levels, and increasing basal metabolic rate.
Even sedentary people can burn noticeable amounts of fat with Stenabolic as it works on a hormonal level. However, if you combine it with weight training and/or cardio, fat loss will be maximized.
After taking Stenabolic, users experienced significantly improved athletic performance, which may be due to an increase in the number of mitochondria. You should not expect a noticeable increase in muscle mass from Stenabolic, as it should be considered a fat-burning agent.
Stenabolic does not cause any noticeable side effects. So, even though the drug is a research chemical, it is safe, at least in the short term.
Stenabolic does not suppress HPTA and even has a positive effect on cholesterol levels and liver function, so it does not need to be cycled like a SARM. However, it may be advisable to take it in 4-8 week cycles until its long-term effects are more thoroughly established.
Stenabolic dosage
- Men: 50 mg daily for 4-8 weeks
- Women: 30 mg daily for 4-8 weeks
4. Cardarine (GW501516)
Cardarine (GW501516) is a PPARD (Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor Delta) receptor agonist that acts as a powerful fat burner.
Taking Cardarine, athletes also noted a significant increase in muscle endurance, which is due to the fact that PPARδ regulates muscle metabolism and muscle fiber reprogramming. Cardarine lowers cholesterol and improves insulin resistance.
Of greatest concern to users is the carcinogenic risk of Cardarine, which has been shown to cause tumors in mice. However, it is worth noting that rodents were given very high doses (5 mg/kg per day) continuously for 2 years, whereas cardarine is typically used cyclically at lower doses (0.3 mg/kg per day). More research is needed to better understand cardarine's association with cancer, but many users take cardarine without any symptoms or obvious side effects.
Cardarine dosage
- Men: 10-20 mg/day for 8 weeks
- Women: 7.5-15 mg/day for 8 weeks
5. Ibutamoren (MK-677)
Ibutamoren (MK-677) is a growth hormone secretagogue often included in the family of SARMs that builds muscle and burns subcutaneous fat.
Some people in the bodybuilding community believe that Ibutamoren does not affect endogenous testosterone and has no side effects. However, tests have shown that Ibutamoren may cause HPTA complications in many users.
Ibutamoren made the list because users typically don't notice any side effects from the cycle while still building 3 kg of muscle and dropping their body fat percentage by a few points.
However, some people experience a mild form of gynecomastia due to increased prolactin levels. Ibutamoren may also increase blood sugar levels, causing increased blood pressure and the deposition of visceral fat. Thus, ibutamoren burns subcutaneous fat reserves but increases visceral fat mass.
Interestingly, SHBG tests showed that Ibutamoren suppresses testosterone levels. This appears to be an indirect effect (related to prolactin), since Ibutamoren does not directly affect androgen levels. Ibutamoren may also cause water retention in the body because GH-stimulating compounds increase sodium retention.
Ibutamoren dosage
- Men: 25 mg/day for 16 weeks
- Women: 15 mg/day for 16 weeks
The most powerful SARMs
- YK-11
- S23
- RAD 150
YK-11 is technically a myostatin inhibitor, not a SARM. Studies showed that YK-11 caused severe side effects that were comparable to anabolic steroids rather than SARMs. Patients have experienced testosterone suppression, elevated liver enzymes, increased cholesterol, acne, and joint pain caused by taking YK-11.
S23 may be an exceptional SARM for increasing muscle strength and pumping, but it also causes serious side effects, most notably severe testosterone suppression.
RAD 150 - a more powerful and harsh SARM than its predecessor RAD 140. In contrast, we classify RAD 140 and LGD 4033 as moderate SARMs in terms of side effects. These are two popular SARMs that users will use after the first cycle (most likely it will be Ostarine).
The safest SARM combinations
The safest SARM combinations are those that combine 1 SARM with Cardarine or Stenabolic. So, you can improve your results by combining a SARM with another compound that does not impair testosterone levels, cholesterol, or liver function.
Combining two or three SARMs will cause more severe side effects on HPTA, ALT/AST enzymes, and LDL/HDL cholesterol than taking just one SARM.
Some of the safest SARM stacks we see are the following (in order from weakest to strongest):
- Stenabolic/Cardarine (abbreviation)
- Ostarine/Andarine (dry volume)
- RAD 140/Ostarine (bullying)
Are SARM Alternatives Safe?
SARM alternatives aim to replicate the positive effects of SARMs using natural and FDA-approved ingredients. These supplements are very safe and have no side effects on either men or women. However, their effectiveness has not yet been proven, and based on the ingredients, user results are likely to be significantly lower (compared to real SARMs).
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