Domestic athletes can try out novelties in sports pharmacology later than their Western counterparts. Find out what SARMS are - the next generation anabolic steroids. The domestic market of anabolic drugs does not indulge its consumers with a wide variety of products. In addition to steroids, one can recall insulin, GH, peptides that have appeared relatively recently, as well as IPF-1. It is much easier for Western athletes in this regard, since they can test drugs that they will not see in our country soon, and may not even be able to find them. Today we will talk about SARMS - a new generation of anabolic steroids.
What is SARMS?
The abbreviation SARMS refers to selective androgen receptor modulators. Their mechanism of action resembles drugs such as Tamoxifen or Clomid, which interact with female sex hormone receptors.
SARMS do the same thing, only they act on male hormone receptors. Moreover, their structure is significantly different from steroids and for this reason they are not affected by enzymes that can convert testosterone into substances undesirable for the athlete's body.
When working on SARMS, the main task pursued by the creators was the desire to reduce the negative effect of the male hormone on the prostate.
The first tests were carried out on animals, as is the case with every new drug. Only after that, with successful tests, people can use the new means. Often, immediately after positive experiments on animals, the drug is in the field of view of athletes, who, without waiting for the completion of all studies, test it on themselves. This happened with SARMS, when after the first publications in the medical literature about the ability of a new drug to accelerate the growth of muscle tissue, it illegally ended up in athletes. Earlier than others, bodybuilders experienced Andarine, which most athletes know as S4. Then the second selective modulator - Ostarine or CTX – 024 - fell into the hands of bodybuilders. They can already be purchased in online stores, and this could have been done even before the time when it was scientifically proven that Ostarine is safe for humans and can be used to increase muscle mass.
One of the publications on this drug reported the results of one study, which lasted for 12 weeks. The subjects took 3 milligrams of CTX-024 orally. As a result, without the influence of physical exertion, about 1.5 kilograms of high-quality mass was gained, and fat reserves decreased by 300 grams. Based on the results of this study, it was announced that this drug is capable of producing a dose-dependent effect on weight gain. SARMS was well tolerated. Someone might argue that in three months one and a half kilograms is not an outstanding result, but this is the result of clinical trials. Athletes follow an appropriate nutritional program and should get significantly better results.
Also, positive results in terms of weight gain were noted in the second SARMS - LGD-4033. More than 70 men aged 21-50 years took part in the study of the effect of the drug. They were divided into four groups. The drug was used in an amount of 0.1, 0.3 and 1 milligram daily. The control group did not use SARMS.
As a result, the subjects who consumed one milligram of the drug daily were able to gain about one and a half kilograms of muscle mass. This is a very good result for this class of drugs. One of the reasons for such an increase in muscle mass, according to scientists, was the long decay period of LGD-4033. By the way, this figure is 24–36 hours. For this reason, SARM has worked for a long time. Well, probably in fact SARMS is a new generation of anabolic steroids.
It should also be said that there were some side effects. They arose when using the maximum dosage used during the study. So when using one milligram of the drug daily, a significant decrease in the level of free male hormone was noted. After canceling SARMS, he returned to normal levels, but this took about five weeks. Although in this regard, it should be said that no restorative agents were used. The situation is similar with CTX-024. Both drugs have a dose-dependent effect and the greatest weight gain was observed when using the maximum dose.
But, as mentioned above, the scientists were faced with the task not to build muscle mass, but to reduce the negative effects of testosterone on the prostate. From this point of view, the result was also positive. After the application of LGD-4033, the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) level remained unchanged. It is by the indicator of the content of this protein compound that they judge the possibility of developing prostate cancer.
Today, pharmaceutical companies have several types of SARMS - a new generation of anabolic steroids. The first phase of their research in humans has already been completed and positive results have been obtained. Now in the near future they can go on sale on completely legal terms.
It can be argued with a high degree of probability that by this point, enthusiastic athletes have already conducted their own tests, and it will be possible to talk about acceptable dosages for bodybuilders.
At the moment, it is still premature to draw such conclusions. There is very little information about SARMS, and it is impossible to talk about the required doses, duration of use and possible side effects. It remains for now to wait for the appearance of new data, and only after that the most impatient will be able to try new drugs.
More information about SARMS can be found in this video:
