Key takeaways:
Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) are products that are sometimes used to promote muscle growth. They’re not approved for medical or supplemental use in the U.S.
SARMs are marketed as tools to make your workout more effective. But these unregulated products have occasionally been linked to serious side effects, including a higher risk of stroke and heart attack.
There are safer workout supplements available with more proven effects on supporting muscle mass and performance. A dietitian or fitness instructor can help you identify trustworthy workout supplements.
A nutritious diet and routine exercise are the cornerstones of a healthy lifestyle. They’re important principles to follow during all stages of life. But if you are particularly passionate about exercise, one goal may be to maximize the impact of your workout.
In some cases, people go to the gym looking to gain muscle mass. It’s common for these fitness enthusiasts to rely on a protein-packed diet and particular workout supplements to reach this goal.
One specific group of products has gained online popularity recently. They’re known as selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs). SARMs have been marketed for their potential workout benefits, but they’ve also been linked to serious health risks. The FDA has even issued formal warnings about them. With these factors in mind, it’s worthwhile to question if SARMs should be part of your fitness plan at all.
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What are SARMs?
SARMs are synthetic (lab-made) chemicals that mimic the effects of androgens — natural male sex hormones. They’re thought to increase muscle strength and lower the amount of time muscles need to rest after exertion.
Originally, SARMs were developed for a few specific medical reasons. They were discovered while scientists were looking for ways to help people living with health conditions that affect muscle and bone health. But research is ongoing for disease states that SARMs may have a role in. Examples of these conditions include:
Clinical trials studying the safety and effectiveness of SARMs for these conditions are still taking place. But because these chemicals can help build muscle, they’ve become a curiosity among people keen on physical fitness.
SARM examples
Products that contain SARMs can sometimes be difficult to identify. This is because they’re currently only authorized for research purposes. They’re not authorized to be purchased for public use. It’s illegal to sell or market them as workout supplements in the U.S.
Despite this, many SARM-containing products are available online. Checking the dietary supplement product label can be a useful way to find out if a product contains a SARM.
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Common SARMs include:
Andarine (GTx-007, S4)
LGD-3033
Ligandrol (LGD-4033)
Ostarine (Enobosarm, MK-2866, S-22)
Testolone (RAD-140)
TT-701
S-23
Other SARM-like chemicals include:
Endurobol (Cardarine, GW501516, GW1516)
Ibutamoren (MK-677, Nutrobal)
Stenabolic (SR9009)
YK-11
Looking to boost your workout routine? Learn about the ins and outs of creatine supplements.
Taking control of your health: If you’re concerned you have low testosterone, explore what to know about testosterone replacement therapy.
Understanding FDA-issued warnings: Here’s how to interpret a boxed warning, the strongest warning for a prescription medication.
Are SARMs a steroid?
No. SARMs are not the same as anabolic steroids.
SARMs target the same receptor (chemical binding site) in your body as anabolic steroids. But they work in a more specific way. Anabolic steroids can affect all parts of the body, while SARMs target specific places — such as muscles or bones. What’s more, unlike some anabolic steroids that are injected, SARMs are able to be taken by mouth or injected through the skin (transdermally).
Anabolic steroids are also classified as controlled substances due to their potential for dependence and misuse. Although SARMs are not the same as anabolic steroids, they may be regulated like anabolic steroids in the future. This is because they have substantial risks of their own.
Are SARMs safe?
The truth is, it’s unknown if SARMs are safe. They’re still being researched for safety purposes in clinical studies.
With the current data, it hasn’t been determined yet which doses are safe, what all the potential risks are, and who may benefit most from using SARMs. Until effectiveness and safety information is determined through clinical studies, these unapproved products aren’t intended for widespread, unsupervised use.
What’s more, SARMs that are sold online are not regulated by any U.S. agencies. This means there is a risk that the products may be fake or contain different active ingredients altogether. In fact, according to one study, only about half of the products marketed and sold as SARMs contained the correct, labeled ingredients.
SARM side effects
Researchers believe SARMs have the potential to treat certain health conditions without some of the harmful side effects of traditional androgens. But some side effects have been reported among products that are labeled as SARMs.
Serious side effects linked to SARMs may include:
Increased risk of heart attack
Increased risk of stroke
Liver injury and failure
Other SARM side effects may include:
Trouble sleeping
Issues with sexual performance
Increased risk of infertility
Lower HDL (good cholesterol) levels
Experts are still learning about potential SARM side effects. The FDA encourages people to report any side effects they have experienced after taking SARM-containing products. You can let the FDA know about an issue by using its online reporting form or calling 1-888-463-6332.
Are any bodybuilding supplements better or safer than SARMs?
All medications and supplements have their own safety considerations, but many bodybuilding products are considered to be safer than SARMs.
In addition to their side effect risks, SARMs have been banned for competitive athletes by the World Anti-Doping Agency since 2008. That means anyone who is involved in competitive sports should use only approved supplements to get the most out of their training routine.
If you’re looking for ways to improve your workout results, consider asking your dietitian or fitness instructor about other options, such as:
Adding in a preworkout supplement for energy and endurance
Using a nitric oxide supplement to improve blood flow
Considering a creatine supplement to increase muscle mass and improve performance
Trying protein powder after a workout to support muscle mass and improve performance
Making sense of SARMs vs. SERMs vs. SERDs
Three groups of medications have similar-sounding acronyms, but they work very differently. Try not to confuse SARMs with SERMs or SERDs:
Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs): These FDA-approved medications change how estrogen works in the body. They’re used to treat health conditions such as breast cancer and osteoporosis. Examples of SERMs include tamoxifen (Soltamox) and raloxifene (Evista).
Selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs): These medications destroy estrogen receptors in the body to help fight breast cancer. Fulvestrant (Faslodex) and elacestrant (Orserdu) are currently the only FDA-approved SERDs available, but more SERDs may be approved in the near future.
SARMs: Mentioned above, these muscle-supporting products are still being studied and have no approved medical uses.
Frequently asked questions
At this time, no. It’s illegal to sell SARMs as a medication or supplement in the U.S. These unregulated chemicals are currently available for research purposes only. They haven’t been comprehensively tested for safety and effectiveness.
SARMs do not show up on most standard drug tests. However, if you’re tested for specific drugs, such as anabolic steroids, SARMs can cause a positive test result. It’s important to note that these chemicals have been banned from professional athletic competitions.
We don’t know for sure; there are conflicting reports. Some people taking SARMs have reported experiencing erectile dysfunction (ED) symptoms. On the other hand, some studies have tested SARMs to treat ED. Researchers are still learning about the potential effects of SARMs on ED.
At this time, no. It’s illegal to sell SARMs as a medication or supplement in the U.S. These unregulated chemicals are currently available for research purposes only. They haven’t been comprehensively tested for safety and effectiveness.
SARMs do not show up on most standard drug tests. However, if you’re tested for specific drugs, such as anabolic steroids, SARMs can cause a positive test result. It’s important to note that these chemicals have been banned from professional athletic competitions.
We don’t know for sure; there are conflicting reports. Some people taking SARMs have reported experiencing erectile dysfunction (ED) symptoms. On the other hand, some studies have tested SARMs to treat ED. Researchers are still learning about the potential effects of SARMs on ED.
The bottom line
Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) are a group of products that are sometimes marketed as workout supplements. They target androgen receptors in your body to increase muscle mass and bone density. However, SARMs are unregulated and unapproved in the U.S., and they are still being studied. They can have serious side effects, including an increased risk of stroke and heart attack. Until regulated products with clinical safety information are available, it’s best to avoid products marketed as containing SARMs. Speak to your dietitian or fitness instructor about safer, more proven workout supplements and strategies to help you reach your fitness goals.
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References
Bhasin, S., et al. (2010). Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) as function promoting therapies. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolic Care.
Burmeister, M. A., et al. (2020). Recreational use of selective androgen receptor modulators. U.S. Pharmacist.
Christiansen, A. R., et al. (2020). Selective androgen receptor modulators: The future of androgen therapy? Translational Andrology and Urology.
Congress.gov. (2019). Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators Control Act of 2019 or the SARMs Control Act of 2019.
Handelsman, D. J., et al. (2020). Androgen physiology, pharmacology, use and misuse. Endotext.
Marine Corps Community Services. (n.d.). Operation Supplement Safety: What's the harm with SARMs?
MedlinePlus. (2022). Drug testing.
Rule, E. (2023). SARMs: Illegal muscle drugs sold in UK shops, BBC finds. BBC.
Solomon, Z. J., et al. (2020). Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) - current knowledge and clinical applications. Sexual Medicine Reviews.
The Department of Defense Dietary Supplement Resource: Operation Supplement Safety. (n.d.). SARMS in dietary supplements.
The Department of Defense Dietary Supplement Resource: Operation Supplement Safety. (2023). SARMS: What’s the harm?
U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. (2020). Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) – what athletes need to know.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration. (2023). FDA warns of use of selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) among teens, young adults.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration. (2024). MedWatch: The FDA safety information and adverse event reporting program.
Van Wagoner, R. M., et al. (2017). Chemical composition and labeling of substances marketed as selective androgen receptor modulators and sold via the internet. JAMA.
Vignali, J. D., et al. (2023). Systematic review of safety of selective androgen receptor modulators in healthy adults: Implications for recreational users. Journal of Xenobiotics.
