Linda

Though SARMs had been primarily researched and used to address osteoporosis, chronic diseases, and muscle loss, their use has expanded to weight lifters and those seeking a safer alternative to steroids.

Anabolic steroids have run rampant in the bodybuilding world for years, and many are aware of all the dangers their usage come with. Selective androgen receptor modulators are far more selective in their action within the human body, which is advantageous for those ingesting them because they do not harm organs as collateral damage.

Two SARM options frequently mentioned in the same breath are LGD-4033 and MK-2866. The reason these two are often paired together is they are known as the most potent oral SARMs available. With ardent users claiming LGD-4033 is the strongest. To determine its effects, it is vital to delve deeper into what LGD-4033 is exactly and how it helps.After finishing reviewing Beta Alanine, D Aspartic Acid, and Cissus, I decided to turn my attention to something a little more controversial. Ligandrol was a natural choice.

Ligandrol or LGD-4033, is a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) discovered by Ligand Pharmaceuticals and currently under development by Viking Therapeutics [1], [2].

That sounds very technical and it is! I will elaborate more on what this means in the next section.

LGD was developed for the treatment of muscle wasting conditions, such as aging, osteoporosis, muscular dystrophy and cancer.

Why is this important? Well, in the case of cancer alone, for example, the prevalence of muscle loss has been reported as between 20% and 70%, depending on the type of tumor and the criteria used for assessment [3]. Muscle wasting, including a loss of skeletal muscle, is a cancer-related symptom that begins early in the progression of cancer and affects a patient’s quality of life, ability to tolerate chemotherapy, and survival [8].

In addition to legitimate medical uses, it is also being used as a performance enhancing drug. In the body-building world, LGD is being promoted as a side-effect free alterative to steroids, such as testosterone, to increase muscle mass and athletic performance.

The drug is popular with a wide range of athletes and professionals who are conscious of their muscle size and body composition, including weight lifters, bodybuilders, models, crossfitters, athletes and strongmen.

Recently, there has been a lot of hype around LGD. Although it is not a steroid, Ligandrol has been making headlines lately for getting athletes in trouble for taking illegal performance enhancing supplements. Florida Gators quarterback Will Grier was found to have Ligandrol in his system during a routine test [4], [5].

Substances like LGD, which are developed for therapeutic use, are often misused by athletes as doping agents and or for image-enhancement. This has generated a market for counterfeit doping substances, which may be of poor pharmaceutical quality and therefore constitute health risks to consumers [6].

Since LGD is getting a lot of publicity, it’s worthwhile taking a look at the research.