SARMs Side Effects: If They Are Really Worth The Risk
Most of us know that utilizing steroids to improve athletic performance is not a good idea.
While their use could improve muscle mass, it comes with several health dangers, not to mention the possibility of being kicked out of a sporting event.
Some believe that a class of medications known as selective androgen receptor modulators, also known as SARMs, could fill that gap.
SARMs could be referred to as a family of medications that contain synthetic ligands. They attach to androgen receptors rather than anabolic steroids. They were found in the 1990s.
Like steroids, they might improve performance by facilitating exercise recovery, stimulating anabolism, and increasing strength and muscle growth, which is significant for competitive athletes.
The use of SARMs determines whether or not they are legal or acceptable. SARMs marketed solely as research chemicals are authorized to buy and sell.
However, the believers of SARMs still find a way to buy the best SARMs as per their knowledge. Not to miss, one might want to note that buying and selling them in capsules for human use or labeling them as dietary supplements or both are banned. Sports regulators, including the World Anti-Doping Agency, also known as WADA, have also outlawed them.
In this article, we will look at the side effects of SARMs on men and women.
SARMs Side Effects On Men
Here are some of the side effects in men associated with SARM:
Testosterone Deficiency
Men in an older study who took 2 g of SARM supplement per day for 15 weeks had little variations in blood testosterone levels.
When consuming 30 mg per day for 5 weeks, weightlifters using larger doses of SARM reported testicular growth, normal libido, and nocturnal erections.
Different SARM users have reported low testosterone levels after the cycle, with one user scoring 146 ng/dL vs an average of 265-915 ng/dL.
This occurred after 10 weeks of taking 15 mg of SARM each day.
Therefore, it is safe to assume, based on anecdotal information and existing research, that SARM has no substantial influence on endogenous testosterone levels when taken in extremely small doses.
However, at higher doses, it could have a strong suppressing impact, which might not always be apparent to users, unless they are being tested.
It might also vary depending on how the drug affects the individual, potentially differing on a case-to-case basis.
Problems With Cholesterol
When consuming 2 mg of SARM per day for 15 weeks, HDL cholesterol, which is the good kind, dropped by 26%.
Given the little dose employed in this trial, it is concerning. SARM might raise the risk of heart attack and myocardial infarction, in the long or short term, even at low dosages.
The ability of SARM to skew LDL/HDL cholesterol levels might be due to their oral form.
It stimulates hepatic lipase in the liver upon entry, which is known to increase arterial plaque and lower HDL.
Loss Of Hair
Despite the lack of the 5 alpha-reductase enzymes in SARM, some users suffer hair loss during their cycle.
Hair loss is caused by elevated dihydrotestosterone levels, also known as DHT, which are raised indirectly.
When SARM competes with natural testosterone for binding to the androgen receptor, SARM wins, which allows more free testosterone to be converted to DHT.
Even while hair loss is not as common as it is with anabolic steroids, androgenic alopecia is quite a possibility with SARM.
Liver Toxicity
ALT/AST liver indicators increased above normal values in 15% of patients in the aged research, confirming SARMs hepatotoxic potential.
Although the levels did not reach dangerously high levels, it is worth noting that the subjects received a fraction of the dose given to gym-goers who use SARM for physique enhancement.
SARMs liver toxicity might be attributable to the fact that it is taken orally through the mouth, bypassing the liver before becoming fully active, causing inflammation and stress in this organ.
SARMs, such as ligandrol, also known as LGD-4033, and testolone, also known as RAD-140, have been linked to cholestatic hepatocellular liver injury in studies.
Gynecomastia And Water Retention
As SARMs bind tightly to the androgen receptor, they could indirectly raise estrogen levels by allowing more natural testosterone to be converted to estrogen.
Therefore, despite the absence of the aromatase enzyme, some persons have reported gynecomastia or bloating when using SARMs.
Although SARM users might sometimes report having a dry-looking body and little water retention.
Improved insulin sensitivity also suggests that SARM has a minor influence on this sex hormone, implying that the chance of developing gynecomastia is modest.
SARMs Side Effects On Women
Here are some of the side effects of SARM on women:
Acne Issues
Acne is not something anyone wants on their face. However, it has been discovered that SARMs might produce acne on the face.
Acne is more common in people who have high testosterone levels in their bodies.
As a result of SARMs, the testosterone level in the body rises, which results in acne.
Increased androgen levels lead to an increase in sebum production on the skin, which keeps the skin from drying out.
As oily skin obstructs the clearance of dead cells, cell blockage occurs, which results in acne on the face.
Menstrual Cycle Disturbances
SARMs could disrupt a woman’s menstrual cycle.
Women might develop hormonal abnormalities, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome as a result of an excess of androgen hormones in their bodies.
Women with these diseases have an irregular menstrual cycle due to a delayed or an early menstrual cycle.
For women, an irregular menstrual cycle might be painful, uncomfortable, and annoying.
Furthermore, hormonal problems, such as PCOS are associated with several different underlying health issues in women.
Mood Swings
SARMs could be beneficial for enhancing strength and growing muscles, though they might hurt one’s mood.
With regular prescribed doses of SARMs, females experiencing mood swings are rare.
Women who take SARMs in excess, however, could develop undesirable side effects.
They might have rapid mood swings as a result of the excessive dosage causing irregularities in hormone levels.
Pain And Swelling
Regardless of gender, everybody who consumes SARMs might experience pain at some point.
Women are more prone to edema and pain after taking SARMs.
Women experience edema and pain as a result of water retention and muscle growth.
However, as they become accustomed to repeated consumption, the swelling and pain might not last long.
Body Hairs Like Men
Consumption of SARMs raises the level of androgens in the body, such as testosterone.
In comparison to men, females have lower levels of testosterone.
Therefore, an increase in androgens caused by SARM’s use might cause undesired body hair to grow, particularly in the chest, back, and face areas of females.
Conclusion
As per the believers of Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators or SARMs, it could be an excellent muscle-building alternative to anabolic steroids.
The consumers of SARMs claim that their use is proven to have fewer adverse effects in people than steroids, making them an effective supplement for muscle gain.
Though they are mainly unproven and unregulated in humans, SARMs supplements might appear to be the holy grail of muscle growth.
We will never recommend anyone to consume SARMs or SARMs like supplements. Whenever my body requires an external push from a supplement, I generally switch to SARM alternatives.