SARMs – Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators used to be sold as fitness dietary supplements. That’s why many people may think that SARMs are actually just a supplement, while they are not. In fact, the debate over SARMs as “fitness supplements” greatly increased as they gained huge popularity.
As a result, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) issued an order to ban SARMs to be sold as dietary supplements. Many companies were offering SARMs calling them a healthy substitute for steroids. And according to many trial experiments and anecdotal reports from people who used them – they actually are.
Since then, SARMs have been in the “gray market” area. This means that they are not banned, so people can legally buy them, however, people can’t use them, according to the FDA. Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) were categorized as research chemicals. It means that people can buy them only to use for their research purposes.
Nonetheless, SARMs already got popular enough among bodybuilding and fitness communities in the days when you used to run SARMs as supplements. That’s because a lot of people have proven to offer amazing results. So, the popularity of these compounds continues to grow despite their semi-legal status.
- If you want to read more about the legality of SARMs you can read more in our blog post “Are SARMs Legal”.
Are SARMs Dietary Supplements?
Actually – no. The companies who used the name “dietary supplement” to describe SARMs only tried to sell them as safe products so people could buy as much as possible. Especially because they were actually working when it comes to growing muscle mass, burning fat, and enhancing performance with strength. Those companies, obviously, had great success.
Offering SARMs as safe products and when you notice they are actually effective – it was quite obvious they become very popular. Especially because some specific SARMs are often compared to the potency of actual steroids for lean muscle mass gain purposes.
However, it soon got into attention of different organizations such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well as the U.S. Anti Doping Agency (USADA). That’s when they got their current status. It’s because SARMs are actually a “new” type of drugs that are similar to anabolic and androgenic steroids (AAS) such as Testosterone.
Scientists created them, trying to make a “perfect” version of an anabolic compound. They tried to completely exclude the androgenic and estrogenic parts from the steroids. And they did through the “selectivity”. Let me explain. While both anabolic steroids and SARMs work by binding to androgen receptors (leading to various benefits) – anabolic steroids convert into estrogen and bind to androgen receptors all over the body. SARMs, however, are selective to which androgen receptors to bind and they are resistant to the aromatase enzyme.
That’s why they are close to anabolic steroids. However, they are different. But SARMs are still not dietary supplements, as said – they are a novel class of drugs. These are drugs often described as an aid for muscle building and fat loss without the traditional side effects of steroids.
- Read more about SARMs vs Steroids here.
SARMs Explained
Because SARMs are safer than steroids in terms of androgenic and estrogenic activity, both researchers and bodybuilders are interested in them. Theoretically, SARMs can greatly help with various medical purposes (they are yet to be approved) but a lot of clinical studies and people already report they’re helpful at building lean muscle mass and strength. At the same time, users won’t experience androgenic or estrogenic side effects.
Males suffer from less prostatic effects, less androgenic issues like aggression, hair loss, and acne. It’s a greater option for women as they are not going to experience any virilizing effects either.
According to different research, SARMs are “a step forward” in comparison to androgenic drugs as they as safer. Studies indicate that the drugs are “generally well tolerated”.
Yet, you still need to be careful with SARMs.
A “dietary supplement” is that category of substance that is not going to cause long lasting side effects or life threatening side effects even if used in abusive dosages. However, SARMs, although much safer than anabolic steroids, can become dangerous if you attempt to abuse them. This is the reason why FDA has taken the decision to stop ban companies from commercializing SARMs as supplement.
- SARMs side effects are definitely “milder” but you shouldn’t ignore them. If you intend to use the SARMs cycle, please have a read about SARMs Side Effects here.
SARMs Supplement Conclusion
In the end, SARMs are currently not allowed to commercialize as “dietary supplement”. Nonetheless, because they are actually extremely effective and much safer than most other Performance Enhancement Drugs (PEDs) on the market, they got extremely popular. And their popularity continues to grow.
It’s just the fact that a lot of chemicals and substances get around FDA oversight when the companies classify them as “dietary supplements”.
The problem is that SARMs go way too popular and their benefits in terms of physique and performance enhancement got too obvious. That’s another reason why they got on the list of banned substances by USADA (the United States Anti Doping Agency) and WADA (World Anti Doping Agency). Using them in professional sports offer an obvious advantage over other competitors. So it’s not fair.
SARMs used to be commercialized as a “dietary supplement”, but no more. Due to obvious advantages, and risks of side effects in case of abuse.
Interested in what SARMs were sold as supplements?
- MK-2866 popular as Ostarine, GTX-024, Ostabolic, Enobosarm
- GW501516 popular as Cardarine, Endurobol
- MK-677 popular as Ibutamoren, Oratrope, Nutrobal
- RAD140 popular as Testolone
- S4 popular as Andarine, GTx-007
- S23 popular as Ultrabolic
- LGD-4033 popular as Ligandrol, Anabolicum
- YK11 popular as Myobol
- SR9009 popular as Stenabolic
If you’re interested in SARMs “supplement” to buy – use SARMS.to.
Unfortunately, because of their huge popularity and relatively high cost to produce, a lot of companies started to sell lower purity, under quality, or underdosed SARMs. You need to make sure to get maximum quality SARMs to ensure maximum benefits and the least side effects.
At SARMS.to you’ll also benefit from the best prices for each SARM supplement, fastest shipping, best customer support, and many other bonuses!
