Athletes and committed fitness enthusiasts often resort to various substances in their pursuit of enhanced sports performance and improved physical appearance.
Although certain compounds may prove effective in enhancing performance, their safety is frequently a matter of significant concern.
One such substance is cardarine, a contentious drug claimed to aid in weight loss and enhance athletic performance. However, the available data regarding its efficacy and safety remains severely limited.
This article will examine cardarine, focusing on its alleged benefits, possible side effects, recommended dosages, and current accessibility.
What is Cardarine?
Cardarine, known scientifically as GW501516, is a synthetic agent that functions as a metabolic modulator.
Many people commonly mistake cardarine for a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM), but it is actually a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonist.
This compound primarily targets receptors in muscle cells throughout the body.
Cardarine influences energy metabolism within cells and is believed to enhance energy expenditure.
Many athletes and bodybuilders choose Cardarine because they want to boost fat loss, achieve a more defined body composition, and enhance their athletic performance.
History and banned substance
Researchers first identified cardarine in the early 1990s through a research partnership between two major pharmaceutical firms.
Scientists conducted a series of studies in the early 2000s to assess the effects of this compound.
Researchers focused the majority of their studies on animal subjects and conducted only a limited number of human trials.
Researchers initially developed Cardarine to treat hyperlipidemia, a condition characterized by elevated lipid levels in the bloodstream. However, subsequent investigations also explored its potential in addressing obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
While early findings appeared encouraging, later animal studies indicated that the compound could lead to rapid cancer development in various organs, prompting a cessation of research activities.
Regulatory agencies classify banned substances as drugs or compounds that athletes must not use because they may provide an unfair advantage in competitive events.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) added cardarine to the list of prohibited substances in 2009 due to its potential function as a metabolic modulator and performance enhancer.
Researchers developed testing methods around the same period to detect cardarine in urine and hair samples.
Sports organizations globally adhere to WADA guidelines for athlete testing. Consequently, several athletes tested positive for Cardarine and faced repercussions, including disqualification from competitions.
Benefits
Researchers have indicated that cardarine may offer various health and performance-enhancing advantages.
Researchers have conducted the majority of studies on this compound using animals, so the findings may not directly apply to humans.
Weight Loss
Two primary claimed benefits of cardarine are weight loss and fat reduction.
Theoretically, it may enhance the body’s ability to burn fat. The drug’s role as a metabolic modulator, specifically targeting cellular mechanisms involved in energy metabolism, could explain this effect.
Initial investigations into Cardarine focused on its potential application in treating obesity.
An earlier study involving mice demonstrated that cardarine promoted fatty acid oxidation, leading to reduced fat storage and a lower incidence of obesity in mice subjected to a high-calorie diet.
Subsequent research proposed that Cardarine might activate PPAR in a manner akin to physical exercise, suggesting that its use could replicate some of the physiological benefits of exercise without the need for actual physical activity.
However, despite its theoretical promise, there is a lack of high-quality, long-term studies in humans to substantiate these claims.
Improve blood fat levels
One of the early proposed applications of Cardarine was to enhance blood lipid profiles, which encompass cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Previous research has established a connection between the PPAR pathway and the process of fat metabolism.
However, only a few studies have indicated that substances like cardarine might influence blood lipid levels.
Researchers conducted a notable human study in 2007 involving a small cohort of 24 healthy participants. They administered either a placebo, 2.5 mg of Cardarine, or 10 mg of Cardarine daily for two weeks.
The findings revealed that the participants who received cardarine exhibited an increase in HDL (beneficial) cholesterol and a decrease in blood triglycerides.
Despite these encouraging results, researchers have not replicated the study’s design in a larger, long-term context, making it impossible to draw definitive recommendations.
Benefits for those with diabetes
Researchers have also explored the potential of cardarine in preventing type 2 diabetes, a condition characterized by the body’s resistance to insulin, leading to inefficient carbohydrate processing.
A recent study involving rodents examined the impact of cardarine on gestational diabetes, a condition marked by elevated blood sugar levels in pregnant individuals.
The findings indicated that rats with gestational diabetes who received Cardarine treatment exhibited improvements in both blood glucose and insulin levels, along with reduced damage to their islet cells, which are responsible for insulin production in the pancreas.
Furthermore, one study suggested that cardarine might facilitate the healing of diabetic wounds, a common complication for individuals with advanced diabetes due to impaired blood flow to specific areas of the body.
Researchers have conducted the majority of studies in this field on animals. Consequently, while the results show promise, scientists cannot directly extrapolate them to humans, highlighting the need for further investigation.
Sports performance
One of the more notable applications proposed for Cardarine is its potential to enhance athletic performance.
Given Cardarine’s possible influence on fat oxidation, certain athletes contemplate its use to achieve a more toned physique while also enhancing their energy metabolism and cardiovascular efficiency.
Some individuals assert that it increases stamina, endurance, exercise capacity, and promotes fat reduction within a matter of days.
However, robust scientific evidence does not substantiate these assertions, as researchers have conducted only a few animal studies on the subject.
In a 2015 study, researchers examined the impact of cardarine on the endurance running capabilities of mice.
The findings indicated that mice administered Cardarine showed significant improvements in their running endurance.
There is no human research that corroborates the claims regarding Cardarine’s effectiveness in enhancing stamina, exercise capacity, or fat loss.
Despite the absence of substantial research, athletes occasionally resort to unconventional methods in pursuit of even marginal performance enhancements.
Nevertheless, in the case of Cardarine, the potential for serious side effects seems to outweigh any possible advantages, leading to a recommendation against its use.
Side effects
A significant issue regarding Cardarine involves the possible side effects linked to its administration.
Initial research conducted during its discovery showed that cardarine could cause the rapid onset of cancer in mice and rats when researchers administered a dosage of 1.4 mg per pound (3 mg per kilogram) of body weight daily.
Consequently, major pharmaceutical companies that had previously supported the research ceased any further investigations into the compound.
It is crucial to emphasize that this dosage is considerably higher than those tested in human subjects.
Given the limited research available on human subjects, the full range of this and other potential side effects remains largely undetermined, rendering the use of cardarine quite precarious.
How much to take
Given the insufficient and inconsistent human data regarding cardarine, along with the uncertain side effects, establishing an appropriate dosage is challenging.
In the few human studies conducted, researchers administered doses ranging from 2.5 to 10 mg of cardarine to participants without any notable adverse effects.
Nevertheless, researchers have not repeated these studies, indicating the need for further investigation to confirm these results.
Due to the limited research and questionable sources, experts do not advise using cardarine.
the bottom line
Researchers initially investigated cardarine, also known as GW501516, as a synthetic substance for its potential to treat specific medical conditions.
Over time, it has attracted interest for its possible benefits in enhancing athletic performance.
Although people frequently categorize it as a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM), experts more accurately classify cardarine as a PPAR agonist, which influences the body’s energy metabolism.
The primary claimed advantages include weight reduction, potential benefits for individuals with diabetes and obesity, improved lipid profiles, and enhanced athletic performance; however, there is a notable deficiency of human studies supporting these claims.
Early research identified a significant adverse effect: the compound’s capacity to promote rapid tumor growth in rodent models.
It remains uncertain whether similar effects occur in humans.
Given the substantial absence of long-term human studies, the uncertainty surrounding side effects, issues related to sourcing, and the legal status of cardarine, its use is not advisable.
