Ostarine

Selective androgen receptor modulator. Lower anabolic potency than RAD-140 or LGD-4033. Phase II trials showed modest improvements in lean body mass and physical function in cancer patients. Still causes dose-dependent testosterone suppression despite lower androgenicity.

Non-steroidal oral compound. No ester. Once-daily dosing.

Ostarine is the entry point for most people exploring SARMs. Its reputation as the mildest and best-tolerated SARM makes it the first compound many people try when they want anabolic effect beyond what natural training provides but are not ready for traditional steroids. It is used in mild bulking phases, cutting phases where muscle preservation is the priority, and injury recovery contexts where the tissue-remodeling effects documented in clinical trials are specifically desired. Female athletes use it more than most other performance compounds because the androgenic risk is lower than almost anything else in the performance pharmacology space.

Ostarine is commonly used alone as a first SARM experience because the goal is often to assess individual response to the class of compounds before adding complexity. When it does appear in stacks it is most often combined with MK-677 for recovery and sleep benefits, or used in very low doses alongside stronger SARMs like RAD-140 or LGD-4033 to round out a protocol without dramatically increasing suppression. In female protocols it is sometimes the only compound used because the androgenic risk remains acceptable at doses that produce meaningful results.

• Phase II trials — cancer cachexia, surgical recovery
• Phase II — stress urinary incontinence in women
• Most published human clinical data of any SARM

• Testosterone suppression — milder than LGD-4033 but present
• Liver enzyme elevation — documented in case reports
• HDL reduction — dose-dependent
• Vision disturbances — reported, mechanism unclear
• Joint pain reported at higher doses

The mildness of Ostarine leads to the same problem as Oxandrolone: people run it longer and in higher doses than they would use a compound with a more intimidating reputation. Testosterone suppression, while modest at lower doses, increases with dose and duration and is documented in clinical data. Liver enzyme elevations have appeared in case reports. The supply chain is entirely unregulated and independent testing of products sold as Ostarine has revealed compounds that are not Ostarine, compounds that are Ostarine at wildly inaccurate concentrations, and products containing multiple undisclosed SARMs. Contamination of mainstream supplements with Ostarine has resulted in inadvertent doping violations for athletes who were not intentionally using the compound.

Approximately 2-3 weeks. Multiple athlete disqualifications.