SARMS
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The Body Building Community, as with any sport, is always looking for an edge. But, that’s not always healthy (or legal). Read on to learn how SARMs are being used and the dangers.
JOI DOES NOT Advocate or Recommend the use of SARMs or any other Anabolic Steroid.
Body Builder
What are SARMS?
SARMs, which stand for Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators, are an innovative class of androgen receptor ligands. SARMs are similar to anabolic steroids, but they are not one and the same. Both SARMs and anabolic steroids work by binding to your androgen receptors, triggering changes in your DNA which increase your muscles’ ability to grow. However anabolic steroids are a broad tool as they can also impact other parts of the body, leading to side effects such as prostate issues, hair loss, testicular shrinkage, and acne. What is supposed to differentiate SARMs from steroids is that they are said to be “”tissue selective””. This means they target your muscles without setting off this same chain of reactions. SARMS are taken orally in pill or liquid form, rather than being injected. So, one might ask what is the major downside to SARMS? First and foremost, none have been approved for human consumption.
Are SARMS Harmful?
In 2017, the FDA issued a public warning statement, stating that SARMs were being included in bodybuilding products and that these compounds posed an increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and liver damage. In response to the FDA’s public warning statement on SARMs, the Council for Responsible Nutrition, the trade organization for the dietary-supplement industry, introduced voluntary guidelines that encouraged that SARMs not be included in dietary supplements. The Department of Defense’s (DOD) “Operation Supplement Safety” has also warned armed services men and women, healthcare providers, and DOD civilians that SARMs could potentially artificially lower endogenous testosterone and have adverse effects on liver function and cholesterol levels.
Are SARMS Illegal?
It is illegal to sell and buy SARMs that are packaged in capsules/liquid form that are specifically labeled for human consumption and/or labeled as dietary supplements. Using SARMs recreationally for bodybuilding is not an FDA-approved usage.
At the present time, it is legal to sell and buy SARMs that are marketed simply as research chemicals, which is what typically occurs online. Research is limited as to how they affect the body long-term, and there are no Gold Standard scientific trial studies that advocate using them in cycles recreationally. Dietary supplements that aren’t FDA-approved, means they are also not regulated, including products that claim to contain SARMs, as the ingredient list could be misleading, stating inaccurate amounts or nonexistent quantities of the SARM in question.
Again, there are no long term studies or evidence to support the use of SARMS and they are not approved for use by the FDA. The Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute DOES NOT Advocate or Endorse their use.
If you have an Injury, the Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute can help! To schedule and appointment with a JOI Sports Medicine or Orthopedic Doctor, call (904)JOI-2000, schedule online, or click the link below. To schedule with a JOI Rehab Therapist in 1 of our 12 locations, call (904)858-7045.
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