Performance enhancement has come to the spotlight over the course of many decades. It’s no secret that steroid use has been studied in abundance with significant effects to growth, performance and hormonal equilibrium shift. Anabolic steroids have a number of drawbacks associated with their cycled uses over time but I’m not here to talk about steroid use. Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMSs) were brought to my attention over the last few weeks by a friend and I wanted to take a look at the science behind this non-steroidial variant, its history and how it’s being used in sports and bodybuilding today.
//Viable Alternative//
To briefly summarise, anabolic steroids have a number of associated side effects that require cycling and counter of chemical imbalances as synthetic forms of testosterone are introduced to the body. Androgen is a term that refers to the male associated with the male sexy hormones, testosterone included. To summarise a piece of research (linked below), it was discovered that SARMs are able to selectively activate tissues, the main focus was in relation to bone and muscle. These powerful compounds have been in development from the early 40s and in the modern day, have gained attention from a number of body performance enhancing groups.
//Clinical Treatments//
Aromatase inhibitors limit the amount of estrogen synthesis in the body, shifting a bias towards testosterone dominance. Prohormone use involves addition of synthetic hormones, SARMs do not introduce additional testosterone to the body. Instead, they work with the natural amount available within the body. Over decades of development, numerous types of SARMS have emerged. Some of them featuring steroidial properties while the other group do not. Medical researchers have explored benefits of introducing SARMs to patients suffering from physiological issues including osteoporosis, cancer and general frailty due to old age or other ailment. Boosting the body’s strength without the negative effects to the pancreas is a great approach to treatment.
//Body Enhancement//
On the other side of the counter, the research drug has found a commercial market among body performance enhancing enthusiasts. There are a number of SARM based products available for purchase that are advertised to promote anabolic effects. For those wishing to improve muscle hypotrophy this appeals as the steroid-lite solution. For those wishing to explore the use of SARMs, research and understanding of biology and the dosage chemistry is essential. While these products are not side effect free, their long term effects have been deemed to be nowhere near the detriments of anabolic steroid use. As expected, they are not replacement for a healthy lifestyle but have been proven to enhance progress from the very start of consumption.
//Promising Development//
Clinical applications have come a long way in the last 10 years. Treating breast cancer, cancer related cachexia and other strengthening therapy application. For now, SARMs remains as a research chemical that has not been approved by any regulating body. It is still experimental and it also means that companies supplying products do not follow a set standard, reliance on reputable sourcing and acceptable manufacturing practice is required. A risk that many should be aware of. While I am not currently interested in accelerating my fitness journey to reach new levels as I feel building my own fitness and health fundamentals need to come first, I am very curious as to how SARMs will continue to evolve. There are new techniques and drugs emerging all the time and understanding of the body and chemistry are opening new doors to treatment and physiological enhancement. Today I have my eyes on SARMs but it might not be long before something entirely new emerges with greater effects and value with respect to performance and side effect trade-offs.
