As of 2017 The FDA has issued a warning against the use of selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) in body-building products. These substances, often marketed as dietary supplements, are actually unapproved drugs that pose serious health risks. SARMs have been associated with severe side effects, including liver toxicity, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, and life-threatening reactions like liver damage. The FDA’s recent actions include sending warning letters to companies such as Infantry Labs, IronMagLabs, and Panther Sports Nutrition for selling products containing SARMs (FDA) (FDA).
Consumers are advised to stop using these products immediately and consult healthcare professionals if they experience any adverse reactions. The FDA has also emphasized the importance of reporting any side effects through their MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program (FDA).
These measures are part of the FDA’s ongoing efforts to protect public health and ensure the safety and effectiveness of products on the market. For more details and updates, you can visit the official FDA page on this topic here.
“We are extremely concerned about unscrupulous companies marketing body-building products with potentially dangerous ingredients. Body-building products that contain selective androgen receptor modulators, or SARMs, have not been approved by the FDA and are associated with serious safety concerns, including potential to increase the risk of heart attack or stroke and life threatening reactions like liver damage,” said Donald D. Ashley, J.D., director of the Office of Compliance in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “We will continue to take action against companies marketing these products to protect the public health.”
SARMs (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators) are not illegal in the same sense as drugs like cocaine, but it is illegal for companies to market them as dietary supplements, and doctors cannot prescribe them. SARMs are banned by the U.S. Department of Defense, the NCAA, and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Over 120 SARM products are listed by WADA, which means they can cause a positive result on drug tests, even if used infrequently or not recently.
SARMs are prohibited in sports for two main reasons: they can enhance performance by increasing muscle mass, providing an unfair advantage, and their known health risks are significant enough to raise serious concerns.
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) says some of the most popular SARMs include:
- Ostarine (Enobosarm, MK2866, S22).
- Andarine (S4).
- LGD-4033 (Ligandrol).
- LGD-3033.
- TT-701.
- RAD140 (Testolone).
- S23.
