SARMs (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators) have garnered a lot of attention in the past couple of decades.
They enhance performance and stimulate anabolism, which helps to increase muscle mass and strength.
Throughout this review, you’ll learn more about Cardarine, how it can be cycled, side effects, where to buy it, and more.
NOTE: The below supplements are NOT intended for those under the age of 18. If you are under the age of 18, do NOT consider taking them under any circumstances whatsoever.
Also, if you’re planning on joining the military, cease using this (and really any) supplement at least a couple months before going to MEPS.
They can cause a false positive on a drug test, and will affect your chances of joining!
Table of Contents
What Is Cardarine? (7 Key Benefits)
Note: Click Here to buy Cardarine legally online from our #1 rated source, Sports Technology Labs.
Cardarine was developed by GlaxoSmithKline in 1992, and was originally investigated for treating Type 2 diabetes and obesity.1
However, these tests were eventually stopped because of findings in a study done on rats.
Cardarine (GW-501516) is technically not a SARM, but it works well with them. Rather than working on the androgen receptors, it works on the PPAR (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta) pathway.
It’s not anabolic or hormonal, which means it will not require any post-cycle therapy.
The PPAR regulates cellular metabolic functions that can help to balance energy.
It is also important for regulating fatty acid uptake, transport, and oxidation. It’s also important for insulin secretion and sensitivity.
Let’s get a look at some of those benefits.
Related Article – 5 Best SARMS For Bulking & Cutting
Endurance
While Cardarine can help to increase endurance, it doesn’t provide a boost to energy.
However, the endurance benefits are good options for those who are athletic and who want to reduce the amount of recovery time they take between sets, or who want to be able to push their bodies further for longer.
Cholesterol
Cardarine has been shown to help increase the levels of good cholesterol in the body while lowering bad cholesterol.
Those who have high cholesterol could potentially benefit from taking Cardarine.
Insulin Sensitivity
Another benefit of taking Cardarine is that it can help with blood sugar control. This could make it a good option for dieting, particularly for bodybuilders.
It can work both for offseason bulking and for the dieting phase.
Inflammation
Many PPAR delta agonists have anti-inflammatory benefits for the kidneys and other organs.
Cardarine has the potential to help reduce oxidative damage that happens naturally.
However, the research into this benefit is not definitive and more work will need to be done. In some cases, inflammation could worsen.
Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, known as hypertension, is linked to high levels of stress and obesity.
There is a potential for Cardarine could help to reduce hypertension according to a study that was done with rats in 2018.2
It found that despite some of the risks of Cardarine, it could help with hypertension, and it could be worth pursuing more research.
Fat Burning Benefits
One of the most well-known benefits of taking Cardarine is how it can help to reduce the amount of fat a person carries.
PPAR delta agonists help to increase fatty acid oxidation. This means that instead of burning carbohydrates for energy when exercising, fat is burned instead.
This can help to reduce fat, while also helping to boost endurance, as mentioned earlier.
Improved Physical Function
Cardarine has also been linked to improving physical function in aging people.
It could be beneficial for some elderly people who want to maintain more of an active lifestyle as they are getting older.
Dosage Instructions
Taking just 10mg of Cardarine a day is an effective dose. It’s generally a good idea to start with a small amount when going through the first cycle.
You can then move up to 20mg a day. You don’t want to take more than the recommended amount suggested by the brand you choose.
Later, we will talk about cycling Cardarine.
Typically, you will want to take Cardarine at the same time each day, so there is always some in the body during your cycle.
You might choose the morning, for example. You could also split the dose, so you take some in the morning and some at night.
If you are taking 20mg, you would take 10mg in the morning and the other 10mg at night.
Although there isn’t a set time that you have to wait after taking Cardarine to start your workout, it’s usually recommended that you wait about two hours.
This allows the supplement to be processed by your body, so you can get more out of it.
Women can take Cardarine, as well, since there are no androgenic side effects. For women, sticking to 10mg daily tends to be the best dosage option.
What the Research Says About Cardarine
Research is something of a mixed bag with Cardarine. There is evidence that it can provide the benefits discussed above.
For example, in 2008, there was a study done on mice that showed just how much more endurance was gained through the use of Cardarine.3
There was also research published in 2012 that shows how Cardarine can help to lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol.4
The changes seen in the study were significant.
It’s well-known that the main reason GlaxoSmithKline stopped their studies on Cardarine was that the rats being tested developed cancer.
However, Cardarine has also been researched as a drug that can prevent cancer in other studies.5
It’s important to keep in mind that the rats were on the Cardarine for 104 weeks, while the standard cycle you would use is going to be much shorter.
How Should I Cycle Cardarine
There are varying notions as to how long a Cardarine cycle should last. Most believe that the best option is to stick to a six to eight-week cycle in most cases when looking to build lean muscle and maintain fitness.
However, those who are trying to lose fat are often recommended to go on a 12-week cycle.
You can then take a four to six-week break and determine whether you want to go through another cycle then or take more time between them.
Cardarine Reviews
What are actual users saying about taking Cardarine? For the most part, people love it and have found that the purported benefits of more endurance and fat loss are true.
They have more endurance in the gym to help them get through sets, to push longer and harder and have seen some impressive gains.
One user on Reddit, Manic_Muscle_Labs, said that their “endurance was through the roof”, and that they didn’t want to leave the gym.
They were able to train hard and not suffer from much fatigue. Cardarine user M. White said that they lost four pounds in two weeks on their cycle.
A user on Reddit posted before and after pics after using Cardarine for a month, and had awesome results:
As you can tell, he went from 13% body fat all the way down to 9.7%.
Another user said that they didn’t notice an improvement in their cardio endurance, but they were able to lose 3% body fat by the end of their cycle.
Here’s a few other reviews we came across:
Finest quality around. Really powerful effects, with lots of energy all day. It kicked in on day two and I thought my research animal wouldn’t sleep but he was wrecked and slept really well!
This is strange cause he works at a desk and usually sleeps badly. This stuff made him work out much harder.
After a fortnight he was noticeably loosing excess fat . I strongly recommend this to any animal who wants to loose fat.
-Luke M.
For me Cardarine did something a little different…It didn’t give my rat the lasting endurance that was sorta put out to consumers, but what it did give me was something amazing and way more valuable to my arsenal…
When I go to the gym on GW my pumps are insane my rat feel focused and even more energized like my rat can lift forever and recover in seconds.
It didn’t do that for my running though…My rat couldn’t run long distance on this stuff instead he could sprint faster than dudes who were literally half my size!
My rat is am 240 lbs. this stuff made me faster than a 115 lb. kid it was incredible this will always be my go to for energy and focus!
-Preston G.
In addition, I recommend you check out current bodybuilding pro Greg Doucette’s video on Cardarine below, it’s very informative:
Still, there are a few that have claimed they have taken four cycles of Cardarine and haven’t seen any benefits yet.
Of course, as with all claims on the Internet, both the good and the bad need to be taken with a grain of salt.
Cardarine Side Effects
Although there are benefits, there are also some potential side effects to consider when choosing Cardarine.
It’s important to note that these tend to be rare, and they do not affect most people who use the supplement.
If you suffer from one or more of these side effects, you may want to stop your cycle.
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- Headaches
- Muscle cramps
- Heart palpitations
- Diarrhea
- Joint pain
- Increased blood pressure in some people
To reduce the risk of side effects, stick to the instructions from the manufacturer, and make sure to work out and eat right while on the supplement.
Something else to note is that some athletic organizations have banned the use of Cardarine.
If you are an athlete, check with the regulatory body to ensure you can use the supplement first.
Stacking Cardarine with Other SARMs
It is possible to stack Cardarine with SARMs to get even better, more specific results.
For Bulking
Those who are looking to bulk up and add muscle should stack Cardarine with Testolone.
Look at the benefits the stack can offer:
- More size without adding fat weight
- Increase muscle hardness, power, and strength
- Neither add any water retention, and they help to add even more mass
Click Here to pick this stack up from our #1 rated SARMS vendor, Sports Technology Labs.
For Cutting
To help with cutting and dropping fat, you can stack with Stenabolic (SR-9009) and Ostarine (MK-2866) for the following benefits:
-
- Cut fat
- increase muscle size
- Improve recovery times
- Improve strength
- Stabilize the metabolism
Click Here to pick up this stack from our recommended SARMS vendor, Sports Technology Labs.
Where to Buy Cardarine
You can find Cardarine online through sites like www.SportsTechnologyLabs.com. They offer Cardarine in both liquid form, as well as capsules, and it’s some of the strongest on the market.
For the liquid form, they offer 3 different variants:
- 15ml / 17 mg per ml / 250 mg
- 30ml / 33 mg per ml / 1000 mg
- 30ml / 67 mg per ml / 2000 mg
Obviously you should get the one that’s right for you, but you’ll save money with the larger variant (the 30ml / 67 mg / 2000 mg one).
Click Here to see their page on liquid form Cardarine.
For the capsule version, they only offer one variant (20 mg per capsule / 60 capsules per package).
The upside to the capsules are there’s no measuring involved, and are actually my personal choice.
Click Here to see their page on the powder form Cardarine.
The company also offers a total money-back guarantee.
Conclusion
Cardarine has the potential to provide you with a wide range of benefits, as long as you take the supplement carefully and according to the instructions indicated by the manufacturer.
Cycle properly, don’t exceed the dosage, and make sure you are working out and eating right to get the best results.
From improved endurance to fat loss, it’s a great choice for amateur athletes and those who just want to lose weight and build lean muscle.
As always, make sure you are getting your supplements through a reputable manufacturer.
References
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Pelton P. GW-501516 GlaxoSmithKline/Ligand. Curr Opin Investig Drugs. 2006;7(4):360-370.
- Mitchell JA, Bishop-Bailey D. PPARβ/δ a potential target in pulmonary hypertension blighted by cancer risk. Pulmonary Circulation. January 2019. doi:10.1177/2045894018812053
- Barish GD, Narkar VA, Evans RM. PPAR delta: a dagger in the heart of the metabolic syndrome. J Clin Invest. 2006;116(3):590-597. doi:10.1172/JCI27955
- Olson EJ, Pearce GL, Jones NP, Sprecher DL. Lipid effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-δ agonist GW501516 in subjects with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol: characteristics of metabolic syndrome. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2012;32(9):2289-2294. doi:10.1161/ATVBAHA.112.247890
- Peters JM, Gonzalez FJ, Müller R. Establishing the Role of PPARβ/δ in Carcinogenesis. Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism: TEM. 2015 Nov;26(11):595-607. DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2015.09.004. PMID: 26490384; PMCID: PMC4631629.
See Also
MK-2866 Review: Ostarine Dosage, Cycle Length, & More
MK-677 Review: Ibutamoren Dosage, Cycle Length, & More
Born and raised in Woodbridge, NJ, he graduated from the New Jersey Institute Of Technology with an MBA in eCommerce.His hobbies include beach volleyball, target shooting, and lifting.
Rob is also a Commercially rated pilot and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), with over 1,500 hours of flight time.
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