SARMs and metabolic agents researched for lean mass, endurance, and body composition.
Performance compounds — selective androgen receptor modulators and metabolic agents — are studied for lean mass, endurance and body composition. None is approved for performance use.
Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) such as Ostarine (MK-2866), LGD-4033, RAD-140, S-4 (Andarine) and YK-11 were designed to engage the androgen receptor with more tissue selectivity than anabolic steroids. Grouped alongside them are metabolic agents that are mechanistically distinct: Cardarine (GW-501516) is a PPAR-delta agonist, and SR9009 acts on the Rev-ErbA pathway — neither is actually a SARM, despite being filed under the same heading commercially.
That loose commercial grouping is the first thing to understand about this category: the label on the shelf is not a statement about mechanism.
Clinical data is uneven across the group. Ostarine and LGD-4033 carry the most, including Phase 2 work in muscle-wasting conditions; others have little human data at all. Importantly, none of these compounds is approved for performance or general use, and the category includes some of the more safety-relevant entries on the site — a few were discontinued in development specifically over safety findings, and regulatory status differs sharply by jurisdiction. This is a category to read slowly, profile by profile, rather than as a block.
Ostarine (MK-2866) and LGD-4033 are the most-studied SARMs; RAD-140 is frequently discussed for its potency in research settings; and Cardarine and SR9009 are the non-SARM metabolic agents often mislabelled alongside them. Each profile's Safety notes are essential reading in this category in particular.
Mitochondrial-derived peptide encoded within mitochondrial DNA, studied for its role in metabolic regulation and exercise physiology.
Nucleoside analog and AMPK activator, studied for reproducing molecular effects of exercise on metabolism.
Synthetic form of the active thyroid hormone triiodothyronine, studied in thyroid-replacement and metabolic research.
Non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator developed by Radius Health, studied for anabolic activity with reduced androgenic effect.
PPAR-delta agonist developed by GlaxoSmithKline and Ligand Pharmaceuticals, studied for effects on endurance and fatty-acid metabolism.
Steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator that also acts as a myostatin inhibitor, studied in muscle research.
Non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator developed by GTx, studied for muscle preservation in wasting-condition research.
Non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator developed by GTx, studied for anabolic activity in muscle and bone research.
Rev-ErbA agonist developed at Scripps Research, studied for effects on circadian rhythm and metabolic activity.
Non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator developed by Ligand Pharmaceuticals, studied for anabolic activity in muscle and bone research.
Second-generation antihistamine and mast-cell stabilizer, studied in allergic-response and mast-cell research.
Non-ergot dopamine D2/D3 receptor agonist, studied in Parkinson's disease and restless-legs syndrome research.
Amino acid derivative central to the transport of fatty acids into mitochondria, studied in energy-metabolism and exercise research.
