SARMs 101: A Complete Introduction for Canadian Beginners

SARMs are often marketed as “steroids without the side effects.” The real picture is more nuanced. They are a genuinely interesting class of drugs that pharmaceutical companies developed for muscle wasting, osteoporosis and cancer-related weight loss, but none has made it through approval, and the products sold online vary widely in quality. This guide covers the science, the risks and the Canadian rules.

What makes a SARM “selective”

Testosterone and anabolic steroids switch on androgen receptors throughout the body: muscle and bone, but also the prostate, skin, scalp and the brain’s hormone control centre. They are also converted into other hormones such as estrogen and DHT.

SARMs are built differently. Most are non-steroidal molecules that bind the androgen receptor strongly in muscle and bone but act less strongly in tissues like the prostate. They also do not convert to estrogen or DHT. In theory that means fewer side effects like water retention, gynecomastia or prostate growth. In practice, “less” is not “none,” as the trials show.

The common SARMs

Cardarine (GW-501516), MK-677 (ibutamoren) and SR9009 are often sold alongside SARMs but are not SARMs at all. They work through completely different pathways. See our guides to Cardarine and SR9009.

What the studies actually show

In clinical trials, ostarine at 3 mg a day increased lean body mass by roughly 1–1.5 kg over three to four months in older adults, and improved stair-climbing power in some studies. In a trial of healthy young men, LGD-4033 at 1 mg a day added about 1 kg of lean mass in three weeks.

Those are real but modest effects at doses far lower than what is often discussed online. Higher doses have not been studied in humans, so their risks are unknown.

Side effects the trials found

• Testosterone suppression. Even 1 mg of LGD-4033 lowered total testosterone and SHBG in three weeks. Natural production recovered after stopping, but suppression is dose-dependent.
• Lower HDL cholesterol. HDL fell noticeably in several trials.
• Liver enzyme rises. There are published case reports of liver injury linked to RAD-140 and LGD-4033.
• Vision changes with S4, such as yellow tinting and trouble adjusting to the dark.

Because testosterone drops, some people need help recovering afterwards. Our article on SARMs and PCT covers this.

Legal status in Canada

SARMs are not listed in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, so possessing them is not a criminal offence. They are not approved by Health Canada for any use, and Health Canada has issued public advisories warning Canadians about unauthorized products containing SARMs. They are sold for research purposes. They are banned in sport under the World Anti-Doping Agency list, which applies to athletes tested by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport.

Quality is the biggest practical risk

A study published in JAMA in 2017 bought SARM products online and tested them. Only about half contained the SARM on the label, many contained other unapproved drugs, and fewer than half matched the labelled amount. That is why brand consistency, specifications and lab results matter more with SARMs than almost anything else. Our guide to liquid vs capsule SARMs explains how form affects accuracy.

SteroidsCanada sells SARMs from Zionova and Genetix as fixed-dose tablets, with the amount per tablet on every product page. Browse the SARMs category or compare compounds in the compound profiles.

Bloodwork for SARMs

Test total testosterone, LH, lipids and liver enzymes before and part way through, and testosterone again a few weeks after stopping. The bloodwork guide explains how to arrange this in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

Photo: rawpixel (public domain).

General information about unapproved research compounds, not medical advice. SARMs are not approved for human use in Canada.