Understanding SARMs in 2026: What Current Research Says

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Understanding SARMs in 2026: What Current Research Says

Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) continue to generate interest among researchers and fitness communities in 2026. These compounds are designed to selectively bind to androgen receptors, with the goal of producing anabolic activity in certain tissues such as muscle and bone while limiting androgenic effects in other tissues.

Although several SARMs have been investigated in preclinical or early clinical studies, they remain experimental compounds. SARMs are not FDA-approved for muscle building, athletic performance enhancement, or recreational use, and substantial questions remain regarding their long-term safety and effectiveness.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned that products marketed as SARMs are unapproved drugs and has associated their use with potentially serious adverse effects, including liver injury and possible cardiovascular risks. Products sold as “research use only” should not be interpreted as FDA-approved or established as safe for human use.

This article summarizes current research on several commonly discussed SARMs and highlights what is currently known—and what remains uncertain—about their pharmacology and safety.

RAD-140 (Testolone)

RAD-140, also known as Testolone, is one of the better-known investigational SARMs. Preclinical studies have examined its tissue-selective androgen receptor activity and anabolic properties, which contributed to research interest in possible therapeutic applications involving muscle and other androgen-responsive tissues.

A 2011 preclinical study described RAD-140 as a nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulator and examined its activity in laboratory and animal models.

Despite those early findings, published human clinical evidence remains limited. Laboratory or animal findings cannot establish that RAD-140 is safe or effective for human muscle building, athletic performance, or other unapproved uses. Long-term human safety data are also lacking.

AC-262 (Accadrine)

AC-262, sometimes referred to as Accadrine, is another investigational selective androgen receptor modulator that has been examined primarily in early-stage research.

Available information focuses largely on its interaction with androgen receptors and its potential tissue-selective activity. Compared with compounds that have undergone human clinical trials, the evidence base for AC-262 remains particularly limited.

There is not enough high-quality human evidence to establish its safety, effectiveness, or long-term effects. Claims made about AC-262 in commercial or fitness-oriented discussions therefore should not be confused with findings from established clinical research.

RAD-150

RAD-150 is described in commercial and industry discussions as a compound structurally related to RAD-140 and modified with a benzoate ester.

Published clinical evidence evaluating RAD-150 is extremely limited. Claims regarding a longer duration of action or other pharmacological differences from RAD-140 have not been established through large, peer-reviewed human clinical trials.

For that reason, information from commercial listings or informal discussions should be distinguished from validated pharmacological evidence. The existence of a commercially available material does not demonstrate that the compound has been established as safe or effective for human use.

Other Commonly Discussed SARMs

Several additional compounds frequently appear in scientific publications, regulatory discussions, and fitness-related conversations.

LGD-4033 (Ligandrol)

LGD-4033 is among the SARMs for which controlled human data are available.

A randomized, placebo-controlled study involving healthy men examined LGD-4033 over 21 days. Researchers reported dose-related increases in lean body mass, but the study also documented dose-dependent suppression of total testosterone and changes in other hormone and lipid measurements.

The trial was short and relatively small, so its findings should not be interpreted as evidence establishing long-term safety or supporting recreational use. Longer-term studies would be necessary to evaluate clinical benefits and risks adequately.

S-23

S-23 is another investigational selective androgen receptor modulator that has demonstrated anabolic activity in preclinical research.

Human clinical evidence remains extremely limited, and its overall safety profile has not been established through large controlled trials. Conclusions about its effects in people therefore cannot be drawn reliably from animal or laboratory research alone.

Safety and Regulatory Considerations

Although SARMs are frequently discussed online alongside supplements and fitness products, that framing can be misleading.

The FDA states that SARMs are not approved drugs and cannot legally be marketed in the United States as dietary supplements. The agency has continued to issue warnings and take enforcement action involving companies marketing SARM products.

Reported or potential health risks associated with SARMs include:

• Liver injury, including serious liver toxicity
• Hormonal suppression
• Changes in cholesterol and other cardiovascular risk markers
• Sexual and reproductive effects
• Possible increased cardiovascular risk
• Uncertain long-term consequences because controlled human research remains limited

Another concern is the relationship between the compound studied in scientific research and products marketed under the same name. Research findings involving a characterized investigational compound do not establish that commercially marketed materials contain the same substance, concentration, purity, or composition.

For legitimate laboratory research, material identity and analytical characterization are therefore separate questions from the biological findings reported in scientific literature.

SARMs should not be treated as established dietary supplements, approved bodybuilding drugs, or proven alternatives to anabolic steroids.

Research Quality and Product Identity

One recurring challenge in SARM research is distinguishing evidence about a specific chemical compound from claims made about commercial products carrying that compound’s name.

Peer-reviewed research generally involves characterized study materials, controlled experimental conditions, defined endpoints, and documented methods. Commercial labels and product descriptions do not provide equivalent evidence.

Analytical testing can help researchers establish characteristics such as identity and purity of laboratory materials, but those findings do not establish clinical safety or effectiveness.

Likewise, a certificate of analysis or other laboratory document should not be interpreted as evidence that a product is FDA-approved or suitable for human consumption.

Why Early Research Does Not Equal an Approved Treatment

SARMs initially attracted scientific interest because selective activation of androgen receptors could theoretically have therapeutic applications while reducing some unwanted androgenic effects.

Researchers have explored whether selective androgen receptor modulation might eventually have applications in conditions involving muscle loss, reduced physical function, osteoporosis, or other disorders involving muscle and bone.

However, demonstrating an interesting biological mechanism is only an early stage of drug development.

Clinical approval requires considerably more evidence, including adequately designed human trials evaluating effectiveness, adverse effects, appropriate patient populations, drug interactions, dosing, and longer-term outcomes.

For the SARMs discussed here, that evidence is incomplete.

Ongoing Research

Scientific interest in selective androgen receptor modulation continues because the underlying biological concept remains relevant to conditions involving muscle and bone.

The amount and quality of evidence varies substantially by compound. LGD-4033, for example, has been evaluated in a small controlled human trial, while evidence for compounds such as AC-262, RAD-150, and S-23 is much more limited.

This difference is important when interpreting online discussions that group all SARMs together. Findings involving one compound cannot automatically be applied to another simply because both interact with androgen receptors.

Researchers must evaluate each compound according to its own pharmacology, available human evidence, adverse-effect data, and quality of supporting studies.

Conclusion

SARMs remain an active area of scientific research in 2026, but scientific interest should not be confused with established medical use.

Compounds such as RAD-140, AC-262, RAD-150, LGD-4033, and S-23 have very different levels of supporting evidence. Some have been examined primarily in preclinical research, while limited human data exist for others.

Current evidence does not establish SARMs as safe or approved products for recreational muscle building or athletic performance enhancement. The FDA continues to classify marketed SARM products as unapproved drugs and has warned about potentially serious health risks associated with their use.

When evaluating information about SARMs, the most useful distinctions are between preclinical and human evidence, research compounds and commercial products, short-term findings and established long-term safety, and scientific findings versus marketing claims.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are SARMs?

SARMs, or Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators, are experimental compounds designed to activate androgen receptors with varying degrees of tissue selectivity. Researchers have investigated whether this approach could eventually have therapeutic applications involving muscle, bone, and other androgen-responsive tissues.

Are SARMs approved for bodybuilding?

No. SARMs are not FDA-approved for bodybuilding, athletic performance enhancement, or recreational muscle gain. The FDA considers products marketed as SARMs to be unapproved drugs rather than legal dietary supplements.

Which SARMs have received the most human research?

The amount of research varies considerably. LGD-4033 has been studied in a controlled trial involving healthy men, while RAD-140 has substantial preclinical research but limited published human evidence. Human evidence for compounds such as AC-262, RAD-150, and S-23 is considerably more limited.

Does promising laboratory research mean a SARM is safe for people?

No. Laboratory and animal studies can help researchers understand biological activity, but they cannot establish human safety or effectiveness. Those questions require appropriately designed clinical trials.

Why does material identity matter in SARM research?

Scientific findings apply to the compound and preparation actually studied. Commercial materials carrying the same name may differ in identity, concentration, purity, or composition. Analytical characterization can therefore be important in legitimate laboratory research, but it does not establish clinical safety or suitability for human use.

References

1. Miller, C. P., Shomali, M., Lyttle, C. R., et al. (2011). Design, Synthesis, and Preclinical Characterization of the Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM) RAD140. ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2(2), 124-129. https://doi.org/10.1021/ml1002508
2. Basaria, S., Collins, L., Dillon, E. L., Orwoll, K., Storer, T. W., Miciek, R., Ulloor, J., Zhang, A., Eder, R., Zientek, H., Gordon, G., Kazmi, S., Sheffield-Moore, M., & Bhasin, S. (2013). The safety, pharmacokinetics, and effects of LGD-4033, a novel nonsteroidal oral, selective androgen receptor modulator, in healthy young men. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 68(1), 87–95. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/gls078