LGD-4033

Potential Health Benefits of LGD-4033

• Improves Muscle Mass and Physical Function [1-11]
• Strengthens Bones and Lowers Risk of Osteoporosis [12-19]
• Promotes Fat Loss [20-24]
• Improves Exercise Performance [25]
• Increases Libido [27-31]
• Improves Brain Health [32-38]

What is LGD-4033?

LGD-4033, also known as Ligandrol, is a non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) that is designed to cure muscle wasting associated with chronic, progressive, debilitating diseases as well as age-related muscle loss. LGD-4033 is proven to have promising results in gaining lean muscle mass and reducing overall body fat in a short time period. This powerful SARM works by binding itself with specific androgen receptors in the body such as muscle and bone receptors. Unlike steroids, it doesn’t affect the prostate, liver, or oil glands, making it a safer alternative for those who want to achieve a well-defined body.

How LGD-4033 Works?

LGD-4033 binds with the androgen receptors within the cells. This in turn stimulates muscle growth, increases muscle strength, and fortifies the bones. With this mechanism, LGD-4033 increases the efficiency and improves the results of anabolic activities like lifting weights and other high-intensity exercises.

Chemical Structure of LGD-4033

Research on LGD-4033

Improves Muscle Mass and Physical Function

An overwhelming body of clinical evidence suggests that LGD-4033 is safe and effective in increasing lean body mass in a short time period:

1. In healthy men (21–50 years), ascending doses (0.1, 0.3, or 1.0 mg) of LGD-4033 administered daily for 21 days increased lean body mass without any adverse side effects. [1-2]
2. In cancer patients with muscle wasting, LGD-4033 consistently increased lean body mass and improved physical function and quality of life. [3-4]
3. In healthy men, LGD-4033 increased lean muscle mass and improved functional measures. [5]
4. Phase I and II clinical studies have shown that LGD-4033 administration in patients with muscle wasting is safe and effective. [6-9]
5. In aging men and women, LGD-4033 improved lean body mass and physical functioning. [10]
6. In cancer patients with muscle wasting, LGD-4033 significantly decreased morbidity and mortality by improving muscle mass and strength, thereby allowing them to undergo more intensive treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy. [11]

Strengthens Bones and Lowers Risk of Osteoporosis

Preventing bone loss and increasing bone formation are two important mechanisms involved in maintaining optimum bone health. Studies show that LGD-4033 does have potent bone-building capacity and may help prevent osteoporosis and fractures:

1. LGD-4033 appears to decrease bone breakdown, thereby preventing fractures and decreased bone mineral density (BMD). [12]
2. In patients with osteoporosis, SARMs such as LGD-4033 increased BMD. [13]
3. In preclinical models, LGD-4033 increases BMD and bone strength at various skeletal sites. [14]
4. In rats, LGD-4033 promoted bone growth, prevented bone breakdown, and increased skeletal muscle mass/strength. [15-18]
5. In animal models, LGD-4033 accelerated healing of bone injuries. [19]

Promotes Fat Loss

Because LGD-4033 exclusively binds with muscle receptors, it may significantly reduce overall body fat percentage. Numerous high-quality studies support the fat-burning effect of LGD-4033:

1. In healthy, young men, LDG-4033 use is associated with significant reduction in fat mass and increase in lean body mass.[20]
2. In men, oral administration of LGD-4033 promoted fat loss by reducing triglyceride levels. [21-23]
3. In rats, LGD-4033 reduced body fat significantly. [24]

Improves Exercise Performance

LGD-4033 supplementation may help athletes and physically active individuals stay fit by improving their exercise performance. Evidence suggests that with LGD-4033’s beneficial effects on muscle mass and strength as well as bone health, this powerful SARM may enhance exercise endurance, strength, and recovery. [25]

Increases Libido

SARMs such as LGD-4033 may help boost one’s self-confidence by ramping up sexual power. Numerous studies assessing the beneficial effects of SARMs in sexual health have shown positive results:

1. In women, LGD-4033 enhanced libido and other parameters of sexuality. [26]
2. In rats, LGD-4033 enhanced sexual preference of females for males. [27]
3. In female rats that had undergone surgical removal of the ovaries, LGD-4033 increased sexual motivation, with potency and efficacy comparable with testosterone propionate. [28]
4. In a rat study, LGD-4033 penetrated the brains of female rats and stimulated sexual behaviour. [29]
5. In male rats, LGD-4033 and other SARMs improved mounts, intromissions, ejaculations, and copulation efficiency. [30]
6. In castrated rodent models, LGD-4033 maintained the male reproductive behavior. [31]

Improves Brain Health

There is robust evidence that LGD-4033 and other SARMs possess the ability to protect nerve cells (neurons) of the brain from injury or damage:

1. In an ongoing clinical trial, LGD-4033 protected the brains of men with minor cognitive impairment from further deterioration. [32]
2. In rat models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), LGD-4033 decreased the levels of abnormal protein plaques known as amyloid beta, which is the causative agent of AD. [33]
3. Studies showed that LGD-4033 and other SARMs stimulated the growth and development of brain tissues, enhanced communication of neurons, and promoted cell survival. [34-37]
4. In rats, LGD-4033 protected new neurons in the brain. [38]

Associated Side Effects of LGD-4033

LGD-4033 side effects are very uncommon. There have been some side effects associated with the use of this SARM wherein the patient had one of the issues listed below at some point while being on LGD-4033. However, the issue wasn’t’ confirmed to be caused by the treatment and could have been a coincidence and not related to the use of LGD-4033. Despite this, it was listed as a side effect associated with LGD-4033 even these associated side effects are very uncommon.

Side effects associated with LGD-4033 may include the following:

• Decreased sex drive
• Headaches
• Increased blood pressure
• Low energy
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Itching

References

1. Basaria S, Collins L, Dillon EL, et al. 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. 2013;68(1):87-95. doi:10.1093/gerona/gls078.
2. Dalton JT, Barnette KG, Bohl CE, et al. The selective androgen receptor modulator GTx-024 (enobosarm) improves lean body mass and physical function in healthy elderly men and postmenopausal women: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II trial. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2011;2:153–161.
3. Dalton JT, Taylor RP, Mohler ML, Steiner MS. Selective androgen receptor modulators for the prevention and treatment of muscle wasting associated with cancer. Current opinion in supportive and palliative care. 2013; 7(4):345-51.
4. Steiner M. S.; Barnette K. G.; Hancock M. L.; Dodson S. T.; Rodriguez D.; Morton R. A. Effect of GTx-024, a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM), on stair climb performance and quality of life (QOL) in patients with cancer cachexia. ASCO Meeting Abstracts 2010, 28, 9147.
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10. Dalton J. T.; Barnette K. G.; Bohl C. E.; Hancock M. L.; Rodriguez D.; Dodson S. T.; Morton R. A.; Steiner M. S. The selective androgen receptor modulator GTx-024 (enobosarm) improves lean body mass and physical function in healthy elderly men and postmenopausal women: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II trial. J. Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2011, 2, 153–16110.1007/s13539-011-0034-6.
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15. Kearbey JD, Gao W, Fisher SJ, Wu D, Miller DD, Dalton JT. Effects of selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) treatment in osteopenic female rats. Pharmaceutical research. 2009; 26(11):2471-7.
16. Gao W, Reiser PJ, Coss CC, Phelps MA, Kearbey JD, Miller DD, Dalton JT. Selective androgen receptor modulator treatment improves muscle strength and body composition and prevents bone loss in orchidectomized rats. Endocrinology. 2005;146:4887–4897.
17. Gao W, Reiser PJ, Kearbey JD, Phelps MA, Coss CC, Miller DD, Dalton JT. Effects of Novel Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM) on Skeletal Muscle Mass and Strength in Castrated Male Rats. The Endocrine Society; New Orleans: 2004.
18. Kearbey JD, Gao W, Narayanan R, Fisher SJ, Wu D, Miller DD, Dalton JT. Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM) treatment prevents bone loss and reduces body fat in ovariectomized rats. Pharmaceutical research. 2007;24:328–335.
19. Seeman E. Periosteal bone formation–a neglected determinant of bone strength. The New England journal of medicine. 2003; 349(4):320-3.
20. Basaria S, Collins L, Dillon EL, et al. 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. 2013;68(1):87-95. doi:10.1093/gerona/gls078.
21. Wu FC, von Eckardstein A. Androgens and coronary artery disease. Endocr Rev. 2003;24:183–217.
22. Schroeder ET, Singh A, Bhasin S, et al. Effects of an oral androgen on muscle and metabolism in older, community-dwelling men. Am J PhysiolEndocrinolMetab. 2003;284:E120–E128.
23. Thompson PD, Cullinane EM, Sady SP, Chenevery C, Saritelli AL, Sady MA. Contrasting effects of testosterone and stanozolol on serum lipoprotein levels. JAMA. 1989;261:1165–1168.
24. Kearbey JD, Gao W, Narayanan R, Fisher SJ, Wu D, Miller DD, Dalton JT. Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM) treatment prevents bone loss and reduces body fat in ovariectomized rats. Pharmaceutical research. 2007;24:328–335.
25. Thevis M, Thomas A, Möller I, Geyer H, Dalton JT, Schänzer W. Mass spectrometric characterization of urinary metabolites of the selective androgen receptor modulator S-22 to identify potential targets for routine doping controls. Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM. 2011; 25(15):2187-95.
26. Negro-Vilar A. Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs): a novel approach to androgen therapy for the new millennium. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism. 1999; 84(10):3459-62.
27. Kudwa AE, López FJ, McGivern RF, Handa RJ. A selective androgen receptor modulator enhances male-directed sexual preference, proceptive behavior, and lordosis behavior in sexually experienced, but not sexually naive, female rats. Endocrinology. 2010; 151(6):2659-68. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20392832.
28. Jones A, Hwang DJ, Duke CB. Nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulators enhance female sexual motivation. The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics. 2010; 334(2):439-48.
29. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/endo/article/151/6/2659/2456825.
30. Miner JN, Chang W, Chapman MS. An orally active selective androgen receptor modulator is efficacious on bone, muscle, and sex function with reduced impact on prostate. Endocrinology. 2007; 148(1):363-73. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17023534.
31. Miner JN, Chang W, Chapman MS, Finn PD, Hong MH, Lopez FJ, Marschke KB, Rosen J, Schrader W, Turner R, van Oeveren A, Viveros H, Zhi L, Negro-Vilar A. An orally active selective androgen receptor modulator is efficacious on bone, muscle, and sex function with reduced impact on prostate. Endocrinology. 2007;148:363–373.
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33. Jayaraman A, Christensen A, Moser VA, et al. Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator RAD140 Is Neuroprotective in Cultured Neurons and Kainate-Lesioned Male Rats. Endocrinology. 2014;155(4):1398-1406. doi:10.1210/en.2013-1725. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3959610/.
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