Cardarine (GW-501516)
kar-da-reen
Category
Compound type
Phase / Status
Research chemical. Not FDA approved. Development halted due to cancer concerns in animal studies at very high doses. Widely used in research settings.
Standard Dose
Once daily
Half-life
Plasma elimination
Route(s)
Oral
Research Stage
Research phase not specified; exercise appropriate caution.
Overview
Cardarine is like having an extra lung. It shifts your body from burning glucose to burning fat for fuel, which means insane endurance and rapid fat loss. It's not a SARM and won't mess with your testosterone or estrogen. No PCT needed. Popular with endurance athletes but banned in all sports. Animal studies showed cancer risk at mega doses, so don't be stupid with dosing. Keep it moderate.
Plain-language summary
Cardarine is like having an extra lung. It shifts your body from burning glucose to burning fat for fuel, which means insane endurance and rapid fat loss. It's not a SARM and won't mess with your testosterone or estrogen. No PCT needed. Popular with endurance athletes but banned in all sports. Animal studies showed cancer risk at mega doses, so don't be stupid with dosing. Keep it moderate.
Administration Routes
- Oral
Also known as
Mechanisms
PPAR-delta receptor agonist - alters energy metabolism to preferentially burn fatty acids instead of glucose. Basically tells your muscles to use fat as fuel instead of sugar.
Detailed mechanism
PPAR-delta receptor agonist that shifts energy metabolism from glucose to fatty acids, increasing endurance and fat oxidation without affecting hormonal pathways.
Safety
Side effects
- Potential cancer risk concerns in animal studies (high doses)
- Mild suppression of HDL cholesterol
- Possible liver stress with extended use
- Headache in some users
- GI discomfort
Reported benefits
- Dramatic endurance and stamina increase
- Serious fat loss without muscle loss
- Improved cardiovascular health markers
- Faster recovery between sets
- Zero testosterone suppression
- No PCT required
Safety profile
Controversial safety profile. Animal studies show cancer risk at very high doses. Human data limited. Not approved for human use.
Clinical trials
Phase 1/2 trials completed but development halted due to cancer concerns in mice at extremely high doses. Human data limited.
Structure
Verified structure
Cardarine (GW-501516)
Exact 2D structure can be rendered from a PubChem-backed canonical SMILES string.
- Chemical Formula
- C21H18F3NO3S2
- Molecular Weight
- 453.5 g/mol
- CAS Number
- 317318-70-0
- InChIKey
- YDBLKRPLXZNVNB-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Stack Context
Stacks with
Comparison context
Cardarine dramatically improves endurance and fat oxidation through PPAR-delta activation, while SR-9009 (Stenabolic) does the same through Rev-ErbA agonism, both boost cardio but through different mechanisms. Unlike clenbuterol, which burns fat through beta-2 agonism and comes with jitters, cardarine is smooth and non-stimulating. AICAR also activates AMPK for endurance but through a completely different pathway.
References
- 1View source
Cardarine (GW501516) improves metabolic syndrome
2011
- 2View source
PPAR-delta in exercise and metabolism
2017
This profile summarizes research literature for education only. It is not medical advice, and it does not diagnose, treat, or recommend a dose. Consult a qualified professional before changing a protocol.