PeptideFactSheetsAn independent reference
Menu

Nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulator · Fact sheet

Ligandrol

Also known as LGD-4033 · VK5211

Ligandrol is an experimental SARM. A 21-day human study increased lean mass while suppressing testosterone-related measures and HDL cholesterol; it did not establish a safe muscle-enhancement regimen.

Not FDA approvedEarly human evidence
Muscle & recoveryHormones & sexual health

What is Ligandrol?

LGD-4033 acts on androgen receptors. It is not a growth-hormone peptide or approved testosterone replacement.

A dose-related biomarker effect is not the same as improved long-term function.

Benefits & claims

Interest includes performance or metabolic effects, but a mechanism, hormone change or lean-mass result does not establish safe improvement in athletic function.

What the evidence supports

  • Lean mass increased with dose, while fat mass did not change significantly.
  • Total testosterone, SHBG and HDL cholesterol decreased; some additional hormone measures were suppressed at the highest studied dose.
  • Short-term recovery of measured hormones in the study does not guarantee recovery after other exposures.
Research areas
  • Performance-related biology
  • Clinical or preclinical disease research

Dosage & frequency

Human study context

This is an exposure from a named human study, not a generally established treatment or enhancement regimen.

How to read these amounts

An approved regimen belongs to a specific product, indication, and population. A study regimen describes what researchers tested; it does not establish a prescription or a safe self-use protocol. Products, routes, and formulations are not interchangeable. A prescriber uses the full label and individual clinical circumstances.

Personal accounts may describe amounts, schedules and outcomes beyond clinical research. They do not establish a regimen. Read the reported experiences

Formulations, interactions & practical context

Identity and pharmacology
LGD-4033 acts on androgen receptors. It is not a growth-hormone peptide or approved testosterone replacement.
The safety, pharmacokinetics, and effects of LGD-4033, a novel nonsteroidal oral, selective androgen receptor modulator, in healthy young men. Ligandrol (LGD-4033)-Induced Liver Injury.

Formulation differences

  • A dose-related biomarker effect is not the same as improved long-term function.

Interactions & precautions

  • The reviewed sources do not establish a comprehensive human interaction profile for this exact substance or combination.

What is still unresolved

  • Long-term clinically meaningful benefit
  • Endocrine, cardiovascular and organ safety
  • Identity, exposure and interaction differences outside research settings
The safety, pharmacokinetics, and effects of LGD-4033, a novel nonsteroidal oral, selective androgen receptor modulator, in healthy young men. Ligandrol (LGD-4033)-Induced Liver Injury. FDA: serious risks of SARM bodybuilding products

Side effects & risks

  • Hormonal suppression and unfavorable HDL changes were directly observed.
  • Clinical reports describe liver injury after products labeled ligandrol; case reports do not establish purity, causation with certainty or incidence.

This is a summary of the cited evidence, not a complete product label. A lack of human safety data does not establish safety.

Clinical research

Early human evidence

In 76 healthy men, three dose groups were compared with placebo. The short trial found endocrine and lipid suppression alongside lean-mass changes.

Studies

Personal experiences

Reports describe what someone noticed. They cannot establish cause, typical results, or how often a side effect happens. Amounts and schedules describe the individual account, not an effective or safe dose. Product identity and strength may be unverified, and missing details are left explicit.

Explore 2 sourced accounts by reported effect.

Weight: reported experiences

Mixed account · personal report

More strength and body weight, with irritability and changing libido

A 35-year-old author described more repetitions, fuller muscles and higher body weight over the first 23 days of LGD use. Updates also mentioned irritability, temporary lethargy and libido declining from an initial increase; the author acknowledged water-related weight gain.

Reported use in this account

Product
LGD, described as ligandrol
Amount
6 mg
Frequency
Daily
Route
Not specified clearly
Duration
Updates through day 23

Other exposures described: NAC added during the reported period; Resistance training four to five times weekly

Training continued, NAC was added and the product was not independently verified. The author inferred suppression from symptoms rather than published hormone tests. Clomiphene was discussed, but actual addition was not established.

Read the original account

Approval status

Ligandrol has no FDA-approved therapeutic product. The cited research does not establish an approved performance-enhancement use.

Early human research; no FDA approval

Approval covers the labeled product, use and population. A trial phase does not establish success; a stopped program is not ongoing research.

Open questions

  • Long-term clinically meaningful benefit
  • Endocrine, cardiovascular and organ safety
  • Identity, exposure and interaction differences outside research settings

Summary

Short-term recovery of measured hormones in the study does not guarantee recovery after other exposures.

Sources

Medical evidence and regulatory sources are listed here. Personal reports are linked separately in the experiences section.

  2. pubmedLigandrol (LGD-4033)-Induced Liver Injury.

    Original ligandrol-associated liver-injury case report.

  3. fdaFDA: serious risks of SARM bodybuilding products

    FDA class-level warning: unapproved products, liver injury and cardiovascular and hormone-associated risks; not a compound-specific incidence estimate.

How we assess sources · Suggest a correction