“Legal” supplements which are not healthy

Recently a new kind of supplements is doing rounds in the market and all over the internet and it is known by the name of “Legal” supplements. These are marketed as an alternative to steroids. Selective androgen receptor modulators which are also known as SARMs. These are actually the medications which are known to boost your athletic performance and give you a bulkier physique without the negative effects of using steroids which actually damages your liver or even impact your reproductive system.

As per a recent study published in JAMA, many of these SARMs contain unapproved substances, hormones, and steroids. Even the labels used on these supplements are wrong and misleading.

For instance, for the study purpose, 44 drugs marketed and sold as SARMs using procedures which were adopted by World Anti Doping agency were taken. It was found that 39% of supplements tested contains unapproved drugs like banned growth hormones or steroids. Additionally, even 25% of the ingredients were not even listed. 59% of the products were such where the actual measurement of the ingredients was quite different from the listed one.

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One of the researchers said

“The compounds found in our analyses have not been approved by the FDA. Therefore, the pharmaceutical companies which were or are developing these compounds cannot sell these products and a physician cannot prescribe these drugs to patients”.

He further added

“Also, because these compounds are not approved by the FDA, there is very little information about their safety and efficacy. Some of the compounds have never been studied in humans.”

FDA has also released a warning statement about products which contain SARMs or which are sold under this name. one of the sources said

“Life-threatening reactions, including liver toxicity, have occurred in people taking products containing SARMs,” the statement notes. “SARMs also have the potential to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, and the long-term effects on the body are unknown.”

Steroids have been used by most of the bodybuilders. 1 in every 10 bodybuilders used or must have used steroid at some point in time. Not only elite but even young bodybuilders are also seen using the same. Thus, a safer alternative of steroids has immediate market appeal. But this alternative is also not safe. And this draws a conclusion that natural means is the best way of bulking up and nothing can match up to that.