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LGD-4033 (Ligandrol, VK5211) — nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM)
A nonsteroidal SARM with one small Phase-1 human RCT that did show dose-dependent lean-mass gain over 21 days — but at the cost of suppressed testosterone and HDL cholesterol even at low doses. It was never approved as a medicine, multiple case reports tie it to cholestatic liver injury, internet 'SARM' products may have unreliable identity, strength or quality, and it is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Sold only as an unregulated grey-market research chemical for body composition.
Research compound — not a dietary supplement
LGD-4033 (Ligandrol) is a research compound, not a regulated dietary supplement. It is sold for research or off-label use. The evidence below is largely preclinical (animal and in-vitro) or early-stage, so no evidence score is assigned. This page is provided for transparency and education — it is not a recommendation to use. Consult a qualified healthcare provider, and be aware that purity, dosing, and legal status vary by jurisdiction.
What the evidence says
Most LGD-4033 (Ligandrol) studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.
Most evidence is from mixed-quality randomised trials published 2013–2025 with a typical study size of 2 participants.
Based on 6 studies · 1 RCT · 124 total participants
Confidence
Low confidenceBy outcome
LGD-4033 has one small Phase-1 RCT showing a genuine dose-dependent increase in lean body mass over 21 days — more human proof-of-concept than most grey-market compounds — but the same trial shows it suppresses testosterone and HDL cholesterol even at low doses, there is no long-term human efficacy or safety data, it is tied to cholestatic liver-injury case reports, only 23 of 44 products sold online as SARMs and bought in 2016 contained any SARM (Van Wagoner 2017), and it is WADA-banned and not approved, so it stays low-emerging.
LGD-4033 (Ligandrol; clinical code VK5211; forum name 'Anabolicum') is a nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) — a synthetic molecule that binds the androgen receptor with high affinity and is designed to activate androgenic signalling preferentially in muscle and bone while sparing the prostate.
The promise of the SARM class is an anabolic, muscle-building effect with fewer of the side effects of testosterone or anabolic steroids.
LGD-4033 is the SARM with the cleanest human proof-of-concept: a single placebo-controlled Phase-1 RCT (Basaria et al. 2013, J Gerontol) randomised 76 healthy young men to placebo or 0.1, 0.3, or 1.0 mg daily for 21 days and found a dose-dependent increase in lean body mass with no change in fat mass and no serious adverse events over the short course.
That is a genuine human anabolic signal — and the reason this compound is taken seriously at all.
But the same trial is the source of the honest caveats: LGD-4033 caused dose-dependent suppression of total testosterone, sex-hormone-binding globulin, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, with free testosterone and FSH suppressed at the top dose — i.e. it is hormonally suppressive even over three weeks, and there is no long-term human efficacy or safety trial.
The intended therapeutic programs (muscle wasting, the VK5211 hip-fracture work) never reached approval, and SARMs as a class remain investigational, with enobosarm/ostarine and GSK2881078 the compounds furthest along in trials. Three things define the real-world risk profile.
First, hepatotoxicity: multiple published case reports describe severe cholestatic drug-induced liver injury after Ligandrol use (Barbara 2020, Wallstab 2023, Koller 2021), typically jaundice with bile-duct injury on biopsy.
Second, product integrity: a JAMA chemical analysis of 44 internet products sold as SARMs and bought in 2016 found only 23 (52%) contained any SARM, 17 (39%) contained a different unapproved drug, and the labelled amount matched the analysed content in only 18 (41%), so a product sold as 'LGD-4033' may not contain it.
Third, regulatory status: LGD-4033 is not an approved medicine and not a lawful dietary-supplement ingredient; the FDA has warned against SARMs in body-building products, and it is on the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list, so tested athletes risk a sanction.
The honest summary: one small short RCT shows real dose-dependent lean-mass gain, but with testosterone and HDL suppression even at low dose, no long-term human data, liver-injury case reports, grey-market products that may have unreliable identity, strength or quality, and a sport ban.
The lean-mass signal is real; the trade-offs and the lack of any approved, quality-controlled product are why it scores low.
LGD-4033 binds the androgen receptor with high affinity and selectivity as a nonsteroidal modulator, designed to activate androgenic signalling preferentially in muscle and bone while sparing the prostate — the basis for the 'tissue-selective anabolic' SARM hypothesis.
Androgen-receptor activation in skeletal muscle drives the dose-dependent increase in lean body mass seen in the 21-day human trial, without a significant change in fat mass over that short period.
The same androgen-receptor activation suppresses the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis — lowering total testosterone, SHBG, and (at higher doses) free testosterone and FSH — and reduces HDL cholesterol and triglycerides, even over three weeks.
How LGD-4033 (Ligandrol) works — from molecular targets to health outcomes. Click an edge to see supporting research.This visualization is in beta — pathways are being refined and expanded.
Avoid — unapproved investigational SARM with HPG/HDL suppression, liver-injury case reports, no long-term human data, and no quality-controlled product.
Avoid absolutely — WADA-prohibited; SARMs are routinely tested for and athletes have been sanctioned.
Avoid entirely — androgenic compound, unstudied in human pregnancy.
LGD-4033 is linked to cholestatic drug-induced liver injury in case reports; combining it with other hepatotoxic agents or heavy alcohol could compound the risk.
LGD-4033 suppresses the HPG axis (testosterone, SHBG, FSH); stacking with hormonal agents or 'post-cycle therapy' is uncharacterised and has featured in liver-injury reports.
LGD-4033 lowers HDL cholesterol; the interaction with cardiovascular risk management is unstudied and the net effect on long-term cardiovascular risk is unknown.
Tip: Dose-dependent suppression of total testosterone, SHBG, and (at higher doses) free testosterone and FSH was seen even over 21 days; long-term suppression and recovery are not characterised.
Tip: HDL and triglycerides fell dose-dependently in the human trial; there is no offsetting proven outcome benefit and the long-term cardiovascular impact is unknown.
Tip: Multiple case reports describe severe cholestatic hepatitis (jaundice, bile-duct injury on biopsy) after Ligandrol use. Stop immediately and seek care for jaundice, dark urine, pruritus, or fatigue.
Tip: Most internet 'SARM' products are inaccurately labelled or contain other unapproved drugs (JAMA analysis); identity, purity, and dose are not guaranteed.
LGD-4033 (Ligandrol) has an evidence score of 3.5/10 — emerging evidence based on 6 indexed studies. A nonsteroidal SARM with one small Phase-1 human RCT that did show dose-dependent lean-mass gain over 21 days — but at the cost of suppressed testosterone and HDL cholesterol even at low doses. It was never approved as a medicine, multiple case reports tie it to cholestatic liver injury, internet 'SARM' products may have unreliable identity, strength or quality, and it is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Sold only as an unregulated grey-market research chemical for body composition. Representative study: PMID 22459616.
Dosing for LGD-4033 (Ligandrol): No self-directed dose is recommended by SupStack. LGD-4033 is an unapproved grey-market research chemical that suppresses testosterone and HDL even at low doses, is tied to liver-injury case reports, and is banned in sport. We do NOT provide a body-building dosing protocol. The evidence listed here does not establish this claimed use or a self-directed dose.
Timing is flexible for LGD-4033 (Ligandrol) — consistent daily use matters more than the time of day. There is no validated or endorsed human dosing schedule beyond a single 21-day Phase-1 trial.
No consumer dose of LGD-4033 (Ligandrol) is endorsed, so there is no dose at which it can be called safe. Talk to a healthcare provider before taking it. Reported side effects include cholestatic drug-induced liver injury, testosterone / HPG-axis suppression, lowered HDL cholesterol. How often they occur is not established for all of them. Use caution if any of these apply to you: Anyone — unapproved investigational SARM with no long-term human safety data, HPG-axis and HDL suppression, and cholestatic liver-injury case reports; Not an approved medicine and not a regulated dietary supplement — unregulated grey-market research chemical that may have unreliable identity, strength or quality; do not self-source; Competitive / tested athletes — WADA-prohibited; use will trigger an anti-doping violation.
What side effects does LGD-4033 (Ligandrol) have?Don't take this if…
Epicatechin
Mixed evidenceDark chocolate flavanol with consistent human evidence for improved endothelial function and modest blood pressure reduction. Muscle-building claims are not supported in humans.
Beta-Ecdysterone
Mostly mechanism / observationalPhytoecdysteroid that activates the PI3K/Akt pathway; studied for muscle protein synthesis and strength. Non-steroidal, though human strength evidence is limited.
Ostarine (MK-2866 / Enobosarm)
Mostly mechanism / observationalA non-steroidal SARM (enobosarm / MK-2866) developed for muscle wasting and cancer cachexia. Real, large randomized trials show it genuinely adds lean body mass — but it has NEVER been approved: the pivotal cancer-cachexia program met its lean-mass endpoints while missing physical-function endpoints, so a durable functional benefit is unproven. Sold as a grey-market 'body-recomp' research chemical, it carries documented drug-induced liver injury, HDL/lipid suppression, and testosterone (HPTA) suppression, is banned by WADA, and products sold online may have unreliable identity, strength or quality. Real anabolic signal, unproven function, real harms.
RAD-140 (Testolone)
Mostly mechanism / observationalA selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) sold grey-market for muscle and body composition. Its anabolic and anti-cancer data are preclinical (cells/animals); the only human studies are a Phase-1 breast-cancer safety trial and case reports of severe liver injury. WADA-banned, suppresses natural testosterone, and grey-market products may have unreliable identity, strength or quality.
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Reviewed by Dr. Baher Al Hakim · Last reviewed June 2026 · evidence from 6 studies · how we score · editorial policy
This information is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any supplement or medication.
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