Side-by-side comparison of mechanisms, dosing, interactions, and stacking potential.
| Cardarine (GW-501516) | Ostarine (MK-2866 / Enobosarm) | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | SARMs | SARMs |
| Standard Dose | Research indicates 10-20 mg daily orally for 8-12 weeks. Clinical trials (metabolic syndrome) used 2.5-10 mg/day. | Research indicates 10-25 mg daily orally for 8-12 weeks. Phase 2 clinical trials used 1-3 mg/day with significant lean mass gains. |
| Timing | Once daily, 1-2 hours before exercise for acute endurance benefit. Half-life approximately 16-24 hours. Consistent daily dosing. | Once daily, morning or evening. Consistent timing. Half-life approximately 24 hours. No food timing requirements. |
| Cycle Duration | 8-12 week cycles. No HPG suppression, so PCT is not required. However, long-term safety is unknown and cycling is prudent. | 8-12 week cycles. PCT may be required depending on suppression level and cycle length. |
| Evidence Level | animal_plus_anecdotal | moderate_human |
Cardarine is a selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARd) agonist, not a SARM (it does not bind the androgen receptor). PPARd activation in skeletal muscle upregulates genes for fatty acid oxidation (CPT1B, PDK4, ACOX1), shifting fuel substrate from glycolysis toward beta-oxidation, effectively increasing endurance capacity and fat utilization. It increases oxidative type I (slow-twitch) muscle fiber proportion, enhances mitochondrial biogenesis via PGC-1a coactivation, reduces circulating triglycerides and LDL, and increases HDL cholesterol. PPARd activation also reduces macrophage-mediated inflammation through NF-kB suppression.
Research indicates 10-20 mg daily orally for 8-12 weeks. Clinical trials (metabolic syndrome) used 2.5-10 mg/day.
Once daily, 1-2 hours before exercise for acute endurance benefit. Half-life approximately 16-24 hours. Consistent daily dosing.
8-12 week cycles. No HPG suppression, so PCT is not required. However, long-term safety is unknown and cycling is prudent.
Ostarine (enobosarm/GTx-024) is a nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulator that binds the androgen receptor with high affinity, inducing a conformational change that recruits coactivator proteins preferentially in muscle and bone tissue over prostate and seminal vesicles. This tissue selectivity arises from differential AR cofactor recruitment and 5-alpha reductase metabolism. Ostarine promotes lean body mass by activating AR-mediated transcription of anabolic genes (MYC, IGF-1) in myocytes while minimizing androgenic effects in reproductive tissues. It has demonstrated dose-dependent increases in lean mass in Phase 2 trials.
Research indicates 10-25 mg daily orally for 8-12 weeks. Phase 2 clinical trials used 1-3 mg/day with significant lean mass gains.
Once daily, morning or evening. Consistent timing. Half-life approximately 24 hours. No food timing requirements.
8-12 week cycles. PCT may be required depending on suppression level and cycle length.
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