Performance & GH axis
Cardarine
GW-501516, Endurobol
Cardarine is a PPAR-delta agonist — not a SARM and not a peptide, despite being sold alongside both. Its development was terminated after animal carcinogenicity findings, and it is not approved anywhere.
Also known as: GW501516, GW 501516, endurobol, GW1516
- Status
- Cardarine is a research compound and not approved by the FDA for human use.
- Evidence
- Preclinical. Evidence comes from animal or lab studies; effects in people are not established.
- Half-life
- Approximately 20 to 24 hours.
- How it's taken
- Oral, in non-clinical use
- Mechanism
- Metabolic (non-incretin)
- Pathways
- Mitochondrial
How Cardarine works
Cardarine activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta, a nuclear receptor regulating fatty acid oxidation and mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle. Activation shifts substrate use toward fat and increases oxidative fibre characteristics, which in rodents translated into markedly increased running endurance. It has no androgen receptor activity whatsoever.
What research has looked at
- Rodent studies showed substantial increases in endurance capacity and fat oxidation, which is the entire basis of its reputation.
- It has a genuinely interesting mechanism as a metabolic rather than hormonal agent, with no androgenic activity or testosterone suppression.
- Early human studies showed favourable effects on lipid parameters.
Evidence level: Preclinical. Evidence comes from animal or lab studies; effects in people are not established. These are areas studied or reported, not promised effects.
Reported side effects and risks
- Development was halted because long-term rodent studies produced cancers across multiple organ systems — liver, bladder, stomach, thyroid, skin, tongue, testes and uterus — at a range of doses. This is the single most important fact about the compound and it is not a marginal or disputed finding.
- No regulator has approved it for any use, and no long-term human safety data exist.
- The World Anti-Doping Agency took the unusual step of issuing a specific health warning to athletes about its cancer risk, beyond simply prohibiting it.
- It is prohibited at all times under the WADA Prohibited List.
- Material sold as cardarine is research chemical supply with unverified identity, purity and dose accuracy.
Sources
- PubMed research on GW-501516 cardarine PPAR delta carcinogenicity · NIH · National Library of Medicine
- DrugBank record for GW-501516 · DrugBank
- Active clinical trials for GW-501516 · U.S. National Library of Medicine
Track Cardarine in Peptide Vault
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Related compounds
Cardarine FAQ
What is Cardarine?
Cardarine is a PPAR-delta agonist — not a SARM and not a peptide, despite being sold alongside both. Its development was terminated after animal carcinogenicity findings, and it is not approved anywhere.
How does Cardarine work?
Cardarine activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta, a nuclear receptor regulating fatty acid oxidation and mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle. Activation shifts substrate use toward fat and increases oxidative fibre characteristics, which in rodents translated into markedly increased running endurance. It has no androgen receptor activity whatsoever.
Is Cardarine FDA approved?
No. Cardarine is a research compound and not approved by the FDA for human use. Evidence level: preclinical. Evidence comes from animal or lab studies; effects in people are not established.
What is the half-life of Cardarine?
Reported half-life: Approximately 20 to 24 hours.
How is Cardarine taken?
Oral, in non-clinical use.
What side effects have been reported with Cardarine?
Reported in the sources: Development was halted because long-term rodent studies produced cancers across multiple organ systems — liver, bladder, stomach, thyroid, skin, tongue, testes and uterus — at a range of doses. This is the single most important fact about the compound and it is not a marginal or disputed finding; No regulator has approved it for any use, and no long-term human safety data exist; The World Anti-Doping Agency took the unusual step of issuing a specific health warning to athletes about its cancer risk, beyond simply prohibiting it; It is prohibited at all times under the WADA Prohibited List; Material sold as cardarine is research chemical supply with unverified identity, purity and dose accuracy.
Educational summary compiled from the sources listed above. Not medical advice. Peptide Vault does not sell, source or recommend any compound. Talk to a qualified clinician before starting or changing anything.