This generation of bodybuilders is very lucky to have so many options as far as performance enhancers go. We have testosterone boosters, peptides, SARMs, and many other drugs which have proven to be quite effective in enhancing muscle growth and fat loss. Of all the options available at the moment, SARMs are the only drugs that have been compared to steroids and prohormones.
That’s because SARMs have proven to be exceptionally good at producing insane results that can only be compared to anabolic steroids. However, unlike steroids and prohormones, research has shown that SARMs are much safer.
In this review, we will be comparing SARMs to Prohormones to decide whether they are actually as good as prohormones.
Table of Contents
What are SARMs?
SARMs or Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators are research chemicals that have grown extremely popular in the bodybuilding industry in the last few years. SARMs were originally developed in the 1940s, but they only caught up in the 1990s. These drugs were developed to treat degenerative disorders such as muscle wasting and osteoporosis. However, as research into the drugs went on, scientists discovered that they also improved muscle growth, bone density, and fat loss. This is how they ended up being so popular in the fitness scene.
SARMs are still being studied for their potential benefits in the medical field. However, bodybuilders are already using them since they are available to buy as research chemicals.
How Do SARMs Work?
SARMs have a high affinity to androgen receptors. They bind and stimulate the androgen receptors the same way testosterone does. This results in an increase in nitrogen retention and protein synthesis, which leads to rapid muscle growth.
What makes SARMs so unique is the fact that they are extremely selective, hence the name. Research shows that SARMs only bind to the androgen receptors found in the muscle and bone tissues. Some SARMs can also interact with adipose tissue or fatty cell to stimulate fat loss. They do not tamper with androgen receptors found in other organs. This is how the drugs get to be so safe while producing mind-blowing results.
What are Prohormones?
Prohormones are precursors of specific hormones. In the bodybuilding setting, prohormones are precursors to anabolic hormones that can aid with muscle growth, increased stamina and strength, and fat loss.
Prohormones were popular back when steroids were the only alternative. They came in as a safer option that can produce similar results as steroids with minimal risks. However, looking back now, it’s hard to say that prohormones were any better than steroids. Sure, they caused fewer side effects, but they were still linked to some serious adverse reactions like liver damage or failure.
A few prohormones are still available today, but they are nowhere as potent as the old school prohormones. This means that they don’t produce remarkable results as they used to, and it also means that they are friendlier to the body, but they still pose significant risks.
How Do Prohormones Work?
As precursors to anabolic hormones, prohormones get converted into testosterone and estrogen hormones when they interact with certain enzymes. The chemicals then proceed to exert androgenic, estrogenic, and progestogenic effects. In other words, prohormones are also androgen receptor agonists, just like SARMs, but they have a different formula and affect several pathways.
Benefits of SARMs vs. Prohormones
SARMs and Prohormones produce almost the same bodybuilding benefits. These include:
- Rapid lean muscle growth
- Increased strength and energy
- Enhanced stamina and endurance
- Fat loss
- Enhanced recovery
- Strengthened bones
Some people claim that Prohormones produce faster and better results than SARMs. That’s not always the case, though. Yes, some traditional Prohormones were more powerful than today’s SARMs, but such prohormones are no longer available today. Most of the prohormones available at the moment do not produce significantly better results than SARMs. In fact, some of the powerful SARMs like S23, LGD4033 RAD140, and YK11 can perform much better than prohormones. Needless to say that the SARMs are safer than the prohormones.
Side Effects of SARMs vs. Prohormones
This is where SARMs completely outshine prohormones. SARMs are highly selective as compared to Prohormones, and this allows them to only work on the relevant body organs. SARMs are also not as suppressive as Prohormones. You also won’t have to worry about liver damage when using SARMs.
Here are some of the commonly reported side effects of SARMs:
- Acne breakout
- Oily skin
- Testosterone suppression
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Fatigue
As you can see, most of the side effects are mild. You can also avoid the side effects by sticking to the recommended doses and cycle. The testosterone suppression caused by SARMs can be reversed with PCT once you are done with your SARMs cycle.
Now, compare the above side effects to the following which are caused by Prohormones:
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- High blood pressure
- Acne
- Oily skin
- Water retention
- Hair loss
- Reduced libido
- Gynecomastia
- Increased aggression
- Mood swings
- Lethargy or fatigue
- Hepatotoxicity
- Testosterone suppression
Prohormones are more brutal with the side effects. You may be forced to take additional drugs to support the normal functioning of your liver. Taking prohormones for too long can end up affecting liver performance permanently.
SARMs vs. Prohormones Legal Status
SARMs are legal to buy as research chemicals in the United States, UK, Canada, and other countries across the world. However, they are illegal in some countries, so it’s important to check the regulations of these drugs in your area before making your order.
The legal status of SARMs makes it easier to control the quality of these products. The best SARMs suppliers have strict quality control policies that ensure the users are getting high-quality chemicals that are both effective and safe.
Meanwhile, Prohormones are illegal and very hard to find. The only place you can buy them is in the black market, where quality is never guaranteed. That’s an added risk because you could be injecting a liquid that’s branded prohormone when in reality, it’s something else! Prohormones are also quite expensive, and this is another reason you shouldn’t be using them in the first place.
Note that both SARMs and Prohormones are banned in professional sports.
Final Thoughts
It doesn’t take a genius to tell that SARMs are the way to go. They are more effective, safer, easier to buy, and cheaper than prohormones. So, why would you risk your health and life chasing illegal drugs in the black market?
