Effect on Cycle
Ostarine delivers some similar benefits and effects to steroids, by operating in a slightly different way to achieve the same goals and with the bonus of not causing the same adverse effects at the same time.
While no substance can rival the sheer power and potency of the best anabolic steroids when it comes to increasing muscle, strength and performance, Ostarine is no slouch, and the majority of users will be able to see impressive benefits and effects with this SARM.
In addition to increasing the critical processes of nitrogen retention and protein synthesis, it has been shown that Ostarine can also boost IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) which will contribute to greater strength and muscle gains. These processes combine to give Ostarine similar functionality to steroids.
These are the main benefits and effects you are likely to see with Ostarine:
- Lean Muscle Gains – This is probably the main reason you are considering using MK-2866, and with good reason. The evidence is clear that Ostarine promotes the growth of lean muscle. You won’t be gaining the same level of mass as with steroids, but these quality gains are more than impressive and come without any fluid so there’s no masking of your gains with fluid, bloating or gyno.
- Muscle Recovery – By targeting muscle tissues MK-2866 stimulates the repair of muscle after intensive exercise. The faster you can recover, the quicker you can get to your next work out and get those gains happening faster.
- Bones – Ostarine improves bone health by enhancing bone mineral density which strengthens bones and protects against fractures. The small amount of estrogen that MK-2866 can cause an increase of is not something men should be concerned about, as it is critical for bone health and this low level.
- Joints – Ostarine can bring about a slight increase in estrogen, and while this might raise alarm bells in male users, it should not because it is not caused by the process of aromatization (where testosterone is converted to estrogen), and this small increase in estrogen in males can bring some excellent benefits. One of those is improvement in joint health which is highly beneficial to any bodybuilder or athlete as Ostarine will assist with the repair and healing of joints. This is going to help you train harder and provide an important advantage when you’re on a restrictive cutting diet where some people can have discomfort of the joints. All users regardless of goals will benefit from strengthened joints which is the basis for your movement whether it’s lifting weights, running, competitive sports or any other activity.
- Heart – There’s some early evidence that Ostarine could have the potential to assist with heart health in those existing heart disease by reducing lipid levels. However much more research would need to be undertaken in this area and it is unlikely to be a benefit that is of much concern to those using MK-2866 for performance enhancement purposes.
- Bodybuilding Benefits – Boosting anabolic activity is what Ostarine is designed to do. Similarly, to steroids, this SARM will increase protein synthesis and nitrogen retention plus has the benefit of enhancing healing and joint health (a positive effect from its goal of treating osteoporosis). This aids in recovery and allows you to train longer and harder with stronger joints and ligaments increasing your tolerance and ability for more intensive training.
Because of Ostarine’s specific targeting of muscle and bone tissue and thanks to its ability to both grow and preserve muscle it can be used for both bulking and cutting. Retaining existing muscle while cutting is an ongoing challenge for any bodybuilder and Ostarine provides an alternative to harsh steroids in achieving this goal.
Ostarine helps keep the body in fat burning mode with this retaining of muscle tissue, making fat loss easier than if you were to lose your muscle and negatively impact the metabolism. When we talk about Ostarine promoting anti-catabolism in the body, this is the core effect, and it clearly makes this SARM very ideal for cutting purposes.
Those wanting to use Ostarine for bulking will see excellent lean muscle gains without the concern of water retention and gynecomastia which are estrogen related side effects of steroids. This means all the gains you make when using Ostarine are high quality muscle gains (provided your diet is correct) rather than some gains being masked by water retention which is a major issue with many anabolic steroids.
The effect of Ostarine and other SARMs on cholesterol are still mostly unknown. One study in 2008 using Ostarine noted a decrease in cholesterol levels among the study participants. With such little data available though it is unknown one way or the other whether Ostarine can positive or negatively impact cholesterol, or whether the effects vary widely between individuals.