LGD-4033 (ligandrol) is an experimental, nonsteroidal SARM that has been tested in two placebo-controlled human trials. Both found more lean mass: 1.21 kg in healthy young men on 1 mg a day for 21 days, and 4.75–9.08% more than placebo in older adults after a hip fracture over 12 weeks (Basaria 2013; NCT02578095). Even 1 mg a day lowered testosterone, SHBG and HDL cholesterol, and case reports link ligandrol products to cholestatic liver injury (Barbara 2020). It is not approved anywhere, and WADA bans it (WADA 2026).
Below: both trials and the other studies, what LGD-4033 does to muscle, strength, hormones and the liver, the doses studied, legal status, and links to all of our LGD-4033 guides.
What is LGD-4033 (ligandrol)?
LGD-4033 is a selective androgen receptor modulator: it binds the androgen receptor that testosterone uses, but it is not a steroid. It is also known as ligandrol and, after Viking Therapeutics took it into a hip-fracture trial, as VK5211 (PubChem CID 44137686; NCT02578095). UK Anti-Doping lists “Anabolicum” as another name it is sold under (UK Anti-Doping).
Like other SARMs, it was meant to build muscle and bone with fewer effects elsewhere in the body. A 2026 review of the field concludes that this tissue selectivity is small in humans and that no SARM has been approved in more than 25 years (Adolf 2026). LGD-4033 reached Phase 2; no Phase 3 trial is registered (NCT02578095).
LGD-4033 research at a glance
| Study | Who | Dose and length | What it found | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basaria 2013 | 76 healthy men aged 21–50 | 0.1, 0.3 or 1.0 mg/day vs placebo for 21 days, followed 5 more weeks | Lean mass +1.21 kg on 1 mg. Fat mass, leg-press strength and stair-climbing power did not change significantly. Testosterone, SHBG, HDL and triglycerides fell with dose; back to baseline by day 56. No clinically significant change in liver enzymes, PSA or hematocrit. Half-life 24–36 hours. | Randomized trial |
| VK5211 Phase 2 (NCT02578095) | 108 adults aged 65+, 3–7 weeks after a hip fracture | 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 mg/day vs placebo for 12 weeks | Lean mass (DXA, whole body minus head) rose 4.75%, 7.15% and 9.08% more than placebo. Serious adverse events: 4 of 28 on placebo; 2 of 29, 3 of 26 and 5 of 25 on the three doses. | Randomized trial |
| Micro-dose excretion studies (Wagener 2022) | Volunteers, 5 per dose group | 1, 10 or 50 µg, once or for 5 days | A long-lasting breakdown product was still in urine 1004–1128 hours (over 40 days) after five 50 µg doses. No effects on the body were measured. | Anti-doping study |
| Cardaci 2022 | One 25-year-old man | 10 mg LGD-4033 plus 15 mg MK-677 daily for 5 weeks | Total testosterone −62%, free testosterone −86%, HDL −36%, LDL +40%, ALT +205%, bone density −2.1%. Most values recovered after stopping; LDL and total cholesterol stayed higher. | Case report |
A 2025 systematic review of nine randomized SARM trials (970 patients, six different SARMs including LGD-4033) concluded that SARMs improve body composition and physical performance, with moderate rates of mild to moderate side effects (Wen 2025). Compare LGD-4033 with every other compound in the SARMs database.
LGD-4033 benefits: what the trials show
Lean mass: increased in both trials
This is LGD-4033’s best-supported effect. In healthy young men, lean body mass rose with dose and reached +1.21 kg on 1 mg a day after 21 days (Basaria 2013). In older adults recovering from hip fracture, lean mass rose 4.75–9.08% more than placebo over 12 weeks on 0.5–2.0 mg a day (NCT02578095). Neither trial lasted longer than 12 weeks.
Strength: not significantly better
In the 21-day trial, leg-press strength and stair-climbing power did not differ significantly from placebo (Basaria 2013). More lean mass on a scan is not the same as more strength, and three weeks is short.
Fat loss: no change
Fat mass did not change significantly over 21 days (Basaria 2013). LGD-4033 has no trial evidence as a fat-loss drug; see best SARMs for cutting for what has been studied.
Recovery and bone
Faster recovery and stronger bones are often claimed. Neither has been measured in an LGD-4033 trial; the case report above even recorded a 2.1% drop in bone density after 5 weeks with MK-677 (Cardaci 2022).
LGD-4033 results and before-and-after reports
The trial numbers are the only measured results: about 1.2 kg of lean mass in 3 weeks at 1 mg (Basaria 2013). In the 5-week case report at 10 mg with MK-677, body mass, lean mass and fat mass all went up (Cardaci 2022). User reports usually involve far higher doses than the trials, longer use and other drugs. Our LGD-4033 before and after page sets user reports next to the trial data, and the 8-week LGD-4033 log is one user’s account.
LGD-4033 side effects
| Side effect | What was found | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Lower testosterone, SHBG and FSH | Total testosterone and SHBG fell with dose; free testosterone and FSH fell at 1 mg/day. All back to baseline by day 56 (Basaria 2013). | Trial |
| Lower HDL cholesterol | HDL and triglycerides fell with dose over 21 days and recovered after stopping (Basaria 2013). | Trial |
| Cholestatic liver injury and jaundice | Several case reports in men using ligandrol products, some confirmed by liver biopsy; in one, bilirubin reached 30 times the upper limit of normal. Most recovered over weeks to months (Barbara 2020; Wallstab 2023; Labban 2024; Koller 2021; Barbara 2020). | Case reports |
| Worse cholesterol, liver enzymes and bone density with MK-677 | One user on 10 mg LGD-4033 and 15 mg MK-677: HDL −36%, LDL +40%, ALT +205%, bone density −2.1% in 5 weeks (Cardaci 2022). | Case report |
| Wrong or mislabeled product | Only 52% of 44 products sold as SARMs contained a SARM, and 41% matched the label (Van Wagoner 2017). | Lab analysis |
In the 21-day trial, side effects were about as frequent on LGD-4033 as on placebo, and liver enzymes, PSA and hematocrit did not change in a clinically significant way (Basaria 2013). The liver cases come from consumer products, typically at higher doses and often with other drugs; a 2026 review calls cholestatic liver injury the dominant serious harm of SARMs as used in practice (Adolf 2026). More: SARMs side effects, are SARMs liver toxic?, hair loss, gyno and blood pressure.
Water retention and “LGD bloat”
Water retention is often described by users. Whether LGD-4033 causes it is not established; the published trial results do not report on it.
Does LGD-4033 cause cancer?
There is no human evidence either way. The trials lasted 3 to 12 weeks, far too short to show a cancer risk, and PSA did not change in the 21-day trial (Basaria 2013). See do SARMs cause cancer?
Does LGD-4033 suppress testosterone?
Yes, even at low doses. In the 21-day trial, total testosterone and SHBG fell in a dose-dependent way across the 0.1–1.0 mg doses, and at 1.0 mg free testosterone and FSH fell as well (Basaria 2013). That trial did not test more than 1 mg; the man in the case report who took 10 mg with MK-677 lost 62% of his total and 86% of his free testosterone in 5 weeks (Cardaci 2022).
After the 21-day trial, hormones were back to baseline by day 56, about 5 weeks after the last dose (Basaria 2013). No study has measured recovery after longer or higher-dose use of LGD-4033. After anabolic steroid cycles, testosterone recovered within 3 months in most men, but sperm counts took about a year (Smit 2021).
Source: Sarmguide compound database; LGD-4033: The safety, pharmacokinetics, and effects of LGD-4033, a novel nonsteroidal oral, selective androgen receptor modulator, in healthy young men (2013).
More: LGD-4033 PCT, PCT after SARMs, Clomid PCT, Nolvadex PCT and the PCT and bloodwork planner.
Bloodwork: what the LGD-4033 trial measured
These are the markers measured in the 21-day trial, plus bilirubin, which rose in the liver-injury case reports (Basaria 2013; Barbara 2020):
- Total and free testosterone, LH and FSH, SHBG
- Lipid panel: HDL, LDL and triglycerides
- ALT and AST (liver enzymes) and bilirubin
- PSA and hematocrit
How to read them: SARMs bloodwork guide.
LGD-4033 dosage: what studies used
| Study | Daily dose | Length | Who |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basaria 2013 | 0.1, 0.3 or 1.0 mg | 21 days | Healthy men 21–50 |
| VK5211 Phase 2 (NCT02578095) | 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 mg | 12 weeks | Adults 65+ after hip fracture |
| Micro-dose studies (Wagener 2022) | 0.001–0.05 mg | 1–5 days | Volunteers (detection only) |
The highest dose ever tested in a trial is 2 mg a day. Products are sold at higher label strengths: SwissChems, for example, sells LGD-4033 as 5 mg capsules, two and a half times the highest trial dose. Nothing is known from trials about doses above 2 mg; the only data are case reports such as the 10 mg user above (Cardaci 2022). Our LGD-4033 dosage page sets trial doses next to what users report, and when to take LGD-4033 covers timing.
LGD-4033 half-life
24–36 hours, measured in healthy men taking 0.1–1.0 mg a day; with daily dosing it built up in the body in proportion to the dose (Basaria 2013). A long half-life is also why its breakdown products stay detectable for weeks.
Is LGD-4033 legal?
- United States: not FDA-approved. The FDA says SARM products are illegally marketed, unapproved drugs, not dietary supplements (FDA), and a December 2025 warning letter called products sold as “LGD-4033 Ligandrol” unapproved new drugs (FDA warning letter, 2025).
- United Kingdom: UK Anti-Doping lists ligandrol (Anabolicum, LGD-4033, VK-5211) among SARMs and says they are illegal to sell or advertise as food or in supplements (UK Anti-Doping).
- Australia: SARMs are prescription-only and possession without authority is illegal (Poisons Standard 2026).
- Germany: the Anti-Doping Act’s annex names “Ligandrol (LGD-4033, VK 5211)” (AntiDopG annex); trading in it for doping in sport, or possessing a non-small quantity for that purpose, is banned (AntiDopG §2).
More: are SARMs legal?
LGD-4033 in sport and drug tests
WADA names LGD-4033 (ligandrol) on its Prohibited List, banned at all times; SARMs have been prohibited since 2008 (WADA 2026; Adolf 2026). It led to 62 positive anti-doping tests in 2019, and its breakdown products last much longer than the drug: in one volunteer they were found for 20.5 days after a supplement (Wagener 2022; Fragkaki 2018). A 2025 case report describes a positive test after drug transfer between intimate partners (Kintz 2025). In a 2024 Swedish study of urine samples from healthcare, 4% of the men’s samples contained SARMs, and LGD-4033 was the one found most often (Bohlin 2024). See SARMs drug test and SARMs and WADA.
LGD-4033 vs other SARMs
| Compound | Lean mass in trials | Hormones in trials | Human evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| LGD-4033 | +1.21 kg (1 mg, 21 days) (Basaria 2013) | Total and free testosterone, SHBG, FSH and HDL fell | Two randomized trials |
| Ostarine | +1.3 kg vs placebo (3 mg, 86 days) (Dalton 2011) | Total testosterone and SHBG fell; free testosterone, LH and FSH did not change significantly | Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials |
| RAD-140 | Not measured | SHBG fell; testosterone fell in monkeys (LoRusso 2022; Miller 2011) | One Phase 1 cancer trial |
| YK-11 | Not studied | Not studied | None |
Head-to-head: ostarine vs LGD-4033, RAD-140 vs LGD-4033, YK-11 vs LGD-4033, or use the compare tool. Different compounds with similar names: LGD-3303 and LGD-2226.
LGD-4033 stacks
No trial has tested LGD-4033 with another compound. The best-documented combination is the case report above: 10 mg LGD-4033 with 15 mg MK-677 for 5 weeks lowered testosterone, HDL and bone density and raised LDL and ALT (Cardaci 2022). Liver-injury cases have also involved LGD-4033 combined with RAD-140 (Barbara 2020). Read LGD-4033 and MK-677 stack, and check overlapping risks with the stack checker.
Buying LGD-4033: is it what the label says?
LGD-4033 was one of the three SARMs actually found when researchers tested 44 products sold online as SARMs; overall, only 41% of the products contained the amount on the label, and 25% contained substances that were not listed (Van Wagoner 2017). If you buy, look for a lot-specific certificate of analysis and learn how to read a lab test. Our current pick is SwissChems, which publishes lot-specific lab reports; see our SwissChems review and where to buy SARMs.
Bottom line
LGD-4033 is one of the few SARMs with placebo-controlled human data, and those data are clear on two points: it adds lean mass, and it lowers testosterone, SHBG and HDL cholesterol, even at 1 mg a day for three weeks. Strength did not improve significantly in the trial, and nothing is known from trials about the 5–20 mg doses users talk about. The serious risk in practice is cholestatic liver injury. It is not approved anywhere, it is banned in sport and detectable for weeks, and anyone considering it should understand that the hormone and cholesterol changes are expected, not rare.
Charts
| Dose studied | Who took part | Duration | What the study found | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1, 0.3 or 1.0 mg/day | Healthy men aged 21–50 (n=76) | 21 days (followed 5 more weeks) | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Lean body mass rose with dose, by 1.21 kg on 1.0 mg. Fat mass, leg-press strength and stair-climbing power did not change significantly vs placebo. Total testosterone, SHBG, HDL and triglycerides fell with dose; FSH and free testosterone fell on 1.0 mg. Hormones returned to baseline by day 56. | PubMed 2013 |
| 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 mg/day (as VK5211) | Adults aged 65 and over, 3–7 weeks after a hip fracture (n=108) | 12 weeks | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2, multicenter Lean mass (whole body minus head, by DXA) rose 4.75%, 7.15% and 9.08% more than placebo on the three doses. Serious adverse events: 4 of 28 on placebo, 2 of 29, 3 of 26 and 5 of 25 on the three doses. | clinicaltrials.gov 2017 |
Sources: the studies linked in the table.
Source: Sarmguide compound database; LGD-4033 value: The safety, pharmacokinetics, and effects of LGD-4033, a novel nonsteroidal oral, selective androgen receptor modulator, in healthy young men (2013).
More on LGD-4033
Frequently asked questions
What is LGD-4033?
An unapproved, nonsteroidal SARMEvidence: Trial
LGD-4033 (ligandrol, later tested as VK5211) is a nonsteroidal SARM that acts on the androgen receptor testosterone uses. It is not approved for any medical use.
Does LGD-4033 build muscle?
Adds lean mass in trialsEvidence: Trial
Healthy young men gained 1.21 kg of lean mass on 1.0 mg a day for 21 days, and older adults after hip fracture gained 4.75–9.08% more than placebo over 12 weeks. Strength did not improve significantly in the 21-day trial.
What results can you expect from LGD-4033?
About 1.2 kg lean mass in trialsEvidence: Trial
The only measured results come from trials at 0.1–2 mg a day: about 1.2 kg more lean mass in 3 weeks in young men, with no significant change in fat or strength. Online results usually involve much higher doses and other drugs.
What are the side effects of LGD-4033?
Suppression, low HDL, liver injuryEvidence: Trial
Even at 1 mg a day, testosterone, SHBG, FSH and HDL cholesterol fell in the 21-day trial and recovered after stopping. Several case reports describe cholestatic liver injury and jaundice in men using ligandrol products.
What is the half-life of LGD-4033?
24–36 hoursEvidence: Trial
24–36 hours, measured in healthy men in the 2013 trial, so it builds up in the body with daily use.
Is 20 mg of LGD-4033 safe?
Never studiedEvidence: Trial
The highest dose ever studied is 2 mg a day, and 1 mg already lowered testosterone and HDL. A man taking 10 mg with MK-677 had a 62% drop in testosterone and a 205% rise in ALT within 5 weeks.
Does LGD-4033 suppress testosterone?
Yes, even at low dosesEvidence: Trial
Total testosterone and SHBG fell in a dose-dependent way from 0.1 to 1.0 mg a day, and at 1.0 mg free testosterone and FSH fell too. Levels returned to baseline about 5 weeks after the last dose.
Do you need PCT after LGD-4033?
Unknown; PCT not testedEvidence: Trial
No study has tested PCT after LGD-4033. Hormones recovered on their own within about 5 weeks, but only after 1 mg or less for 3 weeks.
Is LGD-4033 bad for the liver?
Liver injury reportedEvidence: Human data
The 21-day trial at 0.1–1.0 mg a day found no clinically significant liver-enzyme changes. Several case reports describe cholestatic liver injury and jaundice in men using ligandrol products, some confirmed by biopsy.
Does LGD-4033 cause cancer?
UnknownEvidence: Limited
There is no human evidence either way: the trials lasted 3 to 12 weeks, too short to show a cancer risk. PSA did not change in the 21-day trial.
Is LGD-4033 a steroid?
NoEvidence: Trial
Its chemical structure is not a steroid. It still binds the androgen receptor, which is why it lowers natural testosterone.
Is LGD-4033 legal?
Not approved; not legal to sellEvidence: Law
It is not approved anywhere; the FDA calls SARM products unapproved drugs, not dietary supplements, and the UK bars selling them as food or supplements. In Australia SARMs are prescription-only and possession without authority is illegal.
Is LGD-4033 banned in sport?
Yes, banned by WADAEvidence: Law
WADA has banned SARMs at all times since 2008, and the 2026 List names LGD-4033. Its breakdown products can be detected for weeks, even after micro-doses.
Sources
- The safety, pharmacokinetics, and effects of LGD-4033, a novel nonsteroidal oral, selective androgen receptor modulator, in healthy young men
- ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02578095: Acute Hip Fracture Study in Patients 65 Years or Greater (VK5211), posted results
- Ligandrol (LGD-4033)-Induced Liver Injury
- WADA: The Prohibited List (2026 List, in force from 1 January 2026)
- PubChem: LGD-4033 / Ligandrol (CID 44137686), names and synonyms
- SARMs | UK Anti-Doping (supplement ingredient warning, updated 29 April 2026)
- Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) in Sport: Patterns of Use, Product Contamination, Health Risks and Doping-Control Implications
- Investigations into the elimination profiles and metabolite ratios of micro-dosed selective androgen receptor modulator LGD-4033 for doping control purposes
- Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) Effects on Physical Performance: A Systematic Review of Randomized Control Trials
- LGD-4033 and MK-677 use impacts body composition, circulating biomarkers, and skeletal muscle androgenic hormone and receptor content: A case report
- [Ligandrol-induced liver injury - Case Report]
- LGD-4033 and a Case of Drug-Induced Liver Injury: Exploring the Clinical Implications of Off-Label Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator Use in Healthy Adults
- Liver injury associated with the use of selective androgen receptor modulators and post-cycle therapy: Two case reports and literature review
- Drug-Induced Liver Injury Associated With Alpha Bolic (RAD-140) and Alpha Elite (RAD-140 and LGD-4033)
- Chemical Composition and Labeling of Substances Marketed as Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators and Sold via the Internet
- Disruption and recovery of testicular function during and after androgen abuse: the HAARLEM study
- FDA: Certain bodybuilding products put consumers at risk for heart attack, stroke, serious liver damage and more (content current as of 2 December 2025)
- FDA Warning Letter to an online seller of products marketed as SARMs (MARCS-CMS 719257), 12 December 2025
- Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 (F2026L00633)
- Anlage zum Anti-Doping-Gesetz (AntiDopG), Germany (BGBl. 2023 I Nr. 67)
- § 2 Anti-Doping-Gesetz (AntiDopG): Unerlaubter Umgang mit Dopingmitteln (Germany)
- Human in vivo metabolism study of LGD-4033
- Drug transfer during intimate moments can produce an adverse analytical finding during a doping control: A case report with ligandrol
- Detection of anabolic agents including selective androgen receptor modulators in samples outside of sport
- The selective androgen receptor modulator GTx-024 (enobosarm) improves lean body mass and physical function in healthy elderly men and postmenopausal women: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II trial
- A First-in-Human Phase 1 Study of a Novel Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM), RAD140, in ER+/HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer
- Design, Synthesis, and Preclinical Characterization of the Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM) RAD140
