Cardarine Before and After Results (4 Transformations): The Ultimate Guide for Researchers

Cardarine, otherwise known as GW501516, is a PPARδ agonist that can significantly increase fat loss (lipolysis) and muscular endurance (Chen et al., 2015). Cardarine is a unique compound because it improves athletic performance without the cardiotoxic side effects commonly associated with endurance-boosting drugs.

For educational purposes, we have republished several before-and-after photos of users who have utilized Cardarine. Consequently, you can understand how much fat loss is possible during a Cardarine cycle and identify effective dosages tailored to your goals.

The following users have submitted their before-and-after pictures via email, or they have published them on Reddit. To have your Cardarine transformation featured on this page, please contact us.

Cardarine Before and After #1

This Reddit user’s cycle:

Weeks	Cardarine dosage
1–12	20 mg/day

In total, this user reported losing 40 pounds and developing visible abdominals within 12 weeks. He appears to have lost approximately 10% of his body fat.

Cardarine is unlikely to cause this level of fat loss on its own. More commonly, we see this type of transformation in users who combine supplementation with regular cardiovascular training and a calorie deficit.

Cardarine Before and After #2

This Reddit user’s cycle:

Weeks	Cardarine dosage
1–4	10 mg/day

He reported losing 20 pounds in 4 weeks, with his body fat percentage decreasing by approximately 3–4%. These results are particularly notable considering the low dosage and short cycle duration.

He experienced significant improvements in endurance during his cardiovascular workouts after the second week of supplementation.

This user is displaying visible six-pack abdominals in the after photo; however, he was already relatively lean in the before photo. Therefore, you are unlikely to achieve defined abdominals from a Cardarine cycle if you have more than 15% body fat before supplementation.

Disclosure: We do not permit any form of advertising on Inside Bodybuilding. We monetize our practice through doctor consultations and meticulously selected supplement recommendations, which have yielded significant outcomes for our patients.

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Cardarine Before and After #3

The above user did not specify his Cardarine dose or cycle duration. However, he reports losing 90 pounds over 8 months by combining Cardarine with a long-term caloric deficit diet.

These results are unlikely to be replicated unless you consistently control your calorie intake during Cardarine supplementation.

Cardarine Before and After #4

This Reddit user reported losing 20 pounds following a cycle of Ostarine and Cardarine. His dosages are documented below.

Weeks	Cardarine dosage	Ostarine dosage
1–8	10 mg/day	20 mg/day

He utilized Cardarine alongside the following approximate macronutrient intake:

• 200 grams of protein
• 165 grams of carbohydrates
• 60 grams of dietary fat

This user also reported a noticeable improvement in endurance during cardiovascular workouts.

To address moderate testosterone suppression caused by Ostarine, he implemented an 8-week post-cycle therapy (PCT).

“Our patients typically supplement with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), clomiphene citrate (Clomid), or aromatase inhibitors (AIs) to improve endogenous testosterone levels.” —Dr. Erny Peibst, CEO of Inside Bodybuilding

This user’s Cardarine results are another example of significant fat loss when combined with cardiovascular training. In our experience, Cardarine’s lipolytic effects diminish when users do not engage in aerobic exercise. Therefore, his transformation can also be attributed to his training split and not solely to Cardarine.

“Cardarine is not FDA-approved, and thus it is an experimental drug. Therefore, its effects are not yet known at this point. For harm reduction purposes, you should avoid purchasing Cardarine from websites that fail to provide certificates of analysis (COAs) from a third-party independent laboratory. Such testing significantly increases the likelihood that the substance purchased is present and in high quantities.” —Erny Peibst

How Much Weight Loss Can You Experience?

The amount of weight loss experienced on Cardarine can be influenced by:

• Training
• Genetics
• Diet
• Cycle duration

It remains unclear whether a higher Cardarine dose of 20 mg/day is more effective for fat loss than 10 mg/day. Based on our experience and the before-and-after pictures above, 20 mg may not give you significantly greater fat loss than 10 mg.

If you supplement with 10 mg/day of Cardarine for 8 weeks and follow a caloric deficit diet, you may lose approximately 20–30 pounds, based on our patients’ results.

Is Fat Loss From Cardarine Temporary or Permanent?

To maintain fat loss results from Cardarine, you may need to consume maintenance calories. Therefore, if you overeat after stopping the cycle, you will regain adipose tissue (fat). However, if you avoid eating in a calorie surplus post-cycle, you are likely to maintain your results.

In our experience, the endurance effects of Cardarine are partially temporary due to mitochondrial biogenesis. We have observed that users retain some improvements in stamina, which may be attributed to muscle memory.

How Tolerance Impacts Weight Loss on Cardarine

We find that you can experience significant weight loss during your first Cardarine cycle, while the second cycle tends to be less effective. These results suggest that your body develops a tolerance to the PPARδ agonist over time.

“Users are advised against consuming very low calories during Cardarine supplementation to prevent a weakened immune system and muscle atrophy.” —Erny Peibst

Cardarine Outcomes and Complications: Key Research Findings

• Improves heart (cardiovascular) health
• Liver toxicity (hepatotoxicity)
• Potentially cancerous (carcinogenic)

Improves Heart (Cardiovascular) Health

Cardarine may enhance lipid profiles by increasing HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels.

In a clinical study, a 10 mg dose of Cardarine resulted in a 16.9% increase in HDL levels (Olson et al., 2012).

Liver Toxicity (Hepatotoxicity)

You may take Cardarine, and your alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels increase slightly after an 8-week cycle. However, more sensitive individuals may cycle it and experience abnormal liver function (hepatopathy). Therefore, Cardarine’s potential for hepatotoxicity varies from person to person, based on their:

• Liver condition
• Lifestyle habits
• Diet
• Genetics
• Dosage

In medical research, a connection has been observed between liver fibrosis (scarring) and Cardarine use (Kostadinova et al., 2012). Other studies suggest that it may protect your liver by regulating beta-oxidation, otherwise known as the breakdown of fat (Magliano et al., 2015). Therefore, why Cardarine is hepatotoxic to some users is not fully understood.

If your liver is currently inflamed or damaged and you take Cardarine, its condition may worsen due to cellular proliferation. Studies indicate that 500 mg/day of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) can reduce ALT and AST enzyme levels, which may be beneficial during Cardarine cycles (Ma et al., 2016).

“We have also found alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) and milk thistle to be beneficial in preventing transaminitis. Our patients typically supplement with 1,200 mg/day of ALA or 600 mg/day of milk thistle during SARM or Cardarine cycles as a precaution for the liver. Furthermore, you should have liver function tests (LFTs) conducted by a medical professional during supplementation to monitor liver enzymes.” —Erny Peibst

Potentially Cancerous (Carcinogenic)

Research has shown that high doses of Cardarine have caused cancer in rodents. Therefore, there may be some carcinogenic risk associated with Cardarine.

You can reduce the dose to 10 mg and perform short cycles of 4–6 weeks in an attempt to minimize potential carcinogenic risks. However, it remains unclear whether lower dosages provide such protection.

Until further research is conducted, Cardarine supplementation may pose certain risks.

“It is plausible that a 20 mg dose of Cardarine may pose additional carcinogenic risks compared to a 10 mg dose. Therefore, you should avoid taking high doses of Cardarine for maximum immunocompetence. Additionally, our immunocompromised patients have had success supplementing with vitamin D3, vitamin K2 (MK-7), and magnesium citrate.” —Erny Peibst

Vitamin D3 increases your natural killer (NK) cell levels, magnesium citrate improves your absorption of vitamin D3, and vitamin K2 prevents hypercalcemia (excess calcium in the blood).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Cardarine Exhibit Anabolic Effects in Research?

Research provides evidence that Cardarine may have anabolic effects, with users gaining approximately 1.3 kg of lean mass after taking 10 mg/day for 12 weeks (Olson et al., 2012).

Based on our conversations with bodybuilders who have used this PPARδ agonist, muscle gains appear to be mild, as demonstrated in the study cited above. Therefore, users seeking notable increases in muscle hypertrophy and strength may prefer SARMs over Cardarine.

Can Researchers Combine SARMs With Cardarine?

Yes, you can stack Cardarine with SARMs and other substances in research settings. Some common compounds cycled alongside Cardarine include:

• Ostarine (MK-2866)
• RAD-140 (Testolone)
• Stenabolic (SR9009)

“Ostarine and RAD-140 are SARMs, while Stenabolic is a Rev-ErbA agonist. A drawback of such stacks is that they can cause transaminitis (worsened liver enzyme levels); therefore, it is advisable to monitor your ALT and AST levels throughout the cycle.” —Erny Peibst

A Cardarine and Ostarine stack is suited to users seeking increased muscle growth and fat loss. A Cardarine and RAD-140 stack will produce similar results to the Cardarine and Ostarine stack, but with increased anabolism. Cardarine and Stenabolic are an optimal duo for researchers seeking maximum fat loss.

Stacking Cardarine with anabolic steroids is likely to increase the risk of hepatotoxicity and cardiotoxicity.

“Our hypertensive patients typically adopt diets high in unsaturated fat and supplement with 4 g/day of fish oil to stabilize their blood pressure. We have also found vitamin D3, magnesium citrate, and vitamin K2 to be beneficial for the heart and the immune system.” —Erny Peibst

Can Women Supplement With Cardarine?

Cardarine is a banned substance; therefore, women are currently prohibited from taking it. However, women may experience fat loss and increased muscular endurance similar to men, although their doses might need to be adjusted based on body weight.

We have observed women supplementing with Cardarine at the dosages outlined below.

Weeks	Cardarine dosage
1–6	7.5 mg/day

“We have not had any female patients experience masculinization from Cardarine. Nonetheless, pregnant women are strongly advised against taking Cardarine due to potential risks to developing fetuses.” —Erny Peibst

Summary: A Research Chemical That Requires Caution

“Cardarine is one of the most potent drugs we have observed for reducing fat mass. However, concerns exist regarding Cardarine’s potential carcinogenicity. Therefore, you should be aware of the potential risks of this PPARε agonist until further research is conducted. Its effects on cellular proliferation, particularly in the pancreas, warrant special attention.” —Erny Peibst

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