A practical reference on LC-MS/MS: what it is, how it behaves, what the literature reports, and where the honest uncertainties sit.
Reviewed 2025-11-20. Anything still debated is marked as such rather than presented as settled.
The pharmacological interest in cardarine centers on PPARδ activation and its downstream effects on lipid handling and mitochondrial function. In animal studies, PPARδ agonists have been associated with changes in exercise endurance and fatty acid utilization, though results vary by model and protocol. Human data remain sparse, and the absence of large controlled trials limits conclusions about efficacy. Researchers often describe the compound as a tool for probing PPARδ biology rather than a proven therapeutic agent.
Safety discussions about cardarine frequently cite rodent carcinogenicity findings reported in the 2000s. In those studies, treated animals developed tumors at multiple sites, leading sponsors to discontinue clinical development. The relevance of these findings to humans has not been resolved, but they are a major reason the compound is not approved. Current literature emphasizes uncertainty about long-term effects and the risks of unregulated use. Regulators and health agencies have not established a safe human exposure level.
A persistent misconception is that cardarine is a fat-burning drug or a safe alternative to anabolic steroids. No approved therapeutic product exists, and human safety data are limited. The tumor findings in rodents remain a central concern in scientific reviews. Products sold online may contain inaccurate labels, impurities, or different compounds entirely, which complicates any assessment of effects. Independent testing of such products has reported frequent mislabeling. For these reasons, discussions in the literature emphasize risks and unknowns rather than benefits.
Cardarine is not approved for human therapeutic use in any major jurisdiction. It appears on the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List as a PPARδ agonist within the hormone and metabolic modulators category. Sports organizations test for it because it has been detected in athlete samples and seized products. Regulatory actions against marketed research chemical versions have occurred in several countries, though enforcement varies. Availability through unregulated channels complicates oversight.
Analytical laboratories typically identify cardarine and its metabolites using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Urine is a common matrix in anti-doping testing, while blood and tissue may be used in research settings. Detection windows depend on the assay, the sample matrix, and the compound's metabolism. Because cardarine is extensively metabolized, laboratories often target specific metabolites to improve sensitivity and confirmation. Reference standards are required for reliable quantification. Method validation includes checks for selectivity, linearity, and carryover.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Common synonyms | GW501516, GW-501516, GW 501516, endurobol | Names vary in research and anti-doping documents. |
| Chemical class | Synthetic PPARδ agonist | Small-molecule nuclear receptor ligand. |
| CAS Registry Number | 317318-70-0 | Identifier commonly associated with GW501516. |
| Appearance | White to off-white powder | Typical for purified research material. |
| Solubility | Low in water; soluble in DMSO and ethanol | Organic solvents are common for laboratory stock solutions. |
Preclinical research reported that GW501516 increased running endurance in mice and improved lipid profiles in some animal species. Early human trials explored effects on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose handling, but the program was discontinued. Published human data are sparse and do not establish efficacy for any condition. Studies also examined PPAR delta in cancer biology, with conflicting findings across models. The relationship between receptor activation, tissue context, and disease risk remains an active area of investigation.
Anti-doping laboratories identify GW501516 and its metabolites using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Urine is the usual matrix, and detection can occur after the parent compound has cleared from blood. The exact detection window depends on dose, formulation, individual metabolism, and assay sensitivity. Because the compound is prohibited at all times, athletes are subject to testing in and out of competition. Analytical methods continue to improve as new metabolites and designer analogs are characterized.
Cardarine is the common name for GW501516, a synthetic compound studied as a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta agonist. Researchers developed it to explore treatments for lipid disorders and metabolic conditions. It is not an approved medicine in any country. Early clinical work examined changes in HDL cholesterol and triglycerides, but development was discontinued after animal studies raised concerns about cancer. The compound remains available as a research chemical and appears in discussions of performance enhancement.
At the molecular level, GW501516 binds and activates PPARδ, a nuclear receptor that regulates transcription. Activation shifts expression of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation, energy expenditure, and lipid transport in skeletal muscle and liver. Animal studies report increased endurance and altered lipid profiles after exposure. Human data are limited to small trials and do not establish long-term safety or efficacy. PPARδ also has roles in cell proliferation, so the relationship between activation and cancer risk remains an open question.
== Advocacy == Breakthrough T1D advocates for federally funded T1D research, facilitates the delivery of medical advancements and resources to the T1D community, and supports policies that help prevent, manage, and treat T1D, with an aim toward eventual development of a cure. Breakthrough T1D has advocated for various kinds of research; in a 2004 article in The Wall Street Journal, the authors observed that the Breakthrough T1D "... has become adept at unleashing an army of hard-to-resist lobbyists – made up of determined parents and their afflicted children – on researchers, politicians and potential donors."
== Classification == Maple syrup urine disease can be classified by its pattern of signs and symptoms or by its genetic cause. The most common and severe form of this disease is the classic type, which appears soon after birth, and as long as it remains untreated, gives rise to progressive and unremitting symptoms. Variant forms of the disorder may become apparent only later in infancy or childhood, with typically less severe symptoms that may only appear during times of fasting, stress, or illness, but still involve mental and physical problems if left untreated. There are five main types of maple syrup urine disease:
Fenestration and dehiscence Building up bone around implants placed in tooth sockets after tooth extraction Socket preservation for future implantation of false teeth or prosthetics Sinus Lift Elevation prior to implant placement Filling of bone after removing the root of a tooth, cystectomy or the removal of impacted teeth Repairing bone defects surrounding a dental implant caused by peri-implantitis Vertical and horizontal augmentation of the upper and lower jaws Cystic cavity
=== In war === Illicit use of the drug is thought to be a major factor in the success of the Boko Haram terrorist organization. When used at higher doses, the drug "can produce similar effects to heroin." One former member said, "whenever we took tramadol, nothing mattered to us anymore except what we were sent to do because it made us very high and very bold, it was impossible to go on a mission without taking it." Tramadol is also used as a coping mechanism in the Gaza Strip. In the 2020's Anti-balaka militias in the Central African Republic were reported to be in control of the Tramadol trade, providing it to fighters, workers in illegal goldmines and organising the sale on local markets. Researchers report the drug is brought by Dubai based company Shalina from India and China to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, from where it is smuggled into the Central African Republic.
Yacine Idriss Diallo|(in French) - president Of the Ivorian Football Federation, Ivory Coast. Khady Diallo - cultural engineer. former Ivorian cultural attache in Paris. General Secretary of the National Commission of the Francophonie in Côte d'Ivoire, Ivory Coast Boubacar Barry - retired Ivorian football goalkeeper. Goalkeeping coach at Oud-Heverlee Leuven- Belgium. Ivory Coast Anthony Diallo – politician, former Minister of National Resources and Tourism, former member of the Tanzanian Parliament, Tanzania Amad - professional Footballer, plays for Manchester United; Ivory Coast Liban Abdulahi Nazr Mohammed, Basketball player Abou Diaby Abdoul-Halimou Sama Mohammed Diomande Abdul Razak Georges Ba Ismaël Diallo Moustapha Salifou
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
== See also == Gaultheria humifusa—alpine wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens—eastern teaberry, checkerberry, boxberry, or American wintergreen Gaultheria ovatifolia—western teaberry or Oregon spicy wintergreen Chimaphila maculata—striped wintergreen Gaultheria fragrantissima—fragrant wintergreen
In fact, while ONJ was demonstrated in the RCTs of the two IV bisphosphonates dosed at higher dose and more frequently in patients with cancer, ONJ was not seen in meta-analysis of all of the osteoporosis RCTs that comprised the Fosamax clinical development program, or in an FDA analysis of all of the RCTs of 2–10 years in duration comprising almost 100,00 patient-years of RCT data from the clinical development programs for alendronate sodium (Fosamax), risedronate sodium (Actonel) ibandronate sodium (oral Boniva), ibandronic acid (IV Boniva), and zoledronic acid (Reclast). Bone: alendronate has been linked in long-term users to the development of low-impact femoral fractures. Further, studies suggest that users of alendronate have an increase in the numbers of osteoclasts and develop giant, more multinucleated osteoclasts; the significance of this development is unclear. Fosamax has been linked to a rare type of leg fracture that cuts straight across the upper thigh bone after little or no trauma (subtrochanteric fractures).
=== Clinical trials === Bhatt has served as principal investigator, co-principal investigator, or steering-committee chair for multiple large, multicenter randomized controlled trials examining strategies to reduce cardiovascular events in high-risk patients. His work has included studies of sodium–glucose cotransporter2 (SGLT2) based therapies in patients with diabetes and either heart failure or chronic kidney disease, high-dose eicosapentaenoic acid (icosapent ethyl) in statin-treated patients with elevated triglycerides, intravenous antiplatelet therapy during percutaneous coronary intervention, and intensified oral antiplatelet regimens in patients with stable coronary artery disease and diabetes. His publication record includes work on standardized bleeding definitions for cardiovascular trials, stroke and acute coronary syndrome guidelines, and large outcome studies in diabetes and chronic kidney disease, many of which are highly cited and have been referenced in clinical practice discussions and educational materials in cardiology and stroke medicine.
=== Human genes === Na+/K+ transporting: ATP1A1, ATP1A2, ATP1A3, ATP1A4, ATP1B1, ATP1B2, ATP1B3, ATP1B4 Ca2+ transporting: ATP2A1, ATP2A2, ATP2A3, ATP2B1, ATP2B2, ATP2B3, ATP2B4, ATP2C1, ATP2C2 H+/K+ exchanging: ATP4A H+ transporting, mitochondrial: ATP5F1A, ATP5F1B, ATP5F1C, ATP5C2, ATP5F1D, ATP5F1E, ATP5F1, ATP5MC1, ATP5MC2, ATP5MC3, ATP5PD, ATP5ME, ATP5PF, ATP5MF, ATP5MG, ATP5L2, ATP5PO, ATP5S, MT-ATP6, MT-ATP8 H+ transporting, lysosomal: ATP6AP1, ATP6AP2, ATP6V1A, ATP6V1B1, ATP6V1B2, ATP6V1C1, ATP6V1C2, ATP6V1D, ATP6V1E1, ATP6V1E2, ATP6V1F, ATP6V1G1, ATP6V1G2, ATP6V1G3, ATP6V1H, ATP6V0A1, ATP6V0A2, ATP6V0A4, ATP6V0B, ATP6V0C, ATP6V0D1, ATP6V0D2, ATP6V0E Cu2+ transporting: ATP7A, ATP7B Class I, type 8: ATP8A1, ATP8B1, ATP8B2, ATP8B3, ATP8B4 Class II, type 9: ATP9A, ATP9B Class V, type 10: ATP10A, ATP10B, ATP10D Class VI, type 11: ATP11A, ATP11B, ATP11C H+/K+ transporting, nongastric: ATP12A type 13: ATP13A1, ATP13A2, ATP13A3, ATP13A4, ATP13A5
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Cardarine is an investigational synthetic compound that acts as a PPARδ agonist. It is also known as GW501516 and has been studied mainly in preclinical research. It is not an approved medicine.
No. Cardarine is not a steroid hormone; it targets the nuclear receptor PPARδ. Its classification in anti-doping rules differs from anabolic steroids, though it remains prohibited in sport.
Early rodent studies reported tumor formation at multiple sites, which raised safety concerns. Sponsors stopped clinical development, and no approved human product exists.
No. Cardarine has not received approval for human therapeutic use in major jurisdictions. It remains an investigational compound.