A practical reference on Cardarine: what it is, how it behaves, what the literature reports, and where the honest uncertainties sit.
Reviewed 2026-02-18. Anything still debated is marked as such rather than presented as settled.
Published literature on cardarine includes in vitro assays, rodent experiments, and a small number of human studies. Reports describe effects on exercise capacity and lipid metabolism in animals, while human evidence is sparse. Many online descriptions present the compound as a proven endurance aid, a claim not supported by regulatory approval or large clinical trials. Analytical studies focus on identifying the parent compound and its metabolites in biological samples. Important uncertainties include species differences, dose-response relationships, and the relevance of rodent tumor findings to humans.
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.
Stability of GW501516 depends on form, temperature, light exposure, and moisture. Solid reference material is typically stored frozen or refrigerated in a desiccator and protected from light. Solutions in organic solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide are often kept frozen in aliquots to reduce freeze-thaw cycling. Aqueous solubility is low, so aqueous stock solutions can be difficult to prepare without cosolvents. Degradation may appear as changes in chromatographic purity or mass spectral signal. Stability studies are needed to establish shelf life for any specific preparation.
Quality assessment for cardarine samples usually combines identity, purity, and impurity testing. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry can confirm molecular structure, while high-performance liquid chromatography estimates purity. Certificates of analysis from testing laboratories may list these results, but they do not establish safety or legality. In the absence of approved manufacturing, products sold online may contain the wrong compound, variable amounts, or unlisted contaminants. Independent verification is therefore central to analytical work and to interpreting any reported biological activity.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Common name | Cardarine | Also called GW501516 and endurobol. |
| Chemical formula | C21H18F3NO3S2 | Molecular weight about 453.5 g/mol. |
| Appearance | White to off-white solid | Form depends on synthesis and purity. |
| Solubility | Soluble in DMSO and ethanol | Low solubility in water. |
| Typical storage | -20 °C, desiccated, protected from light | Common for research chemicals. |
Cardarine is a common name for GW501516, a synthetic compound studied for its effects on lipid and glucose metabolism. It functions as an agonist at peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta, or PPARδ, a nuclear receptor that influences gene expression. The molecule is not a steroid, nor is it a selective androgen receptor modulator. It is also known in research and sports literature as GW-501516 and endurobol. Early laboratory work examined its metabolic activity in cell cultures and animal models.
Activation of PPARδ changes transcription of genes involved in fatty acid transport, mitochondrial function, and skeletal muscle fuel preference. In rodent studies, pharmacological PPARδ activation was associated with increased endurance and altered body composition. These findings generated interest in performance enhancement, but species differences and study designs limit direct extrapolation to humans. Small human trials were conducted in the 2000s and later discontinued. The extent to which cardarine produces similar metabolic or performance effects in people remains an open question.
Laboratory studies indicate that GW501516 activates PPARδ, a nuclear receptor involved in fatty acid oxidation and energy metabolism. In rodent experiments, treated animals often showed increased endurance and reduced fat mass. These effects were observed under controlled conditions and do not establish safe or effective use in humans. The exact dose-response relationship in humans remains poorly characterized. Species differences in metabolism can affect how results translate across animals and people.
Safety concerns emerged from long-term animal studies. In rodents given the compound for extended periods, researchers found an increased incidence of certain cancers, including liver and bladder tumors. These findings contributed to the discontinuation of clinical development. Whether similar risks apply to short-term or low-level exposure in humans is not established, and controlled human safety data are limited. The relevance of high-dose rodent carcinogenicity findings to human use remains a subject of debate.
Human trials of GW501516 were small and short in duration. They examined lipid levels, glucose handling, and other metabolic markers, but the programs were halted after the animal cancer findings. No approved therapeutic product exists, and published human data are insufficient for establishing long-term safety. Reports of use for athletic performance come mainly from non-clinical settings and cannot be verified through controlled trials. Independent testing of products sold as cardarine has found inconsistent purity and labeling.
A recent randomized controlled trial, however, found no benefit over placebo and recommended that the use of antipsychotics in this way should no longer be regarded as an acceptable routine treatment. Antipsychotics may be an option, together with stimulants, in people with ADHD and aggressive behavior when other treatments have not worked, however, they have predominantly opposing effects and may have additive cardiovascular risks when used together. They have not been found to be useful for the prevention of delirium among those admitted to hospital. A 2019 study using national prescribing data found that antipsychotics were prescribed to a significant minority of youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), frequently without FDA-approved indications and in cases where stimulant medications had not been tried first, raising concerns about guideline adherence in pediatric treatment.
== Signs and symptoms == The most common sign of nickel allergy is inflammation of the skin at an area that comes into regular contact with nickel. This often takes the form of a reddened patch of skin with raised bumps (papules) or small blisters (vesicles), and edema. People with chronic dermatitis tend to have dry, scaly, and cracked skin at the site of contact. These sites of inflammation (called "primary eruptions") can occur anywhere on the skin that contacts nickel, but are most common on the hands, face, or anywhere that contacts metal objects such as jewelry or metal clothes buttons. Particularly high levels of nickel exposure can cause irritated patches of skin to appear at other sites on the body (called "secondary eruptions"). These typically occur as blistering rashes on the hands, eyelids, and at the inside of flexing joints (inside the elbow, back of the knee, etc.). Ingestion of nickel may cause a systemic reaction, which can result in generalized inflammation of the skin across the body, small blisters in the hands, irritation inside the flexing joints (flexural eczema), and redness and irritation of both buttocks. Systemic contact dermatitis (SCD) is defined as a dermatitis occurring in an epi-cutaneously contact-sensitized person when exposed to haptens systemically such as orally, per rectum, intravesically, transcutaneously, intrauterinely, intravenously, or by inhalation. The pathophysiology of systemic nickel allergy syndrome (SNAS) is not well understood.
=== Commanding officers === 1950 Lt Col Mike Calvert, Royal Engineers 1951 Lt Col John Sloane, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 1953 Lt Col Oliver Brooke, Welch Regiment 1954 Lt Col Michael Osborn, West Yorkshire Regiment 1955 Lt Col George Lea, Lancashire Fusiliers and Parachute Regiment 1957 Lt Col Tony Deane-Drummond, Royal Signals 1960 Lt Col Ronald Dare Wilson, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers 1962 Lt Col John Woodhouse, Dorset Regiment and East Surreys 1965 Lt Col Michael Wingate-Gray, Black Watch 1967 Lt Col John Slim, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 1969 Lt Col John Watts, Royal Irish Rangers 1972 Lt Col Peter de la Billière, Light Infantry 1974 Lt Col Anthony Jeapes, Devonshire and Dorset Regiment 1977 Lt Col Mike Wilkes, Royal Artillery 1982 Lt Col Mike Rose, Coldstream Guards 1984 Lt Col Andrew Massey, Royal Corps of Transport 1986 Lt Col Cedric Delves, Devonshire and Dorset Regiment 1989 Lt Col John Holmes, Scots Guards n/k Lt Col Jonathan "Jacko" Page, Parachute Regiment 2001 Lt Col Ed Butler, Royal Green Jackets 2002 Lt Col Mark Carleton-Smith, Irish Guards 2007 Lt Col Richard Williams, Parachute Regiment 2012 Lt Col Nick Perry, King's Royal Hussars
== Treatment == As of 2018, there is no cure for GSD, and treatment is restricted to manage symptoms and associated problems. Thus, sodium bicarbonate is recommended to treat metabolic acidosis, and antioxidants, among them vitamins E and C, can reduce oxidative damage.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
=== Pharmacokinetics === Some reports have been published on the pharmacokinetics of CoQ10. The plasma peak can be observed 6–8 hours after oral administration when taken as a pharmacological substance. In some studies, a second plasma peak was observed approximately 24 hours after administration, probably due to enterohepatic recycling and redistribution from the liver to circulation. Deuterium-labeled crystalline CoQ10 was used to investigate pharmacokinetics in humans to determine an elimination half-time of 33 hours.
== External links == N-Terminal Fusion of Target Protein to Maltose-Binding Protein at Michigan Technological University maltose-binding+protein at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) Generic protocol for the expression and purification of recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli using a combinatorial His6-maltose binding protein fusion tag
=== Neurodegenerative diseases === Due to the ability of Ang to protect motoneurons (MNs), causal links between Ang mutations and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are likely. The angiogenic factors associated with Ang may protect the central nervous system and MNs directly. Experiments with wild type Ang found that it slows MN degeneration in mice that had developed ALS, providing evidence for further development of Ang protein therapy in ALS treatment. Angiogenin expression in Parkinson's disease is dramatically decreased in the presence of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) aggregations. Exogenous angiogenin applied to dopamine-producing cells leads to the phosphorylation of PKB/AKT and the activation of this complex inhibits cleavage of caspase 3 and apoptosis when cells are exposed to a Parkinson's-like inducing substance.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Two functionally unequal subpopulations of neutrophils were identified on the basis of different levels of their reactive oxygen metabolite generation, membrane permeability, activity of enzyme system, and ability to be inactivated. The cells of one subpopulation with high membrane permeability (neutrophil-killers) intensively generate reactive oxygen metabolites and are inactivated in consequence of interaction with the substrate, whereas cells of another subpopulation (neutrophil-cagers) produce reactive oxygen species less intensively, don't adhere to substrate and preserve their activity. Additional studies have shown that lung tumors can be infiltrated by various populations of neutrophils.
== In popular culture == British actor Bob Hoskins portrayed Manuel Noriega in the biographical 2000 American television movie Noriega: God's Favorite. Noriega was also depicted in the 2012 video game Call of Duty: Black Ops II. In July 2014, he filed a lawsuit against the game company Activision for depicting him and using his name without his permission. Noriega, who filed the suit while in prison for murder, claimed he was portrayed as "a kidnapper, murderer and enemy of the state". On October 28, 2014, the case against Activision was dismissed in California by Judge William H. Fahey.
=== Chronic fatigue syndrome === Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating illness, the cause of which is unknown. Patients with CFS have abnormal neurological, immunological, and metabolic findings. For many, but not all, patients who meet criteria for CFS, the illness begins with an acute, infectious-like syndrome. Cases of CFS can follow well-documented infections with several infectious agents. A study of 259 patients with a "CFS-like" illness published shortly after HHV-6 was discovered used primary lymphocyte cultures to identify people with active replication of HHV-6. Such active replication was found in 70% of the patients vs. 20% of the control subjects (
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Cardarine is a common name for the investigational compound GW501516. It acts as a PPARδ agonist and is not approved for human use. It is prohibited in sport.
It activates PPARδ, a nuclear receptor that influences gene expression related to lipid and energy metabolism. Animal studies show changes in endurance and lipid levels. Human effects and risks are not well established.
No, cardarine is not a steroid. It belongs to a different chemical class, the PPARδ agonists. It is also not a selective androgen receptor modulator.
LC-MS/MS is common, often after sample cleanup. The assay targets GW501516 or its metabolites.