Abysmal results for combined MK-0677 (Ibutamoren) & LGD-4033 (Ligandrol) [case study]

Type-IIx · Jan 12, 2023

Just a summary (unedited from my notes) for your reflection on just how poor this combination of a secretagogue (the Ghrelin mimetic MK-0677; Ibutamoren) and SARM (Ligandrol; LGD-4033) was. This is based on the data from Cardaci, T. D., Machek, S. B., W ilburn, D. T., Heileson, J. L., Harris, D. R., Cintineo, H. P., & Willoughby, D. S. (2022). LGD-4033 and MK-677 use impacts body composition, circulating biomarkers, and skeletal muscle androgenic hormone and receptor content: a case report. Experimental Physiology, 00, 00– 00. https://doi.org/10.1113/EP090741:

A case report of combined LGD‐4033 and MK‐677 use on body composition...muscle androgenic hormone and receptor content (abysmal results):
Overview

25.3 y male, 178 cm, training age 8.8 y
10 mg/d LGD-4033 & 15 mg/d MK-0677 x 5 w
blood-work drawn pre-, on- (@ 5 w), & post- (+4 w) cycle
on-cycle excision of skeletal muscle tissue & strength testing (1RM leg press & 1RM bench press), cross-sectional (vs. recreationally resistance trained men)
body comp. metrics & biospecimens collection taken upon waking, 48 h post-training & rested, fasted, euhydrated state

Results:

body comp.: pre- to on- cycle - body mass +6.0%, LBM +3.1%, trunk LBM +6.6%, appendicular LBM +4.3%, total fat mass (FM) +15.4%, trunk FM +2.8%, appendicular FM +14.8%
serum lipids: chol. +14.8%, trig. +39.2%, LDL-chol. +40.0%, HDL-chol -36.4%
liver: AST +95.8%, ALT +205%
androgen-associated: free T (fT) -85.7%, total T (TT) -62.3%, SHBG -79.6%
"...all variables returned to pre- cycle values post-cycle, apart from total FM, appendicular FM, bone area, total chol. & LDL-chol."
gonadotropins: FSH sub-clinical (low) both on- (1.2 IU/L) & post- (1.3 IU/L) cycle [not assessed pre-]
in case subject vs. non-users: intramuscular (i.m.) AR -44.6%, T +47.8%, HT +34.4%, 1RM leg press +39.2%, 1RM bench press +32.0%
"...A decrease from on- to post- cycle was observed in BM (-5.7%), total LBM (-2.8%), trunk LBM (-6.7%), appendicular LBM (-2.9%) & total body water (-2.1%), while trunk FM increased further (+1.9%) & total FM (-6.7%) & appendicular FM (-1.0%) decreased, albeit not to pre- cycle levels. The bone mineral content (-3.6%), bone area (-1.1%) & BMD (-2.1%) decreased from pre- to on-cycle. From on- to post- cycle, BM content (+3.02%) & BMD (+2.9%) returned to near pre-cycle values, whereas bone area (+0.1%) did not. Visceral adipose tissue (AT) area increased from pre- to on- cycle (+4.0%) & increased further from on- to post- cycle (+13.6%)."
TT decreased on-cycle from 639 to 241 ng/dL, back to 659 post-cycle & fT decreased on-cycle from 48 to 85.7 pg/mL, back to 148.1 post-cycle.

Conclusion
Versus recreationally trained population, SARM use saw ↓AR content, i.m. DHT & i.m. T, but strength (leg press & bench press 1RM) was > average for recreationally resistance trained population; co-administration of LGD-4033 & MK-0677 ↑body mass, LBM & FM, while negatively impacting bone, lipids, liver enzymes, T (T & f) & LH.

Runner1032 · Jan 13, 2023

Is this study based off a single user? Or are those the averages of the sample population put on the protocol?

Type-IIx · Jan 22, 2023

Runner1032 said:
Is this study based off a single user? Or are those the averages of the sample population put on the protocol?

It is a cross-sectional case study, meaning that it is a study in a single user, with comparisons to other similarly situated (here, recreationally trained resistance training men) nonusers.

Type-IIx · Jan 22, 2023

I went back and added some missing data (that involved taking a bit of a closer look at some of the Figures). From this, you can see the changes to LBM are virtually entirely explained by changes (increases) to TBW (total body water) in the extracellular (nonmuscle) compartment, that largely explains the rapid loss (i.e., reduced fluid retention or "bloat") post-cycle. Note that in fairness, there is difficulty discerning changes (i.e., increases) in total body water without rather than within the intramuscular compartment (where H₂O comprises ~70% of the skeletal muscle tissue) if muscle protein synthesis is preceded by an acute increase in cell hydration (which it is). I would remark, however, that this kid starts out quite fat, gets really fat on the Ibutamoren & Ligandrol, and basically goes back to just being quite fat after coming off:

Anthropometrics, etc.: 25.3 y male, 97 kg (base-line), 178 cm, training age 8.8 y: At base-line, 71 kg LBM (∴ 26 kg FM [26.8% b.f.]) [22.4 FFMI (kg/m²)]

....
body comp.: pre- to on- cycle - body mass +6.0%, LBM +3.1%, trunk LBM +6.6%, appendicular LBM +4.3%, total FM +15.4% (reaching 30.9% b.f.), trunk FM +2.8%, appendicular FM +14.8%, & TBW (+2.5%)
...
To reiterate,
"...A decrease from on- to post- cycle was observed in BM (-5.7%), total LBM (-2.8%), trunk LBM (-6.7%), appendicular LBM (-2.9%) & TBW (-2.1%), while trunk FM increased further (+1.9%) & total FM (-6.7%) & appendicular FM (-1.0%) decreased, albeit not to pre- cycle levels. The bone mineral content (-3.6%), bone area (-1.1%) & BMD (-2.1%) decreased from pre- to on-cycle. From on- to post- cycle, BM content (+3.02%) & BMD (+2.9%) returned to near pre-cycle values, whereas bone area (+0.1%) did not. Visceral AT area increased from pre- to on- cycle (+4.0%) & increased further from on- to post- cycle (+13.6%)."