Daniel Louwrens
Daniel LouwrensCurious about MK-677 side effects?
Then keep reading, as we detail everything you need to know about MK-677 and safety below. Including things like legalities and if MK-677 is a sarm.
When it comes to performance-enhancing supplements, it’s better to be safe than sorry. This is especially true when you are talking about a research chemical such as MK-677. With different and misinformation all over the net, what should researchers and research subjects be worried about? Let’s start by discussing what MK-677 actually is, before we dive into any potential side effects it may have.
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What is MK-677?
SARMs, or selective androgen receptor modulators, were originally designed to replace Anabolic Steroids in the medical world. Researchers thought they would provide the muscle-building effects of anabolic steroids without the harmful side effects. Due to their selective nature, they wouldn’t have the Androgenic side effects, especially in women.
Contrary to popular misconception, MK-677 is not a SARM. MK-677 is a Growth Hormone (GH) Releasing Peptide-Mimetic [1]. This is a fancy way of saying that MK-677 will stimulate the pituitary gland to produce more growth hormone, which in turn would also increase the amount of Insulin Growth like Factor (IGF-1) in the body. Research has found substances like these to be beneficial for patients suffering from muscle wastage or a growth hormone deficiency [1, 2].
Originally patented in 1995, researchers found MK-677 can help with muscle catabolism as well as with bone frailty in the elderly. This also makes MK-677 a popular conversation topic among individuals looking to increase athletic performance.
MK-677 Side Effects
MK-677 has surprisingly few side effects. This is probably why it’s been studied significantly more than other research chemicals of its kind. Researchers have identified the following MK-677 side effects:
Increase in Insulin Resistance
Growth hormone is stimulated when MK-677 is used, which frees fatty acids from fat cells into the blood [3]. The increased fatty acids within the blood are great for fat loss and combined with a calorie deficit this side effect is usually mitigated.
Increase in Water Retention
When there is a great increase in the growth hormone levels in the body, we see an increase in Sodium retention as well. This can lead to “bloating” or water retention. [4]. This same study found no change in blood pressure.
Increased Apatite
MK-677 is a Ghrelin mimic. Increased levels of Ghrelin will signal an increase in hunger [1]
Compared to other popular performance enhancing chemicals, MK-677 has fewer side effects. Other performance enhancing drugs like SARMs and Pro-Hormones has been on the market for a good amount of time. These drugs are being used by athletes seeking to boost their performance, and they can have quite nasty side effects, especially when these compounds are mismanaged. Side effects of SARMs and Pro-Hormones include [5]:
Increased Cholesterol
Studies have shown that SARMs that lower Endogenous Testosterone production can lead to increased LDL and decreased HDL levels.
Hair Loss
Even though SARMs are selective in nature, some will still have Androgenic side effects such as hair loss.
Hypogonadism
There is a link between stronger SARM, and Pro-Hormone use and the lowering of Endogenous Testosterone production.
As you can see, compared to SARMs and Pro-Hormones, MK-677 is widely regarded as safe and expresses minor side effects.
Is MK-677 a Steroid?
Anabolic steroids are classified as synthetic testosterone, or variations of Testosterone itself. When administered to the body, these will bind to androgen receptors and cause a biological change in favor of growing new muscle tissue. Steroids bind to all the Androgen receptors in the body and are therefore known to have significant androgenic side effects.
MK-677 is not in any way, shape, or form a Steroid. MK-677 is known as a growth hormone releasing peptide-mimetic. This is a long name to describe the ability that MK-677 has to increase the endogenous production of growth hormones.
Steroids are hormones that will shut down your own Testosterone production. MK-677 will merely stimulate your own pituitary gland to produce more growth hormones. MK-677 will not shut down your own production of growth hormone [6].
Is MK-677 a SARM?
The term SARMs gets thrown around quite often, and as a result of that we sometimes lose precise clarification about what is, and what isn’t a SARM. A SARM is classified as a compound that selectively binds to androgen receptors, but with reduced overall androgenic activity when compared to anabolic steroids.
MK-677 does not bind to the Androgen receptors, and therefor isn’t really a SARM. It is sometimes lumped together with other SARMS, but this is inaccurate, as it is neither a peptide nor an anabolic steroid. In reality MK-677 belongs to its own category of performance enhancing drugs that is entirely different from SARMs and steroids.
Is MK-677 Legal?
When it comes to SARMs, peptides, and other performance enhancing drugs, it is crucial to know which products are legal, and which aren’t. SARMs and MK-677 are legal to purchase, but only as a research chemicals.
This means the seller cannot label it for human use or as a dietary supplement. This is because most SARMs (and MK-677) have not been completely cleared for human consumption. More research is required before they can be safely used by humans.
How to Take MK-677 | What You MUST Know
Like most medical substances, MK-677 comes in various forms, and they all have their own advantages and disadvantages. The most common one is the oral liquid form, such as the one stocked by Chemyo. Other forms include:
- Powdered MK-677
- Injectable MK-677
- Oral Capsule MK-677
Injectable MK-677 brings the benefit of not being digested by the gut which could increase bioavailability; however, this dramatically increases the risk of infection as piercing the skin isn’t always done in a sanitary manner. Powdered SARMs have a tendency to have a terrible taste when compared to Liquid SARMs.
Relatively speaking, the easiest and most efficient method will be to use the liquid SARM, as they do not have an awful taste. The MK-677 produced by Chemyo has a dropper to ensure it is dosed accurately.
Best MK-677 Supplements | 2023 Edition
The best MK-677 product on the market today is the liquid MK-677 available at Chemyo. Dosed at 25mg per ml, it provides plenty of product for the price. In fact, the MK-677 from Chemyo comes in a 50ml bottle, which is substantially larger compared to other retailers.
Chemyo focuses on providing a high-quality product, as well as a pleasant retail experience. Their products are third-party tested, and they provide a broad breakdown of the results. As a bonus, they offer free USA shipping for orders above $100, and free international shipping for purchases over $275.
MK-677 Benefits
As stated before, the primary reason MK-677 is used in the medical world is to treat individuals who suffer from a deficiency in natural growth hormone, or those who suffer from a muscle wastage disease [7]. That being said, Mk-677 can have the following effects when administered to the body [8]:
Increased production of growth hormone
MK-677 can cause an increase in the production of natural growth hormones by stimulating the pituitary gland. Based on dosage, the increase can be anything from 79% to 83% [1, 2].
Increased IGF-1 levels
An increase in growth hormone will cause an increase in IGF-1 levels, which can help with nitrogen retention, and increased lipolysis [9].
Increased bone density
A study published in 2009 found that MK-677 can increase markers of bone formation by up to 23% [10].
MK-677 will have most of the effects that exogenous growth hormone will have. However, unlike exogenous growth hormone, it will not downregulate your own production of growth hormone. Unlike steroids or certain SARMs, MK-677 does not pose any risk for androgenic side effects either.
Is MK-677 Safe? | Overall
So, to answer the overarching question of the article, is MK-677 safe?
The available research shows the answer is a resounding “yes.”
MK-677 has been administered to research subjects with only minor side effects, especially when compared with SARMS, anabolic steroids, and other performance-enhancing drugs.
MK-677 has been shown in research studies to significantly increase growth hormone and IGF-1 levels. It has also been shown to increase muscle mass and decrease body fat levels in most research subjects.