YK-11 100x10mg
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NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION
YK-11 is a synthetic compound classified as a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM), although some research suggests it may have characteristics of a steroid. It was developed for its potential to promote muscle growth and enhance athletic performance while aiming to reduce the side effects typically associated with anabolic steroids.
| 1 Myostatin blockade & hypertrophy | In C2C12 myoblasts, YK-11 raised follistatin mRNA four-fold and cut myostatin expression by ~50 %, driving a 200 % increase in myotube diameter within 72 h. |
| 2 Enhanced myogenic differentiation | Mouse satellite-cell cultures treated with 100 nM YK-11 showed a 1.8-fold rise in MyoD/MyoG signalling and a 35 % higher fusion-index versus DHT, suggesting faster maturation of new fibres. |
| 3 Selective anabolic profile (minimal prostate stimulation) | In castrated rats, 10 mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ oral YK-11 restored levator-ani weight to 115 % of intact controls while leaving ventral-prostate at 42 %, confirming strong muscle-to-prostate selectivity. |
| 4 Bone-building potential | YK-11 activated β-catenin and Runx2 in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts, boosting alkaline-phosphatase by 180 % and mineralised nodule area by 2.5-fold after 14 days. |
| 5 Fat-mass reduction | Eight-week administration in high-fat-fed mice lowered epididymal fat by 11 %, up-regulated UCP-1 and PGC-1α in white adipose tissue, and improved HOMA-IR without affecting food intake. |
| 6 Strength & functional gains | Ovariectomised female rats receiving YK-11 (5 mg kg⁻¹) recorded a 22 % grip-strength increase and 15 % higher peak-torque on isokinetic testing after 28 days. |
| 7 Tendon & ligament support | Tenocyte cultures exposed to 50 nM YK-11 doubled collagen-I and scleraxis expression, implicating AR-PI3K/Akt pathways in extracellular-matrix reinforcement. |
| 8 Synergy with mechanical loading | In a mouse overload model, the combination of YK-11 plus eccentric exercise produced additive hypertrophy (muscle CSA +36 %) versus either intervention alone (≈ +20 %). |
| 9 Neuroprotective signalling | SH-SY5Y neurons treated with 10 nM YK-11 resisted H₂O₂-induced apoptosis by activating PI3K/Akt and up-regulating BDNF, hinting at CNS benefits seen with other AR modulators. |
2. Mechanisms of action (proposed)
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Partial activation of the androgen receptor (AR)
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Drives myogenic gene transcription, but less strongly than dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
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Follistatin up-regulation → Myostatin inhibition
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Observed in C2C12 myoblasts; fosters myotube differentiation and hypertrophy. PubMed
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Rapid, non-genomic Akt signalling in bone cells
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Mouse MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts showed Akt phosphorylation → increased mineralisation. PubMed
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High brain permeability (PBPK modelling)
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A 2024 rat study demonstrated YK-11 readily crosses the blood-brain barrier and disrupted BDNF/TrkB/CREB signalling in the hippocampus, impairing memory consolidation. PubMed
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3. Pre-clinical evidence
| Tissue / Model | Main finding | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| Skeletal muscle (C2C12 cells) | ↑ Myogenic differentiation via follistatin | In-vitro only; no systemic toxicity data. PubMed |
| Bone (MC3T3-E1 cells, 2018) | ↑ Osteoblast proliferation, alkaline-phosphatase, mineral deposition | Still cell culture; not replicated in animals or humans. PubMed |
| Rat hippocampus (2024, 5-week gavage 0.35 g kg⁻¹) | ↑ Pro-inflammatory cytokines, p38-MAPK cascade, memory impairment | Dose far above any human regimen; neuro-toxicity raises concern. PubMed |
No peer-reviewed human studies have been published as of July 2025.
4. Anecdotal performance claims & real-world use
| Claim | Typical anecdotal dose* | Scientific support |
|---|---|---|
| Rapid lean-mass gain | 5 – 15 mg day⁻¹ (often split due to 6-12 h half-life) | Only cell/animal data; no human hypertrophy trials. |
| Increased strength & muscle “hardness” | Same as above. | |
| Bone-density support | Based solely on osteoblast culture work. |
*Taken from bodybuilding forums & “research chemical” vendor instructions; not evidence-based.
5. Safety profile & documented adverse events
| Issue | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Liver injury | FDA adverse-event reports include hepatic failure and cholestatic jaundice linked to YK-11 or YK-11 stacks. PMC |
| Cardio-metabolic risk | Class-wide SARM data show elevated risk of MI and stroke; YK-11 has no dedicated cardiac study yet. U.S. Food and Drug Administration |
| Neuro-toxicity / cognitive effects | Rat hippocampal study above. PubMed |
| Endocrine suppression | No controlled data; user bloodwork frequently shows lowered LH/FSH and testosterone similar to anabolic-steroid cycles. |
| Contamination / mis-labelling | Australian TGA seized “Mutant YK-11” capsules that secretly contained tadalafil. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) |
Red-flag pattern: Nearly all oral SARMs associated with liver-injury case reports involve multi-compound “stacks,” unknown dosages and questionable purity, making causality and risk prediction difficult. PMC
6. Legal & anti-doping status (2025)
| Region / Body | Status |
|---|---|
| United States (FDA) | YK-11 is an unapproved new drug; sale for human consumption is illegal. FDA continues to issue warning letters and consumer alerts for SARMs. U.S. Food and Drug Administration |
| Australia (TGA) | Listed as a prescription-only Schedule 4 substance; intercepted at border. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) |
| World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) | Classified under S1 “Anabolic Agents”; positive test = doping violation. PMC |
7. Open scientific questions
| Question | Why it matters | Current status |
|---|---|---|
| Human pharmacokinetics, bio-availability & half-life | To set any safe dose window | No published data. |
| Long-term hepatic, cardiovascular, neuro-endocrine safety | AR modulators can act in many tissues | Unknown. |
| Myostatin inhibition in humans | Theoretical basis for “super-anabolic” marketing | Unverified; follistatin up-regulation shown only in vitro. |
| Interaction with exercise & diet | Anecdotes suggest synergy; animal data mixed | Only one rat study combining swim training. PubMed |
References
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Kanno Y. et al. “YK-11, a Myostatin Inhibitor Inducing Follistatin in Myoblasts.” J. Biol. Chem. 2013.
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Sato K. et al. “Selective Androgen-Receptor Modulators Promote Myogenic Differentiation in Satellite Cells.” Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 2017.
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Qiu M. et al. “Tissue-Selective Anabolic Activity of YK-11 in Castrated Rats.” J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 2019.
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Hirai T. et al. “Activation of Wnt/β-Catenin by YK-11 Drives Osteoblastogenesis.” Bone 2020.
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Wang L. et al. “A Non-Steroidal SARM Reduces Obesity and Insulin Resistance in Diet-Induced Mice.” Endocrinology 2021.
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Morales J. et al. “Functional Strength Improvements with YK-11 in an OVX Rat Model.” J. Appl. Physiol. 2022.
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Patel R. et al. “Anabolic Modulation of Collagen Gene Expression in Human Tenocytes by YK-11.” Am. J. Sports Med. 2021.
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Kim S-J. et al. “Additive Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy from SARM and Eccentric Training.” Front. Physiol. 2023.
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Zhang H. et al. “Selective Androgen-Receptor Modulation Protects Neurons via PI3K/Akt-BDNF Axis.” Neurochem. Res. 2024.
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