Veterinary growth promoters (ractopamine / zilpaterol / zeranol)
Muscle & Strength · Veterinary beta-agonist / estrogenic growth promoter
Tier D
High-risk evidence profile
Bottom line
Read Off Label grades Veterinary growth promoters (ractopamine / zilpaterol / zeranol) as D (2.9/10) based on weak evidence, med benefit magnitude, and a high-risk safety profile.
Its high-risk evidence profile reflects a Safety score of 2/10; reported benefits and harms can differ by indication, dose, route, duration, and population.
WADA coverage: ractopamine, zilpaterol and zeranol.
Studied, labeled, or reported-use context: No approved human performance dose — Veterinary/feed-additive use varies by country; not approved for human performance; WADA S1 prohibited; not individualized guidance.
What the evidence says
WADA coverage: ractopamine, zilpaterol and zeranol. Included because they are perceived as anabolic/body-composition agents, not because they have credible consumer health use.
Mechanism
Livestock growth promoters shift nutrient partitioning toward lean tissue; human performance use is extrapolated from veterinary pharmacology rather than tested health-optimization evidence.
Studied, labeled, or reported dose & route
No approved human performance dose
This records doses and routes described in studies, approved labeling, clinical practice, or documented use. It is not individualized guidance and does not establish safety; context changes with indication, formulation, health history, monitoring, and other medicines.
Citations
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Common questions
- What does the evidence show about Veterinary growth promoters (ractopamine / zilpaterol / zeranol)'s effects?
- Read Off Label rates the evidence for Veterinary growth promoters (ractopamine / zilpaterol / zeranol) as Weak and the benefit magnitude as med, producing an overall grade of D (2.9/10). WADA coverage: ractopamine, zilpaterol and zeranol.
- What safety findings are reported for Veterinary growth promoters (ractopamine / zilpaterol / zeranol)?
- Veterinary growth promoters (ractopamine / zilpaterol / zeranol) has a high risk profile in the database. High (tachycardia, tremor, metabolic/cardiovascular uncertainty, contamination and legal risk) Legal status: Veterinary/feed-additive use varies by country; not approved for human performance; WADA S1 prohibited.
- What does the low Safety score for Veterinary growth promoters (ractopamine / zilpaterol / zeranol) represent?
- The Safety score is 2/10. It records the substantial harms described for one or more use contexts; the Benefit score, indication, dose, route, duration, population, and legal status remain separate parts of the evidence profile.
- What doses or routes are reported for Veterinary growth promoters (ractopamine / zilpaterol / zeranol)?
- No approved human performance dose This is context from studies, approved labeling, clinical practice, or documented use; it is not individualized guidance and does not establish safety.
- How does Veterinary growth promoters (ractopamine / zilpaterol / zeranol) work?
- Livestock growth promoters shift nutrient partitioning toward lean tissue; human performance use is extrapolated from veterinary pharmacology rather than tested health-optimization evidence.
This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.