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Benefits of Shilajit

Evidence:Emerging
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This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual results may vary — consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Full disclaimer

Evidence-Based Benefits

  • Testosterone support — Pandit et al. (2016, n=96) showed 250mg PrimaVie twice daily for 90 days significantly increased total testosterone (+20.45%), free testosterone (+19.14%), and DHEA in healthy men aged 45-55
  • Mitochondrial energy — Bhattacharyya et al. (2009) demonstrated shilajit fulvic acid and DBPs enhance mitochondrial CoQ10 function, increasing ATP production by 29% in cell studies
  • Antioxidant activity — fulvic acid is a potent electron donor/acceptor that neutralizes free radicals and enhances the efficacy of other antioxidants (Carrasco-Gallardo et al., 2012)
  • Anti-aging — Surapaneni et al. (2012) found 2g/day shilajit reduced markers of oxidative stress and increased antioxidant status in healthy volunteers over 45 days
  • Nutrient absorption — fulvic acid enhances the bioavailability of minerals and other supplements by acting as a natural chelator and transport molecule

What the Research Says

Shilajit is a natural mineral substance that has garnered attention for its potential health benefits. Research indicates that purified forms of shilajit may enhance physical performance and improve various physiological markers. A study by Pandit et al. (2016) demonstrated that PrimaVie extract, a purified form of shilajit, significantly increased testosterone levels in healthy aging men. Additionally, Bhattacharyya et al. (2009) found that processed shilajit improved mitochondrial energy status in mice through CoQ10 activation.

Recent studies have further explored shilajit's effects on physical performance and health markers. Yadav et al. (2026) conducted a 28-day open-label pilot study with TruBlk™ Shilajit Resin, finding improvements in muscle strength (+12.94%), endurance (+12.30%), VO₂ max (+1.36%), and reduced fatigue (-32.40%) in healthy males. Martinez et al. (2025) reported that 12 weeks of supplementation with chromium, Phyllanthus emblica fruit extract, and shilajit improved cardiometabolic markers, body composition, strength, and aerobic capacity in sedentary men and women.

Safety considerations are paramount, as raw or unpurified shilajit may contain harmful substances. Only purified, tested products should be used. While the evidence is promising, larger and longer-duration randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are needed to confirm these findings.

Related Conditions

Low TestosteroneEnergyLongevity
Full Shilajit Guide

References

  1. RCTPandit S, Biswas S, Jana U, et al. (2016). Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers. Andrologia. DOI PubMed
  2. Carrasco-Gallardo C, Guzmán L, Maccioni RB (2012). Shilajit: a natural phytocomplex with potential procognitive activity. International Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. DOI PubMed
  3. Yadav D, Mishra S, Shah KM, Reddy ST, et al. (2026). Safety and Efficacy of TruBlk™ Shilajit Resin Supplementation on Physical Performance and Blood Biomarkers in Healthy Adults: A 28-Day Open-Label Pilot Study.. Cureus. DOI PubMed
  4. RCTMartinez V, McAngus K, Dickerson BL, Leonard M, et al. (2025). Effects of 12 Weeks of Chromium, Phyllanthus emblica Fruit Extract, and Shilajit Supplementation on Markers of Cardiometabolic Health, Fitness, and Weight Loss in Men and Women with Risk Factors to Metabolic Syndrome Initiating an Exercise and Diet Intervention: A Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.. Nutrients. DOI PubMed
  5. RCTNeltner TJ, Sahoo PK, Smith RW, Anders JPV, et al. (2024). Effects of 8 Weeks of Shilajit Supplementation on Serum Pro-c1α1, a Biomarker of Type 1 Collagen Synthesis: A Randomized Control Trial.. Journal of dietary supplements. DOI PubMed
  6. RCTPingali U, Nutalapati C (2022). Shilajit extract reduces oxidative stress, inflammation, and bone loss to dose-dependently preserve bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteopenia: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. DOI PubMed
  7. RCTKeller JL, Housh TJ, Hill EC, Smith CM, et al. (2019). The effects of Shilajit supplementation on fatigue-induced decreases in muscular strength and serum hydroxyproline levels.. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. DOI PubMed
Show 2 more references
  1. Das A, S El Masry M, Gnyawali SC, Ghatak S, et al. (2019). Skin Transcriptome of Middle-Aged Women Supplemented With Natural Herbo-mineral Shilajit Shows Induction of Microvascular and Extracellular Matrix Mechanisms.. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. DOI PubMed
  2. Das A, Datta S, Rhea B, Sinha M, et al. (2016). The Human Skeletal Muscle Transcriptome in Response to Oral Shilajit Supplementation.. Journal of medicinal food. DOI PubMed