Shilajit
Summary
Shilajit is an Ayurvedic rock exudate. Small trials of purified extract found less strength loss after fatigue at 500 mg a day, slower bone loss in postmenopausal women and higher testosterone in middle-aged men (all grade D). Raw or poorly made Ayurvedic products can contain lead, mercury or arsenic.
Key facts
- A rock exudate made of fulvic acids, dibenzo-alpha-pyrones, proteins and minerals; supplements use purified extracts[1]
- Strength retention after fatigue (D); bone density after menopause (D); testosterone in men aged 45–55 (D)[1][2][4]
- 250 mg twice daily for 90 days raised total and free testosterone versus placebo in healthy men aged 45–55; the abstract does not give the number of participants[4]
- About 21% of 193 Ayurvedic medicines bought online contained detectable lead, mercury or arsenic[5]
- 3 graded human outcomes on this page
- October 11, 2026
How it works
ProposedPurified shilajit extract lowered oxidative-stress and inflammation markers and bone-resorption signals (RANKL, CTX-1) in a 48-week trial; how it affects muscle or hormones is not established.[2]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
At a glance: strongest evidence per outcome
| Outcome | Grade | Effect | Strongest evidence | Rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | Grade D | Mixed | RCT · n = 63 · 2019 | 1 row |
| Bones & joints | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 60 · 2022 | 2 rows |
Every graded row
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strength loss after a fatiguing exercise test | Mixed | Grade D | RCT · n = 63 · 2019 Recreationally active men Form: Purified shilajit (PrimaVie) · Dose: 250 or 500 mg/day · Duration: 8 weeks Among stronger men, 500 mg a day reduced the fatigue-related drop in strength (8.9% vs 16.0% with placebo); 250 mg did not differ from placebo. | 30728074 (opens PubMed)Source [1] |
| Bone mineral density after menopause | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 60 · 2022 Postmenopausal women aged 45–65 with osteopenia Form: Standardized aqueous shilajit extract · Dose: 250 or 500 mg/day · Duration: 48 weeks Spine and hip bone density fell with placebo but was dose-dependently preserved with shilajit; bone-turnover, oxidative-stress and CRP markers improved. | 35933897 (opens PubMed)Source [2] |
| Type 1 collagen synthesis marker | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 35 · 2024 Recreationally trained men Form: Shilajit extract · Dose: 500 or 1,000 mg/day · Duration: 8 weeks Serum pro-c1α1 roughly doubled in both shilajit groups and did not change with placebo. | 36546868 (opens PubMed)Source [3] |
Forms
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purified shilajit extract (standardized to fulvic acids) | Varies[1] | No head-to-head human absorption data between products in our sources.[1] | No safety signals were reported in the abstracts of these trials.[1][2] | Strength, bone density, collagen and testosterone markers |
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from 250 mg of purified shilajit extract a day to 1,000 mg a day, for 8 to 48 weeks.[1][2][3]
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
None found in our sources.
Who should be careful
- Anyone buying unpurified or untested shilajit
- Ayurvedic products sold online often contained lead, mercury or arsenic; choose purified, tested extracts.[5]
- People with hormone-sensitive conditions
- Testosterone and DHEA-S rose in a 90-day trial in men.[4]
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- No safety data were found in the trials we cite.[1]
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
Where to buy Shilajit
Products from brands we partner with that contain Shilajit. Listing a product is not a claim that it works; check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.
- SupersmartPaid linkSuper Shilajit2 capsules: 500 mg PrimaVie purified shilajit standardized to 50% fulvic acids; 30 servings. The same branded extract and 500 mg dose as the strength trial.Shop at Supersmart (opens in new tab)Price and label checked 2026-10-11 on the brand’s site.
Partner links may earn us a commission. Learn more
Get 15% off with SMART026 (opens in new tab)15% off with code SMART026
Partner links may earn us a commission. Learn more
- Supersmart’s own terms and exclusions apply at checkout.
- 20% applies when 3 or more products ship on auto-delivery to the same address.
- The code discount and Subscribe & Save are separate offers; we don’t claim they combine.
- Offer terms from Supersmart’s site and its affiliate program, checked Oct 8, 2026. Offers can change; the brand's checkout is final.
Frequently asked questions
Does shilajit raise testosterone?
One 90-day trial in healthy men aged 45–55 found higher total and free testosterone at 250 mg twice daily. It has not been confirmed in other trials.[4]
Does shilajit help bones?
A 48-week trial in 60 postmenopausal women with osteopenia found slower loss of bone density at 250 or 500 mg a day.[2]
Is shilajit safe?
Purified extracts had no reported safety problems in trials, but Ayurvedic products bought online often contained heavy metals, so purification and testing matter.[5]
Sources
- [1]The effects of Shilajit supplementation on fatigue-induced decreases in muscular strength and serum hydroxyproline levels.. J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 2019. RCT
- [2]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, 2022. RCT
- [3]Effects of 8 Weeks of Shilajit Supplementation on Serum Pro-c1α1, a Biomarker of Type 1 Collagen Synthesis: A Randomized Control Trial.. J Diet Suppl, 2024. RCT
- [4]Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers.. Andrologia, 2016. RCT
- [5]Lead, mercury, and arsenic in US- and Indian-manufactured Ayurvedic medicines sold via the Internet.. JAMA, 2008. observational
What changed
- First draft. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities (title, year and journal taken from the PubMed record) and abstracts read for each cited row. Product details in Where to buy read from the brand page on the date shown. Self-reviewed in a second strict pass (no independent reviewer yet).