A reference work, not a recommendation to use: this profile describes mechanism and evidence and does not replace medical advice. The claims come from marketing and forums and are tested here, not endorsed.

Claims checked

  • Testosterone ↑

    Single unconfirmed finding

    Testosterone & hormones · healthy · Human, randomised

    A manufacturer-sponsored RCT in healthy men aged 45 to 55 found higher total and free testosterone and DHEA-S [3]; a review rates the extract as possibly effective in late-onset hypogonadism [5]. Independent confirmation is lacking; the sample size is not given in the abstract.

  • Better sperm quality

    Single unconfirmed finding

    Libido & sexual function · Patients: oligospermia · Human, non-randomised small studiesEvery study behind this level and result had fewer than 100 participants. Small studies report larger effects on average than large ones, so the result is less certain.

    In 28 men with oligospermia, sperm count (+61.4%), motility and testosterone (+23.5%) rose, though without a control group [4].

  • More strength and less fatigue

    Single unconfirmed finding

    Muscle & performance · healthy · Human, randomised small studiesEvery study behind this level and result had fewer than 100 participants. Small studies report larger effects on average than large ones, so the result is less certain.

    In a manufacturer-funded RCT with 63 men, an effect appeared only in a post hoc subgroup with high baseline strength and only under the higher dose [2]. An open-label study without a control group in 25 men reported improvements that do not allow any proof of effect [8].

  • Stronger bones

    Single unconfirmed finding

    Recovery & healing · Patients: postmenopausal women with osteopenia · Human, randomised small studiesEvery study behind this level and result had fewer than 100 participants. Small studies report larger effects on average than large ones, so the result is less certain.

    In an RCT with 60 women, bone density at the lumbar spine and femoral neck was better preserved under shilajit extract, and bone resorption markers fell [7]. Confirmation by further studies is lacking.

small studies: Every study behind this level and result had fewer than 100 participants. Small studies report larger effects on average than large ones, so the result is less certain.

Mechanism of action

Evidence map: Shilajit

Each line stands for a published finding; line style and color show where it comes from. The filter hides weaker evidence levels. Sources: see references.

Shilajit is a natural product mixture whose origin and composition are not known with certainty; depending on the region, it consists of more than 80% humic substances and about 20% calcium, potassium and magnesium, plus amino acids, fatty acids, phenolic acids and metals [1]. The purified branded extract most often used in studies is standardized to at least 50% fulvic acids and to dibenzo-α-pyrones [2]. A specific molecular target is not described in the sources checked.

The main claim is a higher testosterone level. In a randomized, placebo-controlled study in healthy men aged 45 to 55, total and free testosterone and DHEA-S rose after 90 days, while LH and FSH remained unchanged; the study was sponsored by the manufacturer of the extract [3]. In 28 men with oligospermia, sperm count, motility and testosterone rose in an uncontrolled study [4]. A systematic review therefore rates the purified extract as possibly effective in men with late-onset hypogonadism [5]. In a rat study whose first author heads a shilajit company, total and free testosterone rose markedly with two of several samples; at the same time, liver and kidneys showed mild to moderate degenerative changes [6].

For performance and bone there are also only individual studies. In a manufacturer-funded RCT with 63 men, only a subgroup with high baseline strength lost less strength after fatigue under the higher dose [2]. In 60 postmenopausal women with osteopenia, bone density was better preserved under shilajit extract than under placebo over 48 weeks [7]. An open-label study without a control group reported more strength and less fatigue [8]. On the risk side are heavy metals: a review lists about 65 metals in shilajit, including lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury, mostly below the limits but above them in individual studies [9]; an analysis of Indian and Pakistani samples found lead, arsenic and mercury above the permitted values [10], and another found thallium in raw material and products [11]. An analysis of twelve samples of different origin, by contrast, found toxic metals below the limits [12].

Targets

TargetTypeActionKey dataEvidence
Gonadal axis (testosterone, DHEA-S)Hormone axisActivatorLH and FSH unchanged Human, randomised[3][6]

Effect profile

Which signaling systems the compound affects according to current data. ↑ enhanced, ↓ dampened, ≈ modulated, ○ no effect; dots = evidence level.

  • Dopamineno data
  • Noradrenalineno data
  • Serotoninno data
  • Acetylcholineno data
  • Glutamate · AMPAno data
  • Glutamate · NMDAno data
  • GABAno data
  • Histamineno data
  • Orexinno data
  • Adenosineno data
  • Opioidsno data
  • Melatoninno data
  • Neurotrophinsno data
  • Blood flowno data
  • Nitric oxideno data
  • Energy metabolismno data
  • Insulin · glucoseno data
  • Inflammation · oxidative↓ · MDA and hsCRP fell, glutathione rose in postmenopausal women (one RCT)[7]
  • Stress axisno data
  • Testosterone axis↑ · Total and free testosterone raised in a manufacturer-sponsored RCT, LH and FSH unchanged; increase also in rats[3][4][6]
  • Endocannabinoidsno data
  • Autophagy · senescenceno data
  • Immune systemno data
  • Lipid metabolismno data
  • Coagulation · fibrinolysisno data
  • Methylationno data

Routes of administration and bioavailability

How much of a compound reaches the blood or target tissue depends on the route into the body and on the dosage form. All routes of administration explained

  • Oral (swallowed) · purified, standardized extract

    The extract used in most RCTs is standardized to at least 50% fulvic acids and to dibenzo-α-pyrones [2]. After intake of a processed extract, constituents were detected in semen by HPLC [4]; quantitative bioavailability data are lacking.

    Human, non-randomised

  • Oral (swallowed) · raw resin

    The composition varies greatly by origin [1][12]; most metals are present in low-molecular-weight complexes below 10 kDa, consistent with humic acid-metal complexes [12]. Controlled studies with raw resin are lacking; there is only one open-label pilot study [8].[1]

    Human, non-randomised

Human studies

  • Testosterone in middle-aged men

    RCT, double-blind, placebo-controlled, sponsored by the manufacturer · healthy (men, 45–55 years) · 90 days

    Measured: Total and free testosterone, DHEA-S, LH, FSH

    Result: Total and free testosterone and DHEA-S raised compared with placebo; LH and FSH unchanged.[3]

    Human, randomised

  • Oligospermia

    uncontrolled intervention study · Patients: oligospermia · n = 28 · 90 days

    Measured: Semen analysis, testosterone, LH, FSH, MDA in semen

    Result: Sperm count +61.4%, testosterone +23.5%, FSH +9.4%, MDA in semen −18.7%; liver and kidney values unchanged.[4]

    Human, non-randomised

  • Strength after fatigue

    RCT, placebo-controlled, three arms, manufacturer-funded · healthy (recreationally active men, about 21 years) · n = 63 · 8 weeks

    Measured: Maximal strength, strength loss after fatigue, hydroxyproline

    Result: Less strength loss and lower hydroxyproline only in the subgroup with high baseline strength under the higher dose.[2]

    Human, randomised

  • Bone density in osteopenia

    RCT, double-blind, placebo-controlled, three arms · Patients: postmenopausal women with osteopenia · n = 60 · 48 weeks

    Measured: Bone density, markers of bone turnover, oxidation and inflammation

    Result: Bone density better preserved; CTX-1, RANKL, MDA and hsCRP decreased.[7]

    Human, randomised

  • Open-label pilot study with raw resin

    open-label, single-arm · healthy (men, 21–55 years) · n = 25 · 28 days

    Measured: Strength, endurance, fatigue, laboratory values

    Result: Improvements compared with baseline, not interpretable as an effect without a control group; no serious side effects.[8]

    Human, non-randomised

Risks and warnings

  • Heavy metals

    Shilajit contains about 65 metals, including lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury; the values were mostly below the limits but above them in individual studies [9]. Indian and Pakistani samples contained lead, arsenic and mercury above the permitted values [10]. Thallium was found in raw material and products, in some products at higher levels than in the raw material [11]. An analysis of twelve samples found toxic metals below the limits [12]; quality therefore varies greatly.

    Laboratory

  • Unclear composition

    A comprehensive chemical analysis is lacking; origin and composition are unresolved and differ by region [1].

    Laboratory

  • Organ findings in animal experiments

    After a single high dose, rats showed no deaths but mild to moderate degenerative and necrotic changes in liver and kidneys [6]. The first author heads a shilajit company.

    Animal study

  • Manufacturer funding

    The RCTs on testosterone and muscle strength were sponsored or funded by the manufacturer of the branded extract used [2][3].

    Human, randomised

Fact check: common claims

  • partly supported

    “Shilajit boosts testosterone”

    A manufacturer-sponsored RCT in middle-aged men and an uncontrolled study in oligospermia show an increase [3][4]; independent confirmations are lacking.

  • refuted

    “Shilajit is a pure natural product and therefore harmless”

    Analyses found lead, arsenic, mercury and thallium, in part above the limits [9][10][11].

  • not supported

    “Shilajit makes you stronger and gives you more endurance”

    The only controlled study showed an effect only in a subgroup [2]; the positive pilot study had no control group [8].

  • refuted

    “Genuine shilajit has a known, consistent composition”

    The composition is not known with certainty and varies greatly by origin [1][12].

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption
Constituents of a processed extract were detected in semen after intake [4]; otherwise no human data.
Half-life
Not verified.
Metabolism
Not verified.
Entry into the brain
Not verified.

Legal status

Germany
Not verified.
EU
Not verified.
USA
Not verified.
Other countries
Traditional remedy of Ayurvedic medicine (rasayana) [1][3].

Related compounds

Ashwagandhasame classBockshornkleesame class (German only)

Open questions

  • Which constituents are absorbed, and which of them are responsible for the reported hormone effects?
  • Do independently funded studies confirm the testosterone increase?
  • How can the heavy metal load of raw resin and products be controlled reliably?

References

  1. Kamgar E, Kaykhaii M, Zembrzuska J. A comprehensive review on shilajit: what we know about its chemical composition. Crit Rev Anal Chem. 2025;55(3):461–73. doi:10.1080/10408347.2023.2293963 · PubMed
  2. Keller JL, Housh TJ, Hill EC, Smith CM, Schmidt RJ, Johnson GO. The effects of Shilajit supplementation on fatigue-induced decreases in muscular strength and serum hydroxyproline levels. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2019;16(1):3. doi:10.1186/s12970-019-0270-2 · PubMed
  3. Pandit S, Biswas S, Jana U, De RK, Mukhopadhyay SC, Biswas TK. Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers. Andrologia. 2016;48(5):570–5. doi:10.1111/and.12482 · PubMed
  4. Biswas TK, Pandit S, Mondal S, Biswas SK, Jana U, Ghosh T, et al. Clinical evaluation of spermatogenic activity of processed Shilajit in oligospermia. Andrologia. 2010;42(1):48–56. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0272.2009.00956.x · PubMed
  5. Morgado A, Tsampoukas G, Sokolakis I, Schoentgen N, Urkmez A, Sarikaya S. Do “testosterone boosters” really increase serum total testosterone? A systematic review. Int J Impot Res. 2024;36(4):348–64. doi:10.1038/s41443-023-00763-9 · PubMed
  6. Rizun N, Stanković V, Bradić J, Anđić M, Lađarević J, Jakovljević V, et al. Biogeochemical evaluation of shilajit: testosterone-modulating effects, in vivo toxicity and lipid profile analysis. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2026;19(9):1486. doi:10.3390/ph19091486 · PubMed
  7. Pingali U, Nutalapati C. 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;105:154334. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154334 · PubMed
  8. Yadav D, Mishra S, Shah KM, Reddy ST, Gupta R, Pandey P. 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. 2026;18(1):e102372. doi:10.7759/cureus.102372 · PubMed
  9. Hussain A, Saeed A. Hazardous or advantageous: uncovering the roles of heavy metals and humic substances in shilajit (phyto-mineral) with emphasis on heavy metals toxicity and their detoxification mechanisms. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2024;202(12):5794–814. doi:10.1007/s12011-024-04109-4 · PubMed
  10. Aldakheel RK, Gondal MA, Alsayed HN, Almessiere MA, Nasr MM, Shemsi AM. Rapid determination and quantification of nutritional and poisonous metals in vastly consumed Ayurvedic herbal medicine (rejuvenator shilajit) by humans using three advanced analytical techniques. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2022;200(9):4199–216. doi:10.1007/s12011-021-03014-4 · PubMed
  11. Kamgar E, Zembrzuska J, Zembrzuski W, Kaykhaii M. Quantifying of thallium in shilajit and its supplements to unveil the potential risk of consumption of this popular traditional medicine. BMC Chem. 2025;19(1):20. doi:10.1186/s13065-025-01384-7 · PubMed
  12. Kamgar E, Angaïts A, Zembrzuska J, Kaykhaii M, Szpunar J. Characterization of metal composition and molecular weight distribution in shilajit. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2026;96:127913. doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2026.127913 · PubMed
How this profile was checked

Last reviewed: 2026-10-23. All sources with a DOI or PMID were resolved automatically via Crossref or doi.org and PubMed.

Translated from the German profile (version of 2026-10-23); translation checked on 2026-10-26.

Checked

  • All 12 DOIs resolved via Crossref and PMIDs via PubMed with the checking script.
  • Checked against the abstracts: over 80% humic substances, about 20% Ca, K, Mg, composition unknown [1]; n = 63, subgroup effect [2]; 45–55 years, 90 days, testosterone, DHEA-S, LH and FSH unchanged [3]; n = 28, +61.4%, +23.5%, +9.4%, −18.7%, HPLC detection in semen [4]; “possibly effective for men with late-onset hypogonadism” [5]; 2.5- and 3.5-fold, liver and kidney histology, conflict of interest of the first author [6]; n = 60, 48 weeks [7]; n = 25, open-label [8]; about 65 metals, mostly below limits [9]; Pb, As, Hg above limits [10]; thallium [11]; 12 samples below limits, < 10 kDa [12].
  • In the full text: funding by Natreon Inc., extract composition [2]; sponsorship by Natreon Inc. according to Europe PMC metadata [3].
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: 7 entries for “shilajit” (October 23, 2026).
  • October 26, 2026, precision flags (m004; rules in the guideline under “Number rule and precision flags”, implementation by Claude pending confirmation by Tilman): “Better sperm quality”: “kleine_studien” – [4] 28 men (abstract). “More strength and less fatigue”: “kleine_studien” – [2] 63 men, [8] 25 men (abstracts). “Stronger bones”: “kleine_studien” – [7] 60 women (abstract). Cross-check October 26, 2026: evidence for the flags (participant numbers, direction, funding) incorporated into the begruendung and rechecked against abstracts or full texts.

Not verified

  • Legal status in Germany, the EU and the US.
  • Sample size of the testosterone study [3] is not in the abstract; full text not freely accessible.
  • Funding of studies [4] and [7] not stated in the abstract.
  • Clinical cases of heavy metal poisoning specifically from shilajit were not systematically searched for.
  • Class “Sonstiges” (other) chosen because shilajit is not a plant extract; classification as an adaptogen would be justified only traditionally.

No dosages, no sources of supply. This information does not replace medical advice.

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