Research Summary · July 2026
Shilajit has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Modern research is catching up - but the published evidence is more limited than supplement marketing suggests. This page covers only claims supported by human or well-designed animal studies indexed on PubMed as of 2026.
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Strong
Multiple human RCTs
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Moderate
Small human studies or strong animal data
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Early
Animal or in-vitro only
Testosterone and male fertility
●●● StrongTwo randomised controlled trials found shilajit supplementation significantly increased total testosterone, free testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in healthy male volunteers over 90 days. A separate RCT found improvements in sperm count and motility.
Key studies: Biswas et al. (2010); Pandit et al. (2016) - Andrologia
Fatigue reduction / energy
●●○ ModerateFulvic acid and dibenzo-alpha-pyrones in shilajit appear to support mitochondrial electron transport chain function, increasing ATP synthesis. Human trial data is limited but consistent with the mechanism.
Key studies: Bhattacharyya et al. (2009) - Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Cognitive function / Alzheimer's
●●○ ModerateFulvic acid inhibits aggregation of tau protein - a hallmark of Alzheimer's pathology. Preliminary human data is limited; most evidence comes from cell studies and animal models. One small open-label study showed cognitive improvements in older adults.
Key studies: Cornejo et al. (2011) - Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
Iron-deficiency anaemia
●●○ ModerateAnimal studies show shilajit supplementation increased haemoglobin, haematocrit, and red blood cell counts. One small human study in women showed similar effects over 12 weeks.
Key studies: Trivedi et al. (2004)
Antioxidant activity
●●○ ModerateFulvic acid is a potent electron donor and free radical scavenger. Multiple in-vitro and animal studies confirm antioxidant effects. Human biomarker studies are limited.
Key studies: Multiple in-vitro studies; animal model replications
Bone density
●○○ EarlyAnimal models show increased bone mineral density with shilajit supplementation. No peer-reviewed human RCT data available as of 2026.
Key studies: Keller et al. (2019) - Phytotherapy Research (rat model)
Anti-inflammatory effects
●○○ EarlyFulvic acid inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokines in cell culture. Animal arthritis models show reduced inflammation. Human data does not yet exist at scale.
Key studies: Various cell culture and animal studies
These are commonly marketed shilajit benefits with no credible published human research as of 2026:
The safety risk with shilajit is not the compound itself - it is the raw material. Shilajit sourced from contaminated geological regions or processed without heavy metal removal can exceed safe limits for lead and arsenic. A verified CoA from an accredited lab is required for any product you take long-term.
→ How to read a shilajit Certificate of AnalysisEditorial note: This page cites only studies indexed on PubMed. We do not cite manufacturer-funded studies where no independent replication exists. Research is summarised accurately but this is not medical advice.