What Is Shilajit? Testosterone Benefits, Safety, and the Evidence
Shilajit is a sticky, tar-like substance found primarily in the rocks of the Himalayas, Altai Mountains, and Caucasus ranges. It forms over centuries from the slow decomposition of plant material compressed between layers of rock. In Ayurvedic medicine, it has been used for thousands of years as a general health tonic and rejuvenator. In the modern supplement market, it has gained attention for its potential effects on testosterone. The human evidence is limited to a small number of trials, so it is worth looking at exactly what they found.
Key takeaways
- In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of healthy men aged 45 to 55, 250mg of purified shilajit twice daily for 90 days significantly increased total testosterone, free testosterone and DHEAS compared with placebo, while LH and FSH were maintained.[1]
- An earlier, uncontrolled study of 28 men with low sperm counts reported a 23.5% rise in serum testosterone and a 61.4% rise in total sperm count versus baseline after 90 days of processed shilajit (100mg twice daily).[2]
- A review concluded that relatively few well-controlled human studies exist and that more research with standardized products is needed.[3]
- Quality varies: shilajit can contain heavy metals, and most reviewed samples were within WHO and FDA limits, but a few studies reported levels above them.[4]
What Is Shilajit?
Shilajit is not a single compound but a complex mixture of organic and inorganic substances. It is found mainly in the Himalayas and is formed over centuries by the gradual decomposition of certain plants, and fulvic acid is considered one of its main active principles.[5]
Beyond fulvic acid, researchers point to dibenzo-alpha-pyrones (DBPs) and other humic substances as key constituents.[3]This complex composition is why shilajit is often described as a “mineral pitch” rather than a traditional herbal extract. It is quite different from plant-based supplements like ashwagandha or tongkat ali in both origin and mechanism. For a direct comparison of those two, see tongkat ali vs ashwagandha.
How Shilajit May Affect Testosterone
Proposed Mechanisms (Mostly Preclinical)
1. Mitochondrial energy production: In a rat model of chronic fatigue, shilajit was reported to influence mitochondrial bioenergetics and the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.[6] A review also lists enhanced production of ATP among proposed effects.[3] How this would translate to testosterone production in humans has not been demonstrated.
2. Antioxidant activity: Shilajit has shown antioxidant properties in lab and animal studies.[3] Whether this affects testosterone in men is unknown.
3. Pituitary signaling: In the placebo-controlled trial, LH and FSH levels were well maintained while testosterone rose,[1] which is consistent with the testosterone rise not coming at the expense of pituitary signaling. It does not show how shilajit works.
It is important to note that the mechanistic understanding of shilajit is less developed than for compounds like ashwagandha. Much of the proposed mechanism comes from in vitro and animal studies, and the translation to human physiology is not established. The clinical evidence for testosterone effects rests on a very small number of human trials.
The Human Trials: What They Actually Found
The most relevant human study on shilajit and testosterone was published by Pandit and colleagues in Andrologia(online in 2015, in print in 2016). It was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study in healthy volunteers aged 45 to 55. Participants received 250mg of purified shilajit twice daily or placebo for 90 consecutive days. Treatment significantly (P < 0.05) increased total testosterone, free testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) compared with placebo, while LH and FSH levels were well maintained.[1]
An earlier study by Biswas and colleagues (2010), also in Andrologia, enrolled infertile men with low sperm counts (oligospermia). Of 35 men enrolled, 28 completed 90 days of processed shilajit (100mg twice daily). Compared with baseline, the authors reported improvements in total sperm count (+61.4%) and motility, and a 23.5% rise in serum testosterone. That study did not have a placebo group.[2] Note that the 23.5% figure and the 61.4% sperm count figure come from this earlier uncontrolled study in infertile men, not from the placebo-controlled trial in healthy men.
Caveats
The evidence is thin. The two trials involved small groups in specific populations (healthy men aged 45 to 55 in one case, men with low sperm counts in the other), used particular processed or purified products, and the second had no control group. Results may not apply to younger men, to men with different baseline health, or to other shilajit products. A review of shilajit research called for additional well-controlled studies using standardized products.[3] Independent replication is needed before strong conclusions can be drawn.
Purified vs. Raw Shilajit: A Critical Safety Distinction
This is perhaps the most important section for anyone considering shilajit. Shilajit forms in the geological environment and can pick up metals from it. A 2024 review reported that shilajit contains around 65 heavy metals, including toxic ones such as lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury. In most of the studies reviewed, the reported levels were below the limits set by WHO and FDA for herbal products, but a few studies reported levels that exceeded them.[4] The takeaway is that quality and testing matter. Both human trials on testosterone used processed or purified shilajit,[1,2] and the safety record from those studies should not be assumed to apply to unprocessed or untested products.
✓ Do This
- •Purified or processed shilajit from a reputable manufacturer
- •Fulvic acid content and extract details stated on the label
- •Heavy metals tested and reported against recognized limits
- •Microbial contamination testing
- •Certificate of analysis from a third-party lab available
✗ Not This
- •Raw, unprocessed shilajit resin from unknown sources
- •No fulvic acid or extract details listed
- •No heavy metal testing reported
- •Sourced from unregulated collectors
- •Marketed as 'pure' without any processing or testing documentation
The shilajit market is difficult to evaluate as a consumer, so if the product you are considering does not provide a certificate of analysis for heavy metals, we would not take it. Talk to your doctor before trying shilajit, especially if you take medication, have a kidney or liver condition, or have another medical condition.
What the Trials Used
There is no established dose of shilajit for testosterone. The steps below summarizes what the two human trials did, which is context rather than a recommendation.
What the Human Trials Used
Talk to your doctor first
A doctor can check for conditions or medications that make supplements unsuitable and can order testosterone testing if you have symptoms such as low libido or persistent fatigue.
Choose a tested, purified product
Both trials used processed or purified shilajit. Look for third-party certificates of analysis for heavy metals (lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium).
Know the doses studied
The placebo-controlled trial used 250mg twice daily (500mg per day) of purified shilajit. The earlier uncontrolled study used 100mg twice daily of processed shilajit. Different products are not interchangeable.
Judge results with bloodwork, not feelings
Both trials ran for 90 days. If you try shilajit with your doctor's approval, ask about baseline and follow-up testing, and stop and seek advice if you notice side effects.
What to Look for in a Shilajit Product
Because the raw material is scarce and demand is high, product quality is hard for consumers to judge. These red flags are worth watching for.
Red Flags in Shilajit Products
No extract or fulvic acid information listed: A legitimate product should describe what it contains and how it was processed.
No heavy metal testing documentation: Given that shilajit can contain heavy metals, any product without verified testing is a risk.
Unrealistically low price: Very cheap products may be diluted or poorly processed. Price alone does not prove quality, but dramatically low prices are a warning sign.
“Raw” marketed as a premium feature: The human trials used processed or purified shilajit, so raw is not the studied form.
Shilajit in Context
Shilajit has some preliminary evidence relating to testosterone, including free testosterone in the one placebo-controlled trial. However, the evidence base is smaller and less robust than for ashwagandha or even tongkat ali. The key studies have small sample sizes and tested specific products. Independent replication with larger samples is needed before strong conclusions can be drawn.
If you are wondering whether you have low testosterone, symptoms to raise with a doctor include low sexual desire, poor morning erections and erectile dysfunction, which were the symptoms most clearly related to testosterone levels in a large European survey of 3,369 men.[7] Supplements are not a substitute for testing and medical advice. Shilajit may also be best viewed as a complement to strong foundational habits. If your sleep, training, nutrition, and stress management are not optimized, no supplement will compensate for those gaps. For a comprehensive review of which supplements have the strongest evidence, see testosterone supplements: what actually works.
How Thrive Helps
Thrive helps you track the daily habits that form the foundation of hormonal health. See evidence grades for each intervention, monitor your progress over time, and build a routine that puts fundamentals first and supplements second. Individual results vary, and Thrive is not a medical device. Try Thrive free and take a data-driven approach to your habits.
References
- Pandit S, Biswas S, Jana U, et al.. Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers. Andrologia. 2016. doi.org/10.1111/and.12482
- Biswas TK, Pandit S, Mondal S, et al.. Clinical evaluation of spermatogenic activity of processed Shilajit in oligospermia. Andrologia. 2010. doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0272.2009.00956.x
- Stohs SJ. Safety and efficacy of shilajit (mumie, moomiyo). Phytother Res. 2014. doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5018
- 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. doi.org/10.1007/s12011-024-04109-4
- Carrasco-Gallardo C, Guzmán L, Maccioni RB. Shilajit: a natural phytocomplex with potential procognitive activity. Int J Alzheimers Dis. 2012. doi.org/10.1155/2012/674142
- Surapaneni DK, Adapa SR, Preeti K, et al.. Shilajit attenuates behavioral symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome by modulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and mitochondrial bioenergetics in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2012. doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2012.06.002
- Wu FC, Tajar A, Beynon JM, et al.. Identification of late-onset hypogonadism in middle-aged and elderly men. N Engl J Med. 2010. doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa0911101