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Shilajit

Shilajit is a mixture of minerals used traditionally in Ayurveda, with the main bioactive of Fulvic Acid. It appears to be heralded, but is currently in the preliminary stages of research in the West.

Our evidence-based analysis on shilajit features 17 unique references to scientific papers.

Kamal Patel
Research analysis led by Kamal Patel.
All content reviewed by the Examine.com Team. Published: Jun 24, 2014
Last Updated:

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Things To Know & Note

Is a Form Of

Primary Function:

Also Known As

Mineral Pitch, Jew's Pitch, Mineral Wax, Salajeet, Brag-shun, Shilajita, Moomio, Mumie, Mumijo, Mumiyo

Do Not Confuse With

Ozokerite

Caution Notice

Examine.com Medical Disclaimer

How to Take Shilajit

Recommended dosage, active amounts, other details

Currently, the only human study conducted used 200mg of Shilajit with 50% Fulvic acid content in two divided doses with meals for a period of 90 days.

Human Effect Matrix

The Human Effect Matrix looks at human studies (it excludes animal and in vitro studies) to tell you what effects shilajit has on your body, and how strong these effects are.
Grade Level of Evidence
Robust research conducted with repeated double-blind clinical trials
Multiple studies where at least two are double-blind and placebo controlled
Single double-blind study or multiple cohort studies
Uncontrolled or observational studies only
Level of Evidence
? The amount of high quality evidence. The more evidence, the more we can trust the results.
Outcome Magnitude of effect
? The direction and size of the supplement's impact on each outcome. Some supplements can have an increasing effect, others have a decreasing effect, and others have no effect.
Consistency of research results
? Scientific research does not always agree. HIGH or VERY HIGH means that most of the scientific research agrees.
Notes
grade-c
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile
Minor - See study
An increase in superoxide dismutase has been noted with Shilajit consumption
grade-c
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
Minor - See study
An increase in follicle-stimulating hormone has been detected with shilajit consumption
grade-c
HDL-C
Minor - See study
Minor increase in HDL-C has been detected in persons after shilajit consumption
grade-c
LDL-C
Minor - See study
Minor decrease in LDL has been noted with shilajit
grade-c
Lipid Peroxidation
Minor - See study
A decrease in lipid peroxidation (assessed by MDA) has been noted in serum and semen following oral ingestion of shilajit
grade-c
Sperm Quality
Minor - See study
Sperm quality (and thought to apply to fertiliy) has been improved with Shilajit supplementation
grade-c
Testosterone
Minor - See study
A 23.5% increase has been noted in infertile men, it is not certain if this applies to fertile men.
grade-c
Triglycerides
Minor - See study
Minor decrease in triglycerides has been noted with shilajit
grade-c
vLDL-C
Minor - See study
Minor decreases in vLDL concentrations have been noted
grade-c
Blood Pressure
- - See study
No significant effect has been detected on blood pressure
grade-c
Luteinizing Hormone
- - See study
No significant influence on luteinizing hormone
grade-c
Weight
- - See study
No significant influence detected on weight

Scientific Research on Shilajit

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1Sources and Composition

1.1Sources

Shilajit is a blackish brown rock exudate that is found in some mountain ranges in the 1000-5000m height range,[1] and known to be cultured in the Himilayan and Hindukush ranges,[2] used in Ayurveda medicine as a vitality enhancer and adaptogen compound[3] with historically 'miraculous' effects.[4] Possibly because of these effects reported to it, it was named Shilajit; Shilajit translates from Sanskrit means Conqueror of mountains and destroyer of weakness.[5]

Shilajit is a mixture of humic acids,[6]that can consist of up to 85% of Shilajit by weight, with non-humic compounds consisting of 15-20% of Shilajit.[1] It is historically consumed with milk.[5][7]

Shilajit may also consist of plant microbial metabolites that occur in rock rhizospheres.[6] One study assessing components of Shilajit noted that two metabolites present in the sample also existed in rhus succedanea and Piszacia inregerrima, two plants that grow in the same region the sample was derived from, the Kumaon Hills.[1]

1.2Composition

Shilajit tends to contain:

  • Fulvic Acid, seen as the main bioactive component[8]

  • Di-benzo-alpha-pyrones (DBPs) and the chromoproteins associated with DBPs;[8] several other compounds such as 3,8-dihydroxy-dibenzo-α-pyrone that belong to the Dibenzo-α-pyrone class of molecules[1][9]

  • 4′-methoxy-6-carbomethoxybiphenyl

  • 24(Z)-3/3-hydroxytirucalla-7,24-dien-26-oic acid, a triterpenoic molecule[1]

  • Glycine, Aspartic Acid, and Glutamic Acid in minor quantities[1]

Fulvic acid is probably the most relevant molecule of interest, as many modern supplements are standardized for Fulvic acid. Tirucalloic-type triterpenoids appear to also be relevant. Shilajit possesses a good deal of variability naturally based on growing conditions

1.3Structure and Properties

Shilajit has been reported to have a bitter taste slightly remiscent of very pure chocolate and a scent reminiscient of cow urine. Its smell has also has been compared to bitumen. [5]

2Cardiovascular Health

2.1Cardiac Tissue

Shilajit has been tested in a preliminary in vitro study using Daphnia, which are highly responsive to added pharmaceuticals to culture;[10][11] it was found that concentrations of 1-100ppm had a negative chronotropic effect, reducing heart rate frequency by 7.65%, 15% and 28.45% at 1, 10, and 100ppm respectively and exerting a positive chronotropic effect at 1000ppm.[11] Explanations for the observed effects are currently unknown.

2.2Lipids

One study investigating 2g Shilajit daily (6.61% Fulvic Acid) noted that (in otherwise healthy adults) that Shilajit was able to reduce triglycerides by 21.7%, LDL-C by 22.6%, vLDL-C by 20.6%, and increase HDL-C by 5.8%.[12]

3Neurology and the Brain

3.1Stimulation

Shilajit was found to not interact with either glutamate receptors nor acetylcholine (nAchR) receptors in vitro.[13]

3.2Pain

Shilajit is thought to be able to influence the perception of pain (nocioreception) due to apparent pain reduction in a hot-water tail flick test in mice[3] and a later study noting that Shilajit was able to attenuate the tolerance of morphine's pain-killing effect in mice injected with 0.1mg and 1mg/kg Shijalit, although this latter study failed to find analgesic effects of Shilajit per se.[14]

In isolated Substantia Gelatinosa (SG) neurons from the Trigeminal Subnucleus Caudalis (involved in nocioreception) of mice, Shilajit caused repeated inward currents in neurons (thought to be mediated post-synaptically) in a concentration-dependent manner up to 1mg/mL and as low as 100ug/mL, with an estimated EC50 of 562 µg/ml.[13] These effects were abolished with 2uM strychnine (glycine receptor antagonist) and partially reduced by a GABAA antagonist.[13]

Some interactions with pain in the direction of reducing the perception of pain, but efficacy is unknown

3.3Learning

Currently, one rat study using a polyherbal Ayurvedic formulation that includes Shilajit noted improvements in learning and memory acquisition but is too confounded to determine the efficacy of Shilajit per se.[15]

4Interactions with Glucose Metabolism

4.1Blood Glucose

One human intervention with 200mg (54.8% Fulvic Acid) Shilajit daily for 90 days was associated with a decrease blood glucose by 6.8% relative to baseline in otherwise healthy males relative to their own baseline.[8] A reduction in blood glucose was not observed with 2g (6.61% Fulvic Acid) Shilajit over 45 days in otherwise healthy persons.[12]

Two human studies, differing results with different doses. Too preliminary to say anything

5Inflammation and Immunology

One in vitro study assessing mast cell degranulation noted that three isolated components of Shilajit, including Fulvic acids, were able to significantly reduce degranulation of mast cells in the presence of stimuli,[9] suggesting anti-allergic effects.

6Interactions with Sexuality

6.1Spermatogenic Interactions

In otherwise normal rats, Shilajit at 25, 50, or 100mg/kg daily for 6 weeks found dose-dependent increases in sperm count in the testes and epididymus up to 130.4% and 378%, respectively at the 100mg/kg dose, independent of changes in testicular weight.[16] 

One intervention in men deemed oligospermic (low sperm count) given 200mg Shilajit daily of 54.8% Fulvic Acid (two divided doses with meals) for 90 days noted improved sperm parameters including volume (37.6%), count (61.4%), motility (12.4-17.4%), percent of sperm with normal morphology (18.9%) coupled with a reduction in lipid peroxidation levels (MDA) in the semen (18.7%).[8]

6.2Ovulation

In female rats fed 25, 50, and 100mg/kg Shilajit daily for 6 weeks, Shilajit was associated with more rats in estrus and thought to have stimulating properties on oocytes and ovulation frequency.[16]

7Interactions with Hormones

7.1Testosterone

One human intervention with 200mg Shilajit (54.8% Fulvic Acid) daily for 90 days in infertile men was associated with an increase in testosterone by 23.5% (4.85ng/mL to 5.99ng/mL) in serum.[8]

7.2Pituitary Hormones

200mg Shilajit daily for 90 days in infertile men is associated with an increase in Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) by 9.8%, with no significant influence on Luteinizing Hormone (LH) in serum.[8]

8Nutrient-Nutrient Interactions

8.1NR-ANX-C

NR-ANX-C is a term used to refer to a polyherbal formulation of Ayurveda consisting of Ashwagandha, Holy Basil, Camellia Sinensis (source of Green Tea Catechins), Triphala, and Shilajit in a 2:2:4:2:1 ratio and ethanolic extracts of Camellia and Holy Basil, with water extracts of the other three components.[17] In a model of Haloperidol-induced cognitive defici, 25mg/kg of this decoction was able to acutely and chronically (one week of supplementation) reduce the cataleptic score associated with Haloperidol by 14-39% of control, which was associated with antioxidative effects.[17]

9Safety and Toxicology

In rats, 100mg/kg bodyweight Shilajit daily for 6 weeks is not associated with any abnormal organ weights relative to control.[16]

One human intervention using 200mg daily in men for 90 days (dose determined from Ayurvedic recommendations) failed to note any clinically significant toxicological symptoms when measuring standard toxixological biomarkers, but noted a small decrease in serum creatinine by 7.8% and increases in both Haemoglobin (no morphological changes of RBCs) and WBC count by 5.2% and 6% respectively.[8] A larger dose of 2g Shilajit (6.61% fulvic acid) daily for 45 days in humans aged 16-30yrs did not note any significant toxicological signs in serum, but did not note any significant influence on haemoglobin.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f The core structure of shilajit humus.
  2. ^ Ghosal S, Reddy JP, Lal VK. Shilajit I: chemical constituents. J Pharm Sci. (1976)
  3. ^ a b Acharya SB, et al. Pharmacological actions of Shilajit. Indian J Exp Biol. (1988)
  4. ^ Agarwal SP, et al. Shilajit: a review. Phytother Res. (2007)
  5. ^ a b c Meena H, et al. Shilajit: A panacea for high-altitude problems. Int J Ayurveda Res. (2010)
  6. ^ a b The need for formulation of shilajit by its isolated active constituents.
  7. ^ Bucci LR. Selected herbals and human exercise performance. Am J Clin Nutr. (2000)
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Biswas TK, et al. Clinical evaluation of spermatogenic activity of processed Shilajit in oligospermia. Andrologia. (2010)
  9. ^ a b Mast cell protecting effects of shilajit and its constituent.
  10. ^ Campbell AK, Wann KT, Matthews SB. Lactose causes heart arrhythmia in the water flea Daphnia pulex. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol. (2004)
  11. ^ a b Gaikwad NS, et al. Effect of shilajit on the heart of Daphnia: A preliminary study. J Ayurveda Integr Med. (2012)
  12. ^ a b c Sharma P, et al. Shilajit: evalution of its effects on blood chemistry of normal human subjects. Anc Sci Life. (2003)
  13. ^ a b c Yin H, et al. Glycine- and GABA-mimetic Actions of Shilajit on the Substantia Gelatinosa Neurons of the Trigeminal Subnucleus Caudalis in Mice. Korean J Physiol Pharmacol. (2011)
  14. ^ Tiwari P, Ramarao P, Ghosal S. Effects of Shilajit on the development of tolerance to morphine in mice. Phytother Res. (2001)
  15. ^ Shah J, Goyal R. Investigation of neuropsychopharmacological effects of a polyherbal formulation on the learning and memory process in rats. J Young Pharm. (2011)
  16. ^ a b c Park JS, Kim GY, Han K. The spermatogenic and ovogenic effects of chronically administered Shilajit to rats. J Ethnopharmacol. (2006)
  17. ^ a b Nair V, et al. Effect of NR-ANX-C (a polyherbal formulation) on haloperidol induced catalepsy in albino mice. Indian J Med Res. (2007)

This page is regularly updated, to include the most recently available clinical trial evidence.

Each member of our research team is required to have no conflicts of interest, including with supplement manufacturers, food companies, and industry funders. The team includes nutrition researchers, registered dietitians, physicians, and pharmacists. We have a strict editorial process.

This page features 17 references. All factual claims are followed by specifically-applicable references. Click here to see the full set of references for this page.

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