People search for “shilajit benefits” because they have heard big promises. This page takes a different approach. Instead of a list of claims, it sets out what researchers have actually looked at, what they found and where the evidence stops.
Shilajit is a dark resin that seeps from rock in high mountains. It has been used in Ayurveda for centuries as a rasayana, or rejuvenating remedy. By weight it is mostly humic substances, including fulvic acid, plus minerals such as calcium, potassium and magnesium. You can read more on our what is shilajit page.
Modern research on it is small. Most human trials ran for weeks rather than years, involved a few dozen people and tested a single branded extract. Keep that in mind as you read.
Testosterone
This is one of the better-studied areas. In a 2016 randomised, placebo-controlled trial, men aged 45 to 55 took 250 mg of purified shilajit twice a day for 90 days. Their total and free testosterone were higher than in the placebo group.
The trial has not been repeated by an independent team. It also didn’t show whether the men felt any different. Read the full summary on shilajit and testosterone.
Sperm and male fertility
In a 2010 study, 28 men with low sperm counts took 100 mg of processed shilajit twice a day for 90 days. Their total sperm count was 61% higher than at the start.
There was no placebo group, so natural variation could explain some of the change. No pregnancies were reported, and no study has looked at women. See shilajit and fertility.
Bones
Two randomised trials have looked at bones. In one, 60 postmenopausal women with low bone density took shilajit extract or a placebo for 48 weeks. Bone density fell less in the shilajit groups. In the other, 160 adults with a broken shin bone took 1,000 mg a day for 28 days, and their bones joined 24 days sooner on average.
Each is a single trial that hasn’t been repeated. Details are on shilajit and bone health.
Energy and exercise
The evidence here is weak. A 2019 trial in 63 young men measured how much strength muscles lost during a tiring exercise test. A difference appeared only in the stronger half of the group, at 500 mg a day.
A 2026 study of 25 men reported lower fatigue scores after 28 days, but it had no placebo group and was run by the product’s maker. See energy and fatigue and exercise performance.
Skin and collagen
One trial in 35 young men found a blood marker of collagen production rose after eight weeks. A 14-week trial in 45 women measured skin blood flow and gene activity. Skin hydration and elasticity showed no difference from placebo.
No study has measured visible changes such as wrinkles. Read skin and collagen.
Memory and the brain
Most of this research is in test tubes and rodents. Lab studies found fulvic acid stopped a protein called tau from clumping. The only human trial tested a blend of shilajit and B vitamins, so it can’t tell us what shilajit contributed. Our article Shilajit and the brain explains more.
Iron and blood fats
Shilajit contains small, variable amounts of iron. The one human study that measured haemoglobin found no change after 45 days. The same 2003 study, in 30 students, reported lower cholesterol, but a later study found no change in blood fats. See iron and anaemia and cholesterol.
Altitude sickness
No human or animal study has tested shilajit for altitude sickness. The idea traces back to a 2010 opinion article that ran no experiments. Read more on altitude sickness.
Why we write about shilajit this way
Hilasti sells shilajit as a food supplement in the EU and UK. Under EU law, supplements may only make health claims that regulators have authorised, and shilajit has none. More importantly, the evidence simply isn’t strong enough to promise results.
So we describe the research honestly and link to shilajit.uk, a separate site that grades each claim and cites its sources. If you have questions about our product, see the FAQ or our lab results.
This article is for information only and isn’t medical advice. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking a supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, take medication or have a health condition.