Shilajit benefits: what the evidence shows

Which shilajit benefits are backed by evidence?

The table grades each common claim using our evidence grades. No claim reaches “strong”, because no benefit has been confirmed by several independent, well-run trials.

Two cautions apply to almost every trial. Most were small and short, and many tested one branded, standardised extract (often PrimaVie), sometimes with the manufacturer’s involvement. Results from that extract may not apply to other shilajit products.

Does shilajit raise testosterone?

Possibly, in middle-aged men. In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in India, men aged 45 to 55 who took 250 mg of purified shilajit twice a day for 90 days had significantly higher total testosterone, free testosterone and DHEA-S than men on placebo, while LH and FSH stayed stable (Pandit et al., 2016). A 2024 systematic review of “testosterone boosters” concluded that most supplements fail to raise testosterone, but rated purified shilajit extract as “possibly effective” for men with age-related low testosterone (Morgado et al., 2024).

The trial has not been repeated by an independent team, and it doesn’t tell us whether the rise was large enough to make a noticeable difference to how men feel. If you think you have low testosterone, a blood test through your GP is the reliable first step.

Does shilajit improve fertility?

The evidence is weak. In one study, 28 men with low sperm counts took 100 mg of processed shilajit twice a day for 90 days. Their total sperm count rose by 61% and motility improved, compared with their own starting values (Biswas et al., 2010). There was no placebo group, so we can’t rule out that some of the improvement would have happened anyway.

Does shilajit help with strength, fatigue and exercise?

The evidence is weak. In a randomised trial of 63 recreationally active young men, 500 mg a day for 8 weeks helped muscles keep their strength during a tiring exercise test, but the benefit was reported only among the stronger half of the men, and 250 mg a day did no better than placebo (Keller et al., 2019). A 2026 study found improvements in strength and fatigue scores after 28 days of shilajit resin, but it had no placebo group, and four of its six authors work for Amaara Botanicals, a supplement company (Yadav et al., 2026).

Is shilajit good for bones?

This is one of the better-supported areas. In a 48-week randomised, placebo-controlled trial of 60 postmenopausal women with low bone density (osteopenia), bone density in the spine and hip fell in the placebo group but was preserved in women taking 250 mg or 500 mg of shilajit extract a day, with the higher dose working better (Pingali and Nutalapati, 2022). In a separate trial in Iran, 160 adults with a broken shin bone took 1,000 mg of momiai (shilajit) or placebo daily for 28 days after surgery; the bone healed in an average of 129 days with shilajit against 153 days with placebo (Sadeghi et al., 2020). Both are single trials, so we grade them moderate.

Shilajit is not a substitute for prescribed treatment for osteoporosis.

Does shilajit boost collagen or improve skin?

The evidence is weak. One randomised trial in 35 young men found that 500 or 1,000 mg a day for 8 weeks raised a blood marker of collagen production (Neltner et al., 2024). A study in middle-aged women found 250 mg twice a day for 14 weeks improved blood flow in the skin and switched on genes linked to blood vessel growth (Das et al., 2019). Neither measured visible changes to skin, joints or tendons.

Does shilajit lower cholesterol?

The evidence is weak and old. A 2003 study gave 20 medical students 2 g of shilajit a day for 45 days and 10 a placebo. Cholesterol and triglycerides fell and HDL (“good”) cholesterol rose in the shilajit group, but the students’ cholesterol was normal to begin with, and the researchers only compared each group with its own starting values rather than with each other (Sharma et al., 2003). A later study at 500 mg a day found no change in blood lipids (Das et al., 2016).

Can shilajit help memory or prevent Alzheimer’s?

There is no good human evidence for shilajit on its own. Laboratory studies suggest fulvic acid, a major component of shilajit, can stop the tau protein linked to Alzheimer’s from clumping together (Carrasco-Gallardo et al., 2012). One randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 82 people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s tested BrainUp-10, a product combining Andean shilajit with B vitamins, and found less apathy than with placebo (Guzman-Martinez et al., 2021). It was run by the team that developed the product, and because it was a combination, we can’t tell how much came from the shilajit. See shilajit and brain health for the detail.

Does shilajit fight cancer?

There is no human evidence. A 2026 systematic review found only nine laboratory and animal studies and no clinical trials (Das et al., 2026). Anyone with cancer should not use shilajit in place of medical treatment.

Are the benefits worth the risks?

That depends on the product as much as on the evidence. Purified shilajit was well tolerated in the trials above, but raw or untested products can contain heavy metals. Read is shilajit safe? and the buying guide before you buy, and see the shilajit dosage guide for the doses used in these studies. The research library summarises every trial in more detail.