Shilajit Research: Every Study, Sorted by Strength of Evidence
Every paper cited anywhere on ShilajitDB, grouped by what kind of evidence it is. Each summary was written from the paper itself, not from other articles about it, and says what the study does not show as well as what it found. Where one of our articles makes a claim we could not check against the paper, the entry says so.
3
human studies, no control group
For the human trials in depth — design, dose and how much weight each can bear — read the clinical trials, explained.
Last reviewed September 2026
Human trial, controlled (7)
People given shilajit and compared against a group that was not — the only design here that can separate an effect of shilajit from time, expectation and chance. Most are small.
Pandit et al. 2016·AndrologiaHuman trial, controlled
- Studied
- Healthy men aged 45–55
- Design
- Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
- Dose
- 250 mg twice daily
- Duration
- 90 days
Found: Total testosterone, free testosterone and DHEAS rose significantly compared with placebo (P < 0.05); LH and FSH stayed where they were.
Doesn't show: The abstract gives no sample size and no effect sizes.
Not yet verified: Six of our articles give n=96 and rises of +20.45% total / +19.22% free testosterone. Neither figure appears in the abstract, and the full text is paywalled.
Cited in: What Does the Science Say About Shilajit? The Clinical Trials, Explained · Is Shilajit Safe for Your Kidneys? · Shilajit and Erectile Dysfunction: What the Research Actually Shows · What Is Shilajit? · Shilajit Benefits: What the Evidence Actually Supports · Shilajit for Men and Women: Are the Effects Different? · Shilajit Benefits for Men: Energy, Recovery & What to Look For · How Long Does Shilajit Take to Work? Dosing, Timeline & Expectations · Shilajit for Sleep: Separating the Evidence from the Marketing · Best Time to Take Shilajit: Morning, With Food, or Pre-Workout? · Shilajit Dosage: What Clinical Trials Actually Used · Shilajit Extract vs Raw Resin: Are You Getting What You Think? · Shilajit with Ashwagandha: Synergy, Evidence, and What to Watch For · How Much Fulvic Acid Is Enough? Comparing Shilajit Claims Against the Evidence · Shilajit Gummies: The Processing and Filler Problem, Explained · Shilajit Honey Sticks: What's Actually in Them? · Shilajit and Sea Moss: Do They Work Together?
Keller et al. 2019·J Int Soc Sports NutrHuman trial, controlled
- Studied
- 63 recreationally active men, 21 per group
- Design
- Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
- Dose
- 250 or 500 mg/day
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Product
- PrimaVie
Found: At 500 mg/day, men lost less strength across a fatiguing leg-extension protocol (8.9% decline vs 16.0% on placebo) and had lower baseline serum hydroxyproline (1.5 vs 2.4 µg/mL).
Doesn't show: Both results held only in the upper half of the sample by baseline strength and hydroxyproline — not in the groups as a whole. 250 mg/day did no better than placebo. Hydroxyproline went down, not up.
Cited in: What Does the Science Say About Shilajit? The Clinical Trials, Explained · Shilajit Benefits: What the Evidence Actually Supports · Shilajit for Men and Women: Are the Effects Different? · Shilajit Benefits for Men: Energy, Recovery & What to Look For · How Long Does Shilajit Take to Work? Dosing, Timeline & Expectations · Shilajit for Muscle Recovery: What the Clinical Evidence Shows · Shilajit for Endurance Athletes: What Performance Metrics to Track · Best Time to Take Shilajit: Morning, With Food, or Pre-Workout? · Shilajit Dosage: What Clinical Trials Actually Used · Shilajit as a Pre-Workout: What the Research Supports (And What It Doesn't) · Shilajit Gummies: The Processing and Filler Problem, Explained · Shilajit Honey Sticks: What's Actually in Them? · Shilajit and Sea Moss: Do They Work Together?
Das et al. 2019·J Am Coll NutrHuman trial, controlled
- Studied
- 45 healthy women aged 30–65, 15 per group (NCT02762032)
- Design
- Randomised, placebo-controlled (blinding not stated)
- Dose
- 125 or 250 mg twice daily
- Duration
- 14 weeks
- Product
- PrimaVie (supplied by Natreon)
Found: At 250 mg twice daily, skin microperfusion improved against baseline and placebo, and genes for endothelial cell migration, blood-vessel growth and extracellular matrix were induced. No adverse effects reported.
Doesn't show: The full text reports no difference from placebo in skin hydration, elasticity or barrier function — the effects were in gene expression and blood flow.
Cited in: Shilajit Side Effects: What's Documented and What Isn't · What Does the Science Say About Shilajit? The Clinical Trials, Explained · Shilajit Dosage: What Clinical Trials Actually Used
Sadeghi et al. 2020·J Altern Complement MedHuman trial, controlled
- Studied
- 160 adults aged 18–60 after tibia fracture surgery, three Tehran hospitals
- Design
- Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
- Dose
- Two 500 mg capsules daily
- Duration
- 28 days
Found: Mean time to bone union was 129 days on momiai (shilajit) versus 153 on placebo (p < 0.049). Adverse effects did not differ between groups.
Doesn't show: The largest shilajit trial published, and a single trial; the p-value sits just under the threshold.
Cited in: Shilajit Side Effects: What's Documented and What Isn't · What Does the Science Say About Shilajit? The Clinical Trials, Explained · Shilajit Dosage: What Clinical Trials Actually Used
Patil et al. 2023·Indian J Physiol PharmacolHuman trial, controlled
- Studied
- 60 elderly patients with hypertension
- Design
- Randomised, open-label, no placebo
- Dose
- 500 mg twice daily, on top of antihypertensives
- Duration
- 30 days
Found: Oxidative-stress markers improved against controls (MDA and oxidised LDL down; total antioxidant capacity, SOD and glutathione up). No change in arterial stiffness or endothelial function.
Doesn't show: Open-label: controls took their medication alone, with no placebo. It measured no blood-pressure benefit, and the vascular outcomes did not move. Not indexed in PubMed.
Cited in: Shilajit Side Effects: What's Documented and What Isn't · What Does the Science Say About Shilajit? The Clinical Trials, Explained · Shilajit Dosage: What Clinical Trials Actually Used
Neltner et al. 2024·J Diet SupplHuman trial, controlled
- Studied
- 35 recreationally trained men
- Design
- Randomised, placebo-controlled
- Dose
- 500 or 1,000 mg/day
- Duration
- 8 weeks
Found: Serum pro-c1α1, a marker of type 1 collagen synthesis, rose from about 42 to 82 ng/mL (500 mg) and 113 ng/mL (1,000 mg); placebo did not change.
Doesn't show: A blood biomarker, not tendon, skin or joint outcomes. The share of people clearing the clinically important threshold beat placebo only at 1,000 mg (75% vs 30%); at 500 mg the difference was not significant.
Cited in: What Does the Science Say About Shilajit? The Clinical Trials, Explained · Shilajit Dosage: What Clinical Trials Actually Used
Martinez et al. 2025·NutrientsHuman trial, controlled
- Studied
- 166 sedentary adults with metabolic syndrome risk factors (109 completed), on diet and exercise
- Design
- Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
- Dose
- 6 or 12 mg shilajit, with chromium and Phyllanthus emblica
- Duration
- 12 weeks
Found: Some evidence (p < 0.05 or approaching it) of better vascular function, platelet aggregation, insulin sensitivity and lipids than placebo, more consistently at 6 weeks than 12.
Doesn't show: A three-ingredient combination at roughly one-fortieth of the shilajit dose used in other trials. It cannot separate any effect of shilajit from chromium or P. emblica — one arm got P. emblica alone.
Cited in: What Does the Science Say About Shilajit? The Clinical Trials, Explained · Shilajit Dosage: What Clinical Trials Actually Used
Human study, no control group (3)
People given shilajit and compared with themselves before and after. These show what changed, not what shilajit caused.
Biswas et al. 2010·AndrologiaHuman study, no control group
- Studied
- 60 infertile men assessed, 35 oligospermic enrolled, 28 completed
- Design
- Open-label, single arm, no placebo
- Dose
- 100 mg twice daily
- Duration
- 90 days
Found: Against each man's own baseline: total sperm count +61.4%, motility +12.4–17.4%, normal forms +18.9%, semen MDA −18.7%, serum testosterone +23.5%, FSH +9.4%. Liver and kidney markers unchanged.
Doesn't show: No placebo group and no blinding. Often misdescribed as a randomised trial or as 60 men treated.
Cited in: Shilajit Side Effects: What's Documented and What Isn't · What Does the Science Say About Shilajit? The Clinical Trials, Explained · Is Shilajit Safe for Your Kidneys? · Shilajit and Erectile Dysfunction: What the Research Actually Shows · Shilajit Benefits: What the Evidence Actually Supports · Shilajit for Men and Women: Are the Effects Different? · Shilajit Benefits for Men: Energy, Recovery & What to Look For · How Long Does Shilajit Take to Work? Dosing, Timeline & Expectations · Shilajit Dosage: What Clinical Trials Actually Used · Shilajit Honey Sticks: What's Actually in Them?
Das et al. 2016·J Med FoodHuman study, no control group
- Studied
- Overweight and class I obese US adults (NCT02026414)
- Design
- Open-label, single arm, no placebo
- Dose
- 250 mg twice daily
- Duration
- 8 weeks, then 4 more weeks with exercise
Found: 17 extracellular-matrix gene probes (collagen, elastin, fibronectin, decorin and others) were upregulated in muscle biopsies. Glucose, lipids, creatine kinase and myoglobin did not change; well tolerated.
Doesn't show: Gene expression against baseline, with no placebo group and no strength or performance outcome.
Cited in: Shilajit Side Effects: What's Documented and What Isn't · Is Shilajit Safe? Heavy Metals, COA Testing, and FDA Status · What Does the Science Say About Shilajit? The Clinical Trials, Explained · Shilajit Dosage: What Clinical Trials Actually Used
Yadav et al. 2026·CureusHuman study, no control group
- Studied
- 25 healthy, moderately active men aged 21–55
- Design
- Open-label, single arm, no placebo
- Dose
- 500 mg/day resin (250 mg twice daily)
- Duration
- 28 days
- Product
- TruBlk resin
Found: Within-group changes: leg press +12.9%, muscle endurance +12.3%, grip +5.7%, VO₂ max +1.4%, Fatigue Severity Scale −32.4%, CRP −25.4%. No serious adverse events; safety labs stayed normal.
Doesn't show: No placebo, no blinding, 25 people, 28 days. The only human study of resin rather than a standardised extract, and the weakest design on this page.
Cited in: Shilajit Side Effects: What's Documented and What Isn't · What Does the Science Say About Shilajit? The Clinical Trials, Explained · Shilajit Dosage: What Clinical Trials Actually Used
Narrative review (7)
Summaries of other people's work. They generate no data of their own, and they are only as good as the studies they summarise.
Stohs 2014·Phytother ResNarrative review
Found: Concludes that shilajit's safety is well documented in animal and human studies, that relatively few well-controlled human studies exist, and that dibenzo-α-pyrones and fulvic acid appear to be the key constituents.
Doesn't show: A narrative review that generates no data of its own, and predates every human trial after 2014.
Not yet verified: The "100–2,000 mg/day" range some of our articles attribute to it is not in the abstract.
Cited in: Shilajit Side Effects: What's Documented and What Isn't · How Many Minerals Are in Shilajit? The 84 Minerals Claim, Examined · Is Shilajit Safe? Heavy Metals, COA Testing, and FDA Status · What Does the Science Say About Shilajit? The Clinical Trials, Explained · Is Shilajit Safe for Your Kidneys? · How to Spell and Pronounce Shilajit · What Is Shilajit? · Where Shilajit Comes From: Mountain Regions Compared · How to Read a Shilajit COA · Shilajit and Heavy Metals: Safety, Testing & Acceptable Levels · Resin vs. Capsules vs. Tablets vs. Gummies: Which Form Is Best? · What Is Fulvic Acid? The Primary Bioactive in Shilajit · How to Spot Fake or Adulterated Shilajit · How Long Does Shilajit Take to Work? Dosing, Timeline & Expectations · Shilajit Processing Methods: How Extraction Affects What's in the Jar · Shilajit for Muscle Recovery: What the Clinical Evidence Shows · Shilajit for Endurance Athletes: What Performance Metrics to Track · Best Time to Take Shilajit: Morning, With Food, or Pre-Workout? · Shilajit as a Pre-Workout: What the Research Supports (And What It Doesn't) · Shilajit Grades Explained: What A+, A, B, C, D Mean and Why They Differ · Pass/Fail COA vs Numeric Results: Why the Difference Matters · Shilajit Extract vs Raw Resin: Are You Getting What You Think? · Himalayan Shilajit: India vs Pakistan vs Nepal — Does the Sub-Region Matter? · Shilajit with Ashwagandha: Synergy, Evidence, and What to Watch For · How Much Fulvic Acid Is Enough? Comparing Shilajit Claims Against the Evidence · Shilajit Gummies: The Processing and Filler Problem, Explained
Wilson et al. 2011·J EthnopharmacolNarrative review
Found: Shilajit appears in 20 classical formulations and 24 proprietary drugs, but "lacks scientific evaluation": its antioxidant activity was tested at an irrelevant dose without a positive control, and its immunomodulatory activity "may be considered as unproven".
Doesn't show: The most sceptical review of the set — worth reading next to Stohs 2014.
Cited in: How Many Minerals Are in Shilajit? The 84 Minerals Claim, Examined · Where Shilajit Comes From: Mountain Regions Compared · Resin vs. Capsules vs. Tablets vs. Gummies: Which Form Is Best? · How to Spot Fake or Adulterated Shilajit
Agarwal et al. 2007·Phytother ResNarrative review
Found: Describes shilajit as a rock exudate, mainly from the Himalayas and Hindu Kush, made of humic substances plus plant and microbial metabolites, used as a rejuvenator and adaptogen in traditional medicine.
Doesn't show: A short descriptive review; it does not grade the evidence.
Not yet verified: Two historical/etymological claims our articles source to it could not be checked against the full text.
Cited in: How Many Minerals Are in Shilajit? The 84 Minerals Claim, Examined · How to Spell and Pronounce Shilajit · What Is Shilajit? · Where Shilajit Comes From: Mountain Regions Compared · Resin vs. Capsules vs. Tablets vs. Gummies: Which Form Is Best? · What Is Fulvic Acid? The Primary Bioactive in Shilajit · Fulvic Acid Percentage in Shilajit: How to Read and Compare COA Results · Shilajit Processing Methods: How Extraction Affects What's in the Jar
Meena et al. 2010·Int J Ayurveda ResNarrative review
Found: Proposes shilajit as a supplement for people ascending to high altitude, on the grounds that it helps with tiredness and stimulates the immune system.
Doesn't show: An opinion-style review with no data of its own. Its claims are asserted, not tested.
Cited in: How to Spell and Pronounce Shilajit · What Is Shilajit? · Where Shilajit Comes From: Mountain Regions Compared · Shilajit Benefits: What the Evidence Actually Supports · Shilajit Dosage: What Clinical Trials Actually Used
Carrasco-Gallardo et al. 2012·Int J Alzheimers DisNarrative review
Found: Reviews the case for shilajit in age-related cognitive decline, centred on laboratory findings that fulvic acid blocks tau self-aggregation, and calls for clinical trials.
Doesn't show: No human trial has tested shilajit for cognition. The tau finding comes from laboratory work.
Cited in: What Is Shilajit? · What Is Fulvic Acid? The Primary Bioactive in Shilajit · Shilajit Benefits: What the Evidence Actually Supports · Shilajit for Muscle Recovery: What the Clinical Evidence Shows · Shilajit Extract vs Raw Resin: Are You Getting What You Think? · Himalayan Shilajit: India vs Pakistan vs Nepal — Does the Sub-Region Matter? · How Much Fulvic Acid Is Enough? Comparing Shilajit Claims Against the Evidence
Hussain et al. 2024·Biol Trace Elem ResNarrative review
Found: Across published analyses, shilajit contains around 65 metals including Pb, As, Cd and Hg. Most reported levels were within WHO/FDA limits for herbal drugs, but some studies found them exceeded; the authors conclude that taking shilajit without knowing its metal levels is not safe.
Doesn't show: Claims that humic substances detoxify metals are, in the authors' words, still to be clarified.
Cited in: How Many Minerals Are in Shilajit? The 84 Minerals Claim, Examined · Is Shilajit Safe? Heavy Metals, COA Testing, and FDA Status
Winkler et al. 2018·J Diabetes ResNarrative review
Found: A minireview of fulvic acid's claimed immune, antioxidant and gut effects. Concludes that research has been minimal but justifies further study.
Doesn't show: About fulvic acid from any source, not shilajit specifically.
Cited in: What Is Fulvic Acid? The Primary Bioactive in Shilajit · Fulvic Acid Percentage in Shilajit: How to Read and Compare COA Results · Shilajit for Sleep: Separating the Evidence from the Marketing · Shilajit Honey Sticks: What's Actually in Them?
Background (not about shilajit) (8)
Papers our articles cite for background — lab methods, cortisol, and the other ingredient in combination products. None is a study of shilajit.
Lamar et al. 2014·J AOAC IntBackground (not about shilajit)
Found: A validated gravimetric, ash-free method for measuring humic and fulvic acid in raw humate ores and commercial products.
Doesn't show: Developed for agricultural humates. Cited because fulvic acid % on shilajit labels depends on which method was used.
Cited in: How Much Fulvic Acid Is Enough? Comparing Shilajit Claims Against the Evidence
Clow et al. 2010·Neurosci Biobehav RevBackground (not about shilajit)
Found: Reviews the morning burst of cortisol after waking and the mechanisms that regulate it.
Doesn't show: Background on cortisol timing; not about shilajit.
Cited in: Best Time to Take Shilajit: Morning, With Food, or Pre-Workout?
Abbasi et al. 2012·J Res Med SciBackground (not about shilajit)
- Studied
- 46 elderly adults with insomnia
- Dose
- 500 mg magnesium/day
- Duration
- 8 weeks
Found: Magnesium improved insomnia severity, sleep efficiency and sleep-onset latency against placebo.
Doesn't show: A magnesium trial, cited in our sleep article for context; not about shilajit.
Cited in: Shilajit for Sleep: Separating the Evidence from the Marketing
Pratte et al. 2014·J Altern Complement MedBackground (not about shilajit)
Found: All five included ashwagandha trials reported better anxiety or stress scores than comparison, but all had unclear or high risk of bias.
Doesn't show: About ashwagandha, cited in our shilajit–ashwagandha article.
Cited in: Shilajit with Ashwagandha: Synergy, Evidence, and What to Watch For
Wankhede et al. 2015·J Int Soc Sports NutrBackground (not about shilajit)
- Studied
- 57 young men starting resistance training
- Dose
- 300 mg ashwagandha twice daily
- Duration
- 8 weeks
Found: Greater gains in bench press and leg extension strength, muscle size and testosterone than placebo.
Doesn't show: About ashwagandha, cited in our shilajit–ashwagandha article.
Cited in: Shilajit with Ashwagandha: Synergy, Evidence, and What to Watch For
Salve et al. 2019·CureusBackground (not about shilajit)
- Studied
- 60 stressed healthy adults
- Dose
- 250 or 600 mg ashwagandha/day
- Duration
- 8 weeks
Found: Perceived stress scores and serum cortisol fell at both doses against placebo; sleep quality improved.
Doesn't show: About ashwagandha, cited in our shilajit–ashwagandha article.
Cited in: Shilajit with Ashwagandha: Synergy, Evidence, and What to Watch For
Peeling et al. 2018·Int J Sport Nutr Exerc MetabBackground (not about shilajit)
Found: Ranks performance supplements by evidence: established (caffeine, creatine, nitrate, beta-alanine, bicarbonate), equivocal, and developing.
Doesn't show: Shilajit is not among the established supplements; cited for that comparison.
Cited in: Shilajit as a Pre-Workout: What the Research Supports (And What It Doesn't)
Darias-Rosales et al. 2020·Environ Sci Pollut Res IntBackground (not about shilajit)
Found: Irish moss averaged 3.86 mg/kg iodine (dry weight). 4 g/day poses no health risk; about 286 g/day would exceed the adult upper limit.
Doesn't show: About sea moss, cited in our shilajit–sea moss article.
Cited in: Shilajit and Sea Moss: Do They Work Together?
How this list is kept
Every PubMed identifier on this page and in our articles is checked against PubMed for author and year. In September 2026 that check found 13 of 37 identifiers on the site pointing at unrelated papers; reading the claims against the papers found 12 of 41 that misstated what the study found. Both were corrected, and this page is the list those corrections are checked against. A research summary is only a starting point — follow the link and read the paper.
None of this research measures the quality of a particular product. For that, see how we grade products on their lab reports.