Shilajit (Purified Mineral Pitch)

The human evidence

The primary reference is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 96 healthy male volunteers aged 45 to 55. Participants receiving 250mg of purified shilajit twice daily for 90 days showed a significant increase in total and free testosterone compared with placebo, alongside increases in DHEA-S.¹

That is a reasonable trial: adequately sized for this field, properly controlled, with a duration long enough to be meaningful. It is also close to the whole of the direct evidence, which is why we rate the overall evidence quality as limited rather than moderate. Supporting work has examined effects on mitochondrial function and on markers of fatigue.²

Purification is a safety issue, not just a quality one

Raw shilajit is collected from rock crevices and, in unprocessed form, can carry heavy metals, mycotoxins and free radicals. Traditional preparation involves purification precisely for this reason, and modern commercial material should be processed and tested accordingly.

This is the practical concern that distinguishes shilajit from most other ingredients in this category. The question is less whether the dose is adequate and more whether the material is clean. Third-party testing for heavy metals is not optional here.

Fulvic acid as the marker

Fulvic acid is the compound most commonly used to characterise shilajit quality, and reputable material states a percentage. Products in the 50 to 70% fulvic acid range represent concentrated purified extract; products with no stated percentage provide no basis for comparison.

As with tongkat ali, a milligram figure without a marker compound describes mass rather than activity.

What to look for

• A stated fulvic acid percentage
• Explicit reference to purification
• Third-party testing for heavy metals, with a certificate available
• A dose around 250 to 500mg daily

Bottom line

Shilajit has one good trial supporting testosterone effects in middle-aged men, which is more than many ingredients in this category can claim, and less than the marketing usually implies. Sourcing matters more here than almost anywhere else on this list. We look at how commercial formulas handle it in our comparative review.