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Shilajit is a sticky, blackish-brown substance that seeps from mountain rocks, most famously in the Himalayas, and has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine. Supplements sell it as a resin, powder or capsule, often with claims about energy, testosterone and “85 minerals.” Human research is thin: a handful of small trials, most testing one branded extract and several funded by the company that makes it. The bigger practical issue is purity, since Ayurvedic products bought online have repeatedly tested positive for lead, mercury or arsenic. Here is what the studies found and how to judge a product.
Peptide Labs sells dietary supplements, but none of our products contain shilajit, and this article does not recommend any brand. It is general information, not medical advice.
Key Takeaways
- Shilajit is a natural rock exudate rich in fulvic acid, other organic compounds and minerals.
- Most human trials are small, short and tested a single branded extract, PrimaVie.
- At least two of those trials were funded in whole or part by PrimaVie's maker, Natreon.
- A JAMA study found detectable lead, mercury or arsenic in about one in five Ayurvedic products bought online.
- Choose products with batch-specific heavy metal testing, and ask a clinician first if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or on medicines.
What is shilajit?
Shilajit, also called mumie or moomiyo, forms over long periods as plant and microbial material breaks down and is pressed into rock. Researchers describe it as a complex of fulvic acids, compounds called dibenzo-alpha-pyrones, proteins and minerals. A 2014 review in Phytotherapy Research named fulvic acid and dibenzo-alpha-pyrones as the likely active parts, while noting that relatively few well-controlled human studies exist. In Ayurveda it is classed as a rasayana, a rejuvenating substance.
Composition depends on where it comes from. A 2026 analysis of 12 samples from different regions found clear differences in calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and trace metals, which is one reason results from one product do not carry over to another.
Shilajit resin, powder and capsules
Shilajit resin is the purified, tar-like form sold in small jars. Powders and capsules are usually dried extracts, and some are standardized to a stated fulvic acid percentage. The branded extract used in most trials, PrimaVie, is standardized to at least 60% fulvic acid and related compounds. Resin is often marketed as more authentic, but no study has compared forms, and home “purity tests” shared online cannot measure heavy metals. Only lab testing can.
Shilajit benefits: what human studies tested
The research on shilajit benefits comes mostly from a few randomized, placebo-controlled trials. They are worth knowing about, but each is small, lasted weeks to months, and measured lab markers more often than outcomes people notice. None tested the raw, unstandardized resin many shops sell, and none compared shilajit with an active alternative such as exercise alone.
| Study | Who took part | Length | What was reported | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pandit 2016, Andrologia | Healthy men aged 45 to 55 | 90 days | Higher total and free testosterone and DHEAS vs placebo | Purified branded extract; funding not stated in the abstract |
| Keller 2019, JISSN | 63 recreationally active men | 8 weeks | Less strength loss after a fatigue test, only in the higher-amount group's stronger half | Funded by Natreon |
| Das 2019, J Am Coll Nutr | Healthy middle-aged women | 14 weeks | Changes in skin gene activity and skin blood flow | Partly funded by Natreon |
| Neltner 2024, J Diet Suppl | 35 trained young men | 8 weeks | Rise in a blood marker of collagen production | Biomarker only, not a health outcome |
| Pingali 2022, Phytomedicine | 60 postmenopausal women with low bone density | 48 weeks | Slower bone density loss than placebo | Single center in India |
A 2024 systematic review of products marketed as testosterone boosters, covering 52 studies, found that most fail to raise testosterone. It rated purified shilajit extract as only “possibly effective,” based on limited data. In short, the evidence is early, mostly tied to one ingredient maker, and not independently replicated. It does not show that shilajit products in general do any of these things.
Is shilajit safe?
In the trials above, which lasted up to 48 weeks, participants did not report notable side effects. Those were purified, tested extracts given to screened volunteers. The risk that worries regulators is contamination in products of unknown quality.
Heavy metals in Ayurvedic products
A 2008 study in JAMA analyzed 193 Ayurvedic medicines bought online. About 21% contained detectable lead, mercury or arsenic, with similar rates for US-made and India-made products. Every product that contained metals exceeded at least one standard for acceptable daily intake, and 75% of them claimed to follow Good Manufacturing Practices. The FDA states that there are no FDA-approved ayurvedic products and warns that heavy metals in some of them can cause poisoning, with high blood pressure, kidney injury, fatigue, stomach upset and tingling or weakness among the listed effects. It uses import alerts 66-41 and 99-42 to stop such products at the border, and notes that metals can pass into breast milk.
Shilajit itself naturally contains trace metals. In the 2026 analysis of 12 samples, lead, cadmium, mercury and nickel were present but below established toxicity thresholds. That is reassuring for those samples, but it says nothing about other jars on the market, which is why batch testing matters.
Who should be careful
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women: no trials included them, and metals can reach the baby.
- Children: there is no research in children.
- People on medicines or with hormone-related conditions: interactions are largely unstudied, and one trial reported hormone changes.
- Anyone with symptoms such as tingling, unusual fatigue or stomach pain after starting a product should stop and contact a clinician or poison control.
- People with kidney disease or a history of high metal levels: ask a clinician before using any mineral-rich product, because heavy metal exposure can affect the kidneys.
How to check a shilajit product
- Read the Supplement Facts panel for the form (resin, extract) and any stated fulvic acid percentage.
- Ask for a batch-specific certificate of analysis with results for lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury. Our guide on how to read a CBD certificate of analysis explains batch numbers, lab accreditation and limits, and the same skills apply here.
- Look for an independent seal; see our guide to third-party tested supplements for what each one checks.
- Skip products promising disease effects; the FDA says ayurvedic products marketed that way are sold illegally.
- Check that the label names the source region and the company that made it, plus contact details for questions about testing.
Shilajit is often paired with other Ayurvedic ingredients; our ashwagandha guide covers that herb’s research and safety. For another mineral-rich trend with similar testing questions, see our guide to sea moss.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main shilajit benefits?
Small trials of one purified extract reported changes in testosterone, strength after fatigue, a collagen marker and bone density. They were small, several were company-funded, and results have not been independently confirmed.
Is shilajit safe?
Purified, tested extracts were well tolerated in short trials. The main concern is heavy metal contamination in products of unknown quality, so batch testing matters.
What is shilajit resin?
It is the purified, tar-like form of shilajit sold in jars. No study shows that resin works better than a tested powder or capsule.
Does shilajit raise testosterone?
One trial in healthy men aged 45 to 55 reported higher levels than placebo. A 2024 review rated the evidence as only possibly effective.
What is fulvic acid?
Fulvic acid is a group of organic compounds formed as plant matter breaks down. It is a main component of shilajit, and some extracts are standardized to a fulvic acid percentage.
Can you take shilajit while pregnant?
There is no safety research in pregnancy or breastfeeding, and metals can pass to the baby. Talk to your prenatal provider first.
Questions about a label? Contact us or read our Buyer’s Guide. Follow the label and ask a healthcare provider before starting any supplement, especially if you take medicines. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Last reviewed October 2026.
Related guides: Third Party Tested Supplements: What USP, NSF and Other Seals Mean, Ashwagandha Benefits, Side Effects and Safety: What Studies Show, Sea Moss: Benefits, Iodine, Heavy Metals and Sea Moss Gel Safety.