Short answer

About a dozen human studies have tested shilajit on its own, most with fewer than 100 people and lasting 8 to 12 weeks. The strongest are randomised, placebo-controlled trials on testosterone, bone density, fracture healing and muscle strength. None has been independently repeated, and many tested one branded extract.

Which human trials have tested shilajit?

These are the published human studies that gave shilajit on its own and measured a health outcome, newest first. “RCT” means a randomised controlled trial with a placebo group, the most reliable design.

Study Design People Dose and length Main finding
Yadav 2026 Open-label, no placebo 25 healthy men, 21 to 55 500 mg resin a day, 28 days Strength, endurance and fatigue scores improved from baseline
Neltner 2024 RCT 35 trained young men 500 or 1,000 mg a day, 8 weeks Blood marker of collagen production rose
Pingali 2022 RCT, double-blind 60 postmenopausal women with osteopenia 250 or 500 mg a day, 48 weeks Bone loss in spine and hip slowed, more at 500 mg
Sadeghi 2020 RCT, double-blind 160 adults with a broken shin bone 1,000 mg a day, 28 days Bone healed in 129 days vs 153 on placebo
Das 2019 Placebo-controlled, assessor-blinded 45 healthy women aged 30 to 65 250 or 500 mg a day, 14 weeks Skin blood flow improved at 500 mg
Keller 2019 RCT 63 active young men 250 or 500 mg a day, 8 weeks Less strength loss during fatigue at 500 mg, in the stronger half only
Pandit 2016 RCT, double-blind Healthy men aged 45 to 55 500 mg a day, 90 days Total and free testosterone and DHEA-S rose vs placebo
Das 2016 Single group, no placebo 16 overweight adults (29 enrolled) 500 mg a day, 12 weeks Genes linked to muscle repair switched on; no safety issues
Biswas 2010 Single group, no placebo 28 men with low sperm counts 200 mg a day, 90 days Sperm count up 61%, testosterone up 24% from baseline
Sharma 2003 Placebo-controlled; groups not compared statistically 30 medical students (20 shilajit, 10 placebo) 2 g a day, 45 days Lower cholesterol and triglycerides, higher HDL

A further 2025 trial in 166 adults at risk of metabolic syndrome tested a supplement containing chromium, amla (Phyllanthus emblica) and a very small amount of shilajit (6 or 12 mg a day) alongside diet and exercise (Martinez et al., 2025). Because shilajit was a minor ingredient in a combination, it tells us little about shilajit itself. The same applies to a 2021 trial of BrainUp-10, a shilajit and B-vitamin product, in 82 people with Alzheimer’s disease (Guzman-Martinez et al., 2021).

What are the main limitations of shilajit research?

  • Small trials. Most included fewer than 100 people, and several fewer than 40. Small trials can miss real effects and exaggerate chance ones.
  • No independent replication. No result has been confirmed by a second, independent team.
  • One product dominates. Many trials used PrimaVie, a purified extract from the company Natreon, which also funded several of them, and four of the six authors of the 2026 resin study work for a supplement company. Findings may not apply to other products, particularly raw resin.
  • Surrogate outcomes. Several studies measured blood markers or gene activity rather than things people notice, such as strength, energy or fewer fractures.
  • Mostly men. Only two of these studies focused on women, and none included children or focused on people over 65.

What do the reviews conclude?

A 2014 review concluded that shilajit appears safe and shows promise for fatigue, physical performance and male fertility, but that “additional well-controlled human and animal studies involving the use of standardized products are needed” (Stohs, 2014). A 2024 systematic review of testosterone boosters rated purified shilajit extract as “possibly effective” for men with age-related low testosterone, one of only a few supplements to get that rating (Morgado et al., 2024).

Where does this research fit on the site?

Each finding feeds the evidence grades on shilajit benefits, the doses in how to take shilajit and the safety data in is shilajit safe?. We add new trials to this library as they are published. If we’ve missed one, please tell us.

In this section

Frequently asked questions

How many clinical trials have been done on shilajit?

We count 10 published human studies of shilajit on its own, 7 of them with a placebo group. Most of the 160 or so papers on shilajit in PubMed are animal, lab or chemistry studies, or reviews.

Who funds shilajit research?

Several trials tested PrimaVie, a branded extract made by Natreon, and at least one study was run by a shilajit manufacturer. Industry funding doesn't make results wrong, but independent replication would make them more convincing.

References

  1. PubMed search: shilajit OR mumijo OR mumiepubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov 161 results when checked on 16 October 2026.
  2. Pandit S et al. Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers. Andrologia. 2016;48(5):570-5.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. Biswas TK et al. Clinical evaluation of spermatogenic activity of processed Shilajit in oligospermia. Andrologia. 2010;42(1):48-56.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. Keller JL et al. The effects of Shilajit supplementation on fatigue-induced decreases in muscular strength and serum hydroxyproline levels. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2019;16(1):3.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  5. Neltner TJ et al. Effects of 8 Weeks of Shilajit Supplementation on Serum Pro-c1α1, a Biomarker of Type 1 Collagen Synthesis. J Diet Suppl. 2024;21(1):1-12.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  6. Pingali U, Nutalapati C. Shilajit extract reduces oxidative stress, inflammation, and bone loss to dose-dependently preserve bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteopenia. Phytomedicine. 2022;105:154334.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  7. Sadeghi SMH et al. Efficacy of Momiai in Tibia Fracture Repair: A Randomized Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2020;26(6):521-528.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  8. Das A et al. The Human Skeletal Muscle Transcriptome in Response to Oral Shilajit Supplementation. J Med Food. 2016;19(7):701-9.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  9. Das A et al. Skin Transcriptome of Middle-Aged Women Supplemented With Natural Herbo-mineral Shilajit. J Am Coll Nutr. 2019;38(6):526-536.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  10. Sharma P et al. Shilajit: evaluation of its effects on blood chemistry of normal human subjects. Anc Sci Life. 2003;23(2):114-9.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  11. Yadav D et al. Safety and Efficacy of TruBlk Shilajit Resin Supplementation on Physical Performance and Blood Biomarkers in Healthy Adults: A 28-Day Open-Label Pilot Study. Cureus. 2026;18(1):e102372.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  12. Martinez V et al. Effects of 12 Weeks of Chromium, Phyllanthus emblica Fruit Extract, and Shilajit Supplementation on Markers of Cardiometabolic Health. Nutrients. 2025;17(12):2042.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  13. Guzman-Martinez L et al. Interventional Study to Evaluate the Clinical Effects and Safety of the Nutraceutical Compound BrainUp-10 in a Cohort of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis. 2021;81(3):1231-1241.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  14. Morgado A et al. Do 'testosterone boosters' really increase serum total testosterone? A systematic review. Int J Impot Res. 2024;36(4):348-364.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  15. Stohs SJ. Safety and efficacy of shilajit (mumie, moomiyo). Phytother Res. 2014;28(4):475-9.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

First published 16 October 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us and we'll correct it. Read our editorial policy.