Last updated: 18 March 2026

Reviewed by Sarah Law, Naturopathic Nutritionist

Does Shilajit Increase Testosterone? What the Evidence Actually Shows

Shilajit does appear to support testosterone levels in men, but the evidence is more limited than many supplement marketers suggest. The most credible human trial found a statistically significant increase in total testosterone after 90 days of supplementation — but this involved only 96 participants, and no large-scale replications exist yet. The honest answer is: promising, but not conclusive.

What Is Shilajit and Why Might It Affect Testosterone?

Shilajit is a dark, resinous substance that seeps from rock formations in high-altitude mountain ranges — primarily the Himalayas, Altai, and Caucasus. It forms over centuries through the compression of organic plant material. Its composition varies significantly by source, but it is primarily made up of fulvic acid and humic acid, alongside minerals including iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc ^[11].

Fulvic acid is the key bioactive compound most researchers believe drives shilajit's physiological effects. It acts as a carrier molecule, helping nutrients cross cell membranes, and appears to have antioxidant properties relevant to hormonal health ^[6].

The theoretical mechanism linking shilajit to testosterone is reasonably coherent. Oxidative stress in the testes — particularly in Leydig cells, which synthesise testosterone — is known to suppress androgen production. Fulvic acid's antioxidant activity may reduce this oxidative burden, allowing Leydig cells to function more efficiently ^[6]. Shilajit may also influence gonadotropins, the hormones from the pituitary gland that signal testosterone production ^[2].

However, it is worth noting that much of the mechanistic research has been conducted in animal models or cell cultures. Translating these findings to human physiology requires caution.

What Does the Human Research Actually Show?

Here's what the research actually shows when you look specifically at human clinical trials rather than animal studies or in-vitro work.

The most cited study is a 2016 randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in Andrologia, which evaluated purified shilajit in 96 healthy men aged 45–55 ^[2]. Participants took 250 mg twice daily for 90 days. The shilajit group showed statistically significant increases in total testosterone, free testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) compared to placebo. This is the strongest human evidence available.

A separate clinical study on MEET® Shilajit — a standardised branded extract — provided corroborating findings on hormonal and physiological parameters in a similar supplementation protocol ^[1]. These branded ingredient studies are important because shilajit composition varies so dramatically between products that findings from one formulation cannot always be extrapolated to another.

A study examining skeletal muscle adaptation in overweight adults found that shilajit supplementation over 8 weeks influenced gene expression in muscle tissue, which has indirect relevance to testosterone's anabolic effects ^[3]. However, this study did not directly measure testosterone levels.

Research on fatigue and muscular strength found that 250–500 mg daily for 8 weeks helped attenuate exercise-induced declines in strength, which may partly relate to hormonal support — though again, testosterone was not the primary outcome measured ^[4].

The honest limitation is this: the total body of human clinical evidence is small. Most trials involve fewer than 100 participants, run for 90 days or less, and some carry a risk of industry funding bias. More independent, large-scale replication is needed before shilajit can be definitively classified as a testosterone booster.

"The clinical data on shilajit and testosterone is genuinely interesting — a well-designed placebo-controlled trial showing significant increases in total and free testosterone is not something to dismiss lightly. But I always remind clients that 'statistically significant' in a study of 96 people over 90 days is not the same as a guaranteed personal outcome. Individual response depends on baseline hormone levels, lifestyle factors, and product quality."

— Sarah Law, Naturopathic Nutritionist & Functional Practitioner | Optimised Female

shilajit in its natural, unprocessed form — the raw material behind the supplement.

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How Does Shilajit Compare to Other Testosterone-Supporting Supplements?

For context, it is useful to compare shilajit against other commonly discussed options in the testosterone support category.

Ashwagandha currently has the broadest and most consistent body of human evidence for testosterone support — you can read a detailed comparison in our ashwagandha for men article. Shilajit shows genuine promise, particularly for middle-aged men with declining testosterone, but sits a tier below ashwagandha in terms of evidence volume.

For a deeper look at the testosterone-boosting question specifically, our companion article on whether shilajit is a testosterone booster covers the mechanistic detail in full.

The natural environment where shilajit is traditionally sourced and harvested.

Who Is Most Likely to Benefit?

The available evidence points most clearly to benefit in specific populations rather than all men universally.

Men aged 40–55 experiencing age-related testosterone decline appear to be the most studied group, and the 2016 Andrologia trial was specifically conducted in this demographic ^[2]. Testosterone naturally begins declining at roughly 1–2% per year from the mid-30s onward, and shilajit's potential to support Leydig cell function may be most relevant at this life stage.

Men with high oxidative stress — which can result from poor diet, chronic stress, excess body fat, or heavy exercise loads — may also respond more favourably, given that fulvic acid's antioxidant mechanism is central to the proposed benefit ^[6]. Research on post-exercise recovery suggests shilajit may also help attenuate exercise-induced stress on muscle tissue, which has downstream relevance for recovery and hormonal balance ^[10].

There is currently no meaningful human evidence that shilajit significantly increases testosterone in younger men with already-normal levels. Healthy men under 35 should approach testosterone support claims with appropriate scepticism.

Safety, Quality, and What to Watch Out For

Safety is arguably more important than efficacy when it comes to shilajit, because product quality varies dramatically and some products carry genuine risk.

Shilajit is found in rock formations in regions where groundwater and soil can contain elevated levels of heavy metals including arsenic, lead, and mercury. Several analyses of commercially available shilajit products have identified heavy metal concentrations exceeding regulatory limits ^[7]. This is not a theoretical concern — it is a documented, ongoing issue in the market.

Purification and standardisation are therefore non-negotiable when selecting a shilajit supplement. Look for products that are tested by independent third-party laboratories and that specify their fulvic acid content. Standardised extracts with documented manufacturing practices are substantially safer than raw or poorly processed resin.

A 28-day pilot study on a branded shilajit resin formulation found it to be well-tolerated with no significant adverse events in healthy adults, though the authors noted the short duration and open-label design as limitations ^[12]. A dedicated safety study on Herbified® shilajit resin similarly found an acceptable safety profile at standard doses ^[13].

Clinically reviewed studies show that purified shilajit at 250–500 mg daily is generally well-tolerated, but individuals with kidney disease, haemochromatosis (iron overload), or those taking blood pressure medication should exercise caution ^[7].

Consult your GP or a qualified healthcare provider before starting shilajit, particularly if you take prescription medication, have a hormone-sensitive condition, or have pre-existing liver or kidney concerns.

"My main concern with shilajit isn't whether it works — it's whether people are buying a product they can trust. Heavy metal contamination is a real issue in this category. I advise clients to only use shilajit from brands that can provide third-party lab certificates showing fulvic acid content and confirming metals are within safe limits. That's the non-negotiable starting point before we even discuss dosage."

— Sarah Law, Naturopathic Nutritionist & Functional Practitioner | Optimised Female

For those seeking high-quality, purified shilajit from a UK brand with transparent sourcing, Love Life Supplements Shilajit Capsules use a standardised extract with documented fulvic acid content and are manufactured to GMP standards.

The Broader Picture: What Else Should You Know?

Testosterone is only one of several areas where shilajit has been investigated. Research has also examined its effects on cognitive function, energy metabolism, and cardiovascular health — though much of the cognitive evidence comes from rodent studies and has not yet been convincingly replicated in humans ^[5].

If cognitive performance is a parallel interest alongside hormonal health, it is worth reading our article on Lion's Mane for men's cognitive health, which covers a separate, better-evidenced area of nootropic research.

Shilajit's cardioprotective potential has been reviewed in the literature, with fulvic acid hypothesised to support mitochondrial function and reduce lipid peroxidation ^[8], though these findings remain largely preclinical. The antioxidant activity of shilajit has also been assessed in laboratory models, with promising results that have not yet translated into robust human trials ^[9].

The key takeaway for anyone evaluating shilajit as a testosterone support supplement is this: it is one of the more credibly studied options in the testosterone support space, with a plausible mechanism and at least one well-designed human trial behind it. However, it is not a clinically validated treatment, product quality is inconsistent, and lifestyle fundamentals — sleep, resistance training, body composition, micronutrient status — will have a far greater impact on testosterone than any supplement. Shilajit, at its best, is a useful adjunct, not a solution in isolation.

Interested in trying Shilajit? Our Shilajit Capsules formula is third-party tested for purity and potency, with no unnecessary additives.

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About the Author — Ben Law

Ben Law is the founder of Love Life Supplements and host of the Optimised Health Show. He is a self-confessed health, fitness and primal living fanatic and a qualified Advanced Dietary Supplement Advisor and Primal Blueprint Certified Expert. Over the last decade, Ben has helped thousands of UK customers optimise performance and recovery with transparent, research-led formulations manufactured to UK GMP and BRC standards.

Learn more about Ben.