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Shilajit
•Last Updated: July 25, 2023
Shilajit is a natural compound that seeps out of sedimentary rock in certain regions of the world. It is best known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, despite a long history of traditional use, there’s very little high-quality human research on it.
Shilajit is most often used for
Last Updated:July 25, 2023
Shilajit is a brown/black tar-like substance that seeps from sedimentary rocks in mountainous regions, particularly the Himalayas, and is formed from the decomposition of plant and animal materials. It contains various active components, including fulvic acid and dibenzo-α-pyrones, and is recognized for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as its use in traditional medicine for enhancing vitality and longevity.
Shilajit may offer various health benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, as well as potential support for male fertility, tissue integrity, and bone health. However, a limited number of human clinical trials and their low quality mean that more research is needed to confirm these effects.
Shilajit has variability in its composition, which can affect the replicability of study results, and many studies that used the standardized formulation PrimaVie were funded by its manufacturer. Although shilajit is generally safe, unprocessed or improperly purified shilajit may contain harmful substances like mycotoxins and heavy metals.
Shilajit works in the body through various mechanisms, primarily by enhancing antioxidant capacity and reducing oxidative stress due to its active compounds like fulvic acid. It increases levels of antioxidant enzymes and supports tissue integrity by promoting the expression of genes related to extracellular matrix proteins and blood vessel formation.
Note that Shilajit is also known as:
- Mineral Pitch
- Jew's Pitch
- Mineral Wax
- Salajeet
- Brag-shun
- Shilajita
- Moomio
- Mumie
- Mumijo
- Mumiyo
- Salajit
- Primavie
Shilajit should not be confused with:
- Ozokerite
Shilajit is usually processed into a powder or taken in a purified resin form. The exact composition of shilajit can vary based on geographical region, which may also impact its biological effects.[1] Ideally, a product should be standardized to contain a certain amount of fulvic acid, DBPs, and DCPs. For example, PrimaVie — a patented, purified shilajit extract used in many trials — is standardized to contain ≥50% fulvic acid and ≥10.3% DBPs/DCPs.
In clinical trials, shilajit dosing has ranged from 200 to 2000 mg daily, although the most commonly used dosing regimen seems to be 500 mg daily, split into two daily doses. Research on shilajit is in the early stages; therefore, optimal dosing regimens for particular outcomes still need to be determined.
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- ^Pandit S, Biswas S, Jana U, De RK, Mukhopadhyay SC, Biswas TKClinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers.Andrologia.(2016-Jun)
- ^Biswas TK, Pandit S, Mondal S, Biswas SK, Jana U, Ghosh T, Tripathi PC, Debnath PK, Auddy RG, Auddy BClinical evaluation of spermatogenic activity of processed Shilajit in oligospermiaAndrologia.(2010 Feb)
- ^Pingali U, Nutalapati CShilajit extract reduces oxidative stress, inflammation, and bone loss to dose-dependently preserve bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteopenia: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.Phytomedicine.(2022-Oct)
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- ^Das A, S El Masry M, Gnyawali SC, Ghatak S, Singh K, Stewart R, Lewis M, Saha A, Gordillo G, Khanna SSkin Transcriptome of Middle-Aged Women Supplemented With Natural Herbo-mineral Shilajit Shows Induction of Microvascular and Extracellular Matrix Mechanisms.J Am Coll Nutr.(2019-Aug)
- ^Sharma P, Jha J, Shrinivas V, Dwivedi LK, Suresh P, Sinha MShilajit: evalution of its effects on blood chemistry of normal human subjectsAnc Sci Life.(2003 Oct)
- ^Niranjan K, Ramakanth G.S.H, Nishat F, Usharani PEvaluation of the Effect of Purified Aqueous Extract of Shilajit in Modifying Cardiovascular Risk with Special Reference to Endothelial Dysfunction in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes MellitusInternational Journal of Ayurveda and Pharma Research.(2016 Apr)
- ^Bhattacharyya S, Pal D, Gupta A, Ganguly P, Majumder U, Ghosal, SBeneficial Effect of Processed Shilajit on Swimming Exercise Induced Impaired Energy Status of MicePharmacologyonline.(2009 Jan)
- ^Visser SAEffect of humic substances on mitochondrial respiration and oxidative phosphorylation.Sci Total Environ.(1987-Apr)
- ^Keller JL, Housh TJ, Hill EC, Smith CM, Schmidt RJ, Johnson GOThe effects of Shilajit supplementation on fatigue-induced decreases in muscular strength and serum hydroxyproline levels.J Int Soc Sports Nutr.(2019-Feb-06)
- ^Schliebs R, Liebmann A, Bhattacharya SK, Kumar A, Ghosal S, Bigl VSystemic administration of defined extracts from Withania somnifera (Indian Ginseng) and Shilajit differentially affects cholinergic but not glutamatergic and GABAergic markers in rat brain.Neurochem Int.(1997-Feb)
- ^Cornejo A, Jiménez JM, Caballero L, Melo F, Maccioni RBFulvic acid inhibits aggregation and promotes disassembly of tau fibrils associated with Alzheimer's disease.J Alzheimers Dis.(2011)
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- ^Sadeghi SMH, Hosseini Khameneh SM, Khodadoost M, Hosseini Kasnavieh SM, Kamalinejad M, Gachkar L, Rampp T, Pasalar MEfficacy of Momiai in Tibia Fracture Repair: A Randomized Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.J Altern Complement Med.(2020 Jun)
- ^Trivedi, N. et al.Effect of shilajit on blood glucose and lipid profile in alloxan-induced diabetic ratsIndian Journal of Pharmacology.(Nov 2004)
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- ^Stavropoulos K, Sotiriadis A, Patoulias D, Imprialos K, Dampali R, Athyros V, Dinas KPseudohyperaldosteronism due to mumijo consumption during pregnancy: a licorice-like syndrome.Gynecol Endocrinol.(2018 Dec)
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- ^Walden DM, Khotimchenko M, Hou H, Chakravarty K, Varshney JEffects of Magnesium, Calcium, and Aluminum Chelation on Fluoroquinolone Absorption Rate and Bioavailability: A Computational Study.Pharmaceutics.(2021 Apr 21)
- Oxidative Stress Biomarkers - Biswas TK, Pandit S, Mondal S, Biswas SK, Jana U, Ghosh T, Tripathi PC, Debnath PK, Auddy RG, Auddy BClinical evaluation of spermatogenic activity of processed Shilajit in oligospermiaAndrologia.(2010 Feb)
- Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile - Sharma P, Jha J, Shrinivas V, Dwivedi LK, Suresh P, Sinha MShilajit: evalution of its effects on blood chemistry of normal human subjectsAnc Sci Life.(2003 Oct)