Shilajit: Worth the hype?
Shilajit is a supplement in the health space that often raises eyebrows due to its name, origin, and potential health benefits. However, is there enough scientific evidence to justify investing in this mineral-like substance? In this article, we will explore what shilajit is and whether it lives up to the hype.
What Is Shilajit?
Shilajit is a type of resin composed of many compounds, biomolecules, and trace minerals, all condensed into one. Shilajit forms in high-pressure areas where biomass, such as plants, microorganisms, soil minerals, and general organisms around those environments, gets condensed under high pressure for an extended period.
After a while, the compounds undergo a series of reactions that ultimately make humic acids, humic substances, and fulvic acids. Many different forms of humate exist, and it's difficult to characterize them all. It's also unlikely that any particular form of shilajit contains all the different forms.
This is what makes where the shilajit was sourced important. These humate substances are also the reason shilajit is so rich in micronutrients like calcium, magnesium, iron, and other trace minerals.
Essentially, shilajit provides an abundant supply of key micronutrients, trace minerals, and unique compounds with a wide array of medicinal properties. Helping to fix potential micronutrient deficiencies or enhance other compounds' use.
I personally have been using this Shilajit from Pure Himalayan Shilajit for a few months last year, due to recommendations, and their extensive third party testing.
Shilajit Key Constituents?
The main compounds present in shilajit are:
Humic substances.
These substances can be single molecules or a large number of composites linked together. They fall into a broader category of compounds like:
Humins.
Fulvic acids.
Humic acids.
Amino acids and uniquely modified amino acids.
Polyphenols and plant flavonoids.
Trace minerals and micronutrients.
Eldagic acid.
Various fatty acids.
Resin-like compounds.
Terpenoids and triterpenes.
Sterols. and much more.
Mineral density of Shilajit
Of the trace minerals and micronutrients, finding all the required human micronutrients in shilajit is generally possible. This is why it serves as a good source of trace minerals and micronutrients to combat any potential deficiencies that may exist.
Researchers have analyzed shilajit and shown examples of trace mineral compositions typically found in shilajit.
For example, Pakistani shilajit and Indian shilajit have been analyzed via energy dispersive x-ray analysis (an advanced technique used to characterize micronutrients), and have shown to possess:
Manganese.
Chromium.
Boron.
Iron.
Copper.
Magnesium.
Potassium.
Calcium.
Silicon.
Cobalt.
Health Benefits of Shilajit?
The benefits of shilajit are immense for such a simple resin. It is believed that a large reason for many of the benefits of this powerful medicine is because of the humic substances or the micronutrient profiles.
For example, fulvic acids present in shilajit are known to be powerful antioxidants. They can act as a shuttle capable of getting compounds inside of cells efficiently while at the same time removing unwanted substances from cells, such as metabolic waste. Fulvic acid also supports proper immune system function. 2,3
The antioxidant score of shilajit (ORAC score) is also substantially higher than both blueberries and noni berries (mulberries). 3
These simple properties have been shown to be able to support conditions like Alzheimer's disease by inhibiting the accumulation of tau plaques. Tau plaques are one of the most common signs of Alzheimer's disease and strongly contribute to cognitive decline associated with age.
That's not all though; shilajit's benefits extend t0:
Acting as an anti-diabetic compound.
An anti-ulcerogenic compound, helping prevent ulcer formation and reduce symptoms of GERD, stomach ulcers, H.pylori, and ulcerative colitis.
Improve memory likely via multiple mechanisms, including reducing the accumulation of toxic proteins in the brain.
Anti-inflammatory via fulvic acids and other humic substances.
Analgesic, helping to reduce pain likely via the phenolic plant compounds it can contain.
Antifungal properties probably due to it being a source of selenium, antimicrobial substances, and antioxidants.
Drug delivery enhancer Shilajit is known to potentiate the effects of other drugs by helping them get inside cells more effectively.
Prevent high-altitude sickness: This is thought to be because the high amount of iron and copper in shilajit helps support tissue oxygenation.
It acts as an anxiolytic and reduces overall anxiety, though the mechanism as to how it helps with this isn't fully known.
Shilajit has been investigated clinically and shown to be capable of enhancing strength output and muscle contraction, reducing muscular fatigue, and improving hydroxyproline production to support collagenous tissue production. 4 The amount needed to reach this effect was 500mg per day. Additionally, regarding high altitude sickness, the fulvic acid present in shilajit can help get iron inside of developing red blood cells more effectively to increase tissue oxygenation. It further enhances capillary function and vascular health, providing even greater resistance to hypoxia and high-altitude sickness. 5
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (the highest standard of research), shilajit at 250mg twice per day was shown to be able to increase total testosterone, free testosterone, another hormone known as DHEA-S that is important for brain health, in healthy 55-year-old men. 6
This effect is pretty impressive, considering for most men, testosterone replacement therapy is the only option to help get testosterone levels up again.
In a brutal experiment done on mice where a 0.25kg metal weight was dropped onto the heads of mice to induce brain damage, shilajit was shown to be able to counteract the damage induced.
In specific, it decreased intracranial pressure, reduced blood-brain barrier dysfunction and brain edema. It overall improved the traumatic brain injury in these mice. 7
Shilajit has also been shown to be able to improve chemotherapy outcomes, improve the delivery of chemotherapeutics in mice given cancer, and overall reduce the total level of cancer metastasis in these mice 8. Consider that chemists consistently try and devise new ways to help get chemotherapeutic drugs in cancer safely and effectively – well, nature already has a method.
Other less well-known uses of shilajit include 5:
Being used as an antiseptic.
Being used as a lithotriptic agent thereby dissolving kidney stones.
Improving sexual disorders.
And improving thyroid disorders.
The Downside to Shilajit
The only real downside of shilajit is that it can be contaminated with heavy metals. This is one reason why the brand you choose to purchase Shilajit from matters greatly. Optimal brands test their source of shilajit for heavy metals and also provide a purification process during the manufacturing step that reduces the overall levels of heavy metals to non-observable levels.
Arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, and barium are the main concerns regarding shilajit contamination and should always be assessed for 1.
Many brands provided data analysis sheets that show proof of purification and done so by 3rd party testers. This is an incredibly important step to making sure any shilajit you purchase is tested and verified to be safe.
The Pros Outweigh the Cons for Shilajit
Based on this single but surmountable hurdle, shilajit's pros greatly outweigh its cons. The neurological benefits stand out the most, and for anyone seeking the extra edge in cognitive power, shilajit is a no-brainer to include as part of a stack.
Are We Glorifying Shilajit?
It is important to remember that many of these benefits depend on how much shilajit is used, the population it's studied in, the source of shilajit, and the concentration of its active ingredients.
While shilajit does show some incredible benefits, specifically with hormonal health and brain health, it may not have the same effect for younger individuals who are already hormonally optimized and also experience normal cognitive states.
Nonetheless, as a preventative, shilajit may be a useful medicinal resin to keep as part of a weekly supplement.
The Best Shilajit:
I personally recommend this shilajit which I have used for a few months last year as a self experiement. Not all Shilajit is created equal and as discussed above - some shilajit can be contaminated with heavy metals which serve no function in your body apart from triggering modern disease.
To find out more about Pure Himalayan Shilajit and get a 15% off your order, then use my discount code LIVEVITAE15 or click HERE.
Conclusion
Shilajit is often termed a panacea of a substance, and this name is rightfully earned for its incredible properties. It exhibits many homeostatic effects, returning our physiological system to good health. It reduces the severity of many diseases like Alzheimer's disease.
Fundamentally shilajit improves hormonal physiology, helping combat ageing, improving mitochondria redox due to its antioxidant properties.
Shilajit contains a wide range of unique compounds that belong to the class of humic substances. Fulvic acid, a type of humic substance, is known to be a strong antioxidant and also an excipient capable of better delivering micronutrients and other medicinal compounds to our bodies. Aside from those key compounds, shilajit is a source of over 84 trace minerals and micronutrients.
When purchasing shilajit, it's important to always purchase from a brand that does heavy metal testing, purifies its shilajit from any negative heavy metals, and is tested by a third party. If done correctly, shilajit may be one of the most useful supplements.
References
Aldakheel, R.K., Gondal, M.A., Alsayed, H.N. et al. Rapid Determination and Quantification of Nutritional and Poisonous Metals in Vastly Consumed Ayurvedic Herbal Medicine (Rejuvenator Shilajit) by Humans Using Three Advanced Analytical Techniques. Biol Trace Elem Res 200, 4199–4216 (2022).
Schepetkin, I. A., Xie, G., Jutila, M. A., & Quinn, M. T. (2009). Complement-fixing activity of fulvic acid from Shilajit and other natural sources. Phytotherapy research : PTR, 23(3), 373–384. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.2635
Carrasco-Gallardo, C., Guzmán, L., & Maccioni, R. B. (2012). Shilajit: a natural phytocomplex with potential procognitive activity. International journal of Alzheimer's disease, 2012, 674142. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/674142
Keller, J. L., Housh, T. J., Hill, E. C., Smith, C. M., Schmidt, R. J., & Johnson, G. O. (2019). The effects of Shilajit supplementation on fatigue-induced decreases in muscular strength and serum hydroxyproline levels. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 16(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-019-0270-2
Meena, H., Pandey, H. K., Arya, M. C., & Ahmed, Z. (2010). Shilajit: A panacea for high-altitude problems. International journal of Ayurveda research, 1(1), 37–40.
Pandit S, Biswas S, Jana U, De RK, Mukhopadhyay SC, Biswas TK. Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers. Andrologia. 2016 Jun;48(5):570-5. doi: 10.1111/and.12482. Epub 2015 Sep 22. PMID: 26395129.
Khaksari, M., Mahmmodi, R., Shahrokhi, N., Shabani, M., Joukar, S., & Aqapour, M. (2013). The Effects of Shilajit on Brain Edema, Intracranial Pressure and Neurologic Outcomes following the Traumatic Brain Injury in Rat. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences, 16(7), 858–864.
Jambi, E. J., & Abdulaziz Alshubaily, F. (2022). Shilajit potentiates the effect of chemotherapeutic drugs and mitigates metastasis induced liver and kidney damages in osteosarcoma rats. Saudi journal of biological sciences, 29(9), 103393.