Shilajit – what is really behind it

Shilajit – also known as Mumijo – is a dark brown to black, resin-like natural substance that occurs mainly in mountain regions such as the Himalayas. Due to its dark colour and traditional significance, it is often referred to as the “black gold of the Himalayas”.

In Ayurvedic tradition, Shilajit has been used for a long time – today you will mainly find it as a resin or standardised extract in capsules.

Exactly how Shilajit is formed has not yet been fully clarified. It is likely formed over a long period of time through the transformation of organic plant material with the involvement of microorganisms and mineral components.

The composition of Shilajit can vary significantly depending on origin and processing. A high proportion of so-called humic substances is characteristic. These are complex mixtures of organic compounds.

Humic substances mainly include:

• fulvic acids
• humic acids
• humin

In addition, Shilajit contains further organic compounds as well as various minerals, including potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc, for example. The exact composition can vary significantly from sample to sample.

The study situation on Shilajit is still limited. However, individual human studies provide interesting indications of possible effects in the areas of testosterone, physical performance and bone health.

In a study by Pandit S. et al. (2016), healthy men aged between 45 and 55 received 500 mg of purified Shilajit daily for 90 days. Afterwards, higher levels of total testosterone and free testosterone were measured in the Shilajit group than in the placebo group.

In another study by Keller J. L. et al. (2019) with 63 physically active men, it was investigated whether Shilajit can influence muscle strength after intense exercise. With a daily intake of 500 mg, the loss of strength after exercise was lower than with placebo.

A study by Pingali U. and Nutalapati C. (2022) examined 60 postmenopausal women aged 45 to 65 with osteopenia, a reduced bone density that is considered a possible risk factor for osteoporosis. Over a period of 48 weeks, the participants received either a placebo or 250 or 500 mg of a standardised Shilajit extract daily. In the Shilajit groups, bone density decreased less than in the placebo group.

Important: The results each relate to the Shilajit extracts, dosages and groups of people studied. Although they provide interesting indications, they are not sufficient to derive a general effect of Shilajit.

Shilajit is a natural product. As a result, the composition and content of individual components can differ from product to product.

With a standardised Shilajit extract, however, it is defined how high the proportion of certain ingredients is. The content of fulvic and humic acids for the standardisation of Shilajit extracts is particularly often specified. This makes the composition of a daily serving much easier to understand.

However, standardisation does not automatically say anything about the effect of a product. It does, however, facilitate quality control and creates a better basis for comparability between different extracts.

Traditionally, Shilajit is often offered as a resin. However, standardised extracts in capsule form are now also common.

Whether Shilajit capsules or resin are generally better cannot be answered scientifically in general terms. What matters instead is the quality of the raw material, traceable standardisation and transparent information about the ingredients contained.

When it comes to Shilajit capsules, it is worth paying attention to transparent product information and traceable quality control.

You should therefore look out for:

• a standardised Shilajit extract
• clear information on the content of fulvic and humic acids
• traceable quantity information per daily serving
• independent laboratory analyses
• testing for heavy metals and other possible contaminants
• no or as few unnecessary additives as possible

Our nutri+ Shilajit contains a standardised Shilajit extract in practical capsule form.

The recommended daily serving of two capsules provides:

• 1,200 mg Shilajit extract
• of which 600 mg fulvic acid (50%)
• and 144 mg humic acid (12%)
• without unnecessary additives
• 100% vegan

There is no universally applicable dosage for Shilajit, as products can differ in terms of extract, standardisation and dosage form. You should therefore generally follow the recommended intake of the respective product.

For our nutri+ Shilajit, we recommend two capsules daily with sufficient liquid.

How well Shilajit is tolerated varies greatly from person to person. Reports include gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea and dizziness when Shilajit is taken in larger amounts. Since the data on tolerability is still limited, the stated recommended intake should not be exceeded.

In the case of existing medical conditions, regular medication use, as well as during pregnancy and breastfeeding, intake should be discussed with a doctor beforehand.

1. Keller J. L. et al. (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, 16:3.

2. Pingali U., Nutalapati C. (2022): Investigation of a standardised Shilajit extract in postmenopausal women with osteopenia. Phytomedicine.

3. Pandit S. et al. (2016): Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers. Andrologia, 48(5), 570–575.