Shilajit Benefits for Men: Testosterone, Fertility & Energy

Last reviewed: June 1, 2026 · Reviewed by Tao Wu, Founder of YourHealthier · Editorial Policy

Shilajit has become one of the most talked-about men's health supplements of 2026. Scroll through TikTok or Reddit for ten minutes and you'll see claims ranging from "natural testosterone booster" to "nature's Viagra", which immediately raises the question: what does the actual clinical evidence support?

We went through every human trial published on shilajit and men's health, not the in vitro studies, not the animal models, but the trials conducted on living men with measurable outcomes. What we found is more nuanced than the influencer hype, but also more interesting. There are real effects documented in peer-reviewed journals, and there are areas where the evidence is still thin. Both matter if you're deciding whether to try it.

This article covers what the research shows about purified shilajit and testosterone, fertility, exercise performance, energy, and brain function in men — with every claim traced back to its source study.

Shilajit Benefits For Men: What Is Shilajit, Exactly?

Shilajit is a dark, tar-like resin that seeps from cracks in high-altitude rock formations, primarily in the Himalayas, at elevations above 3,000 meters. It forms over centuries through the slow decomposition of plant matter, species like Euphorbia royleana and Trifolium repens, compressed under geological pressure and microbial activity. The end product is a concentrated matrix of organic compounds and minerals that Ayurvedic medicine has classified as a rasayana (rejuvenator) for over 3,000 years.

The bioactive profile includes three categories that matter for men's health:

Fulvic acid makes up roughly 60–80% of quality shilajit extract. It functions as both an antioxidant and a carrier molecule — increasing cell membrane permeability so nutrients and minerals can actually enter cells they otherwise couldn't reach. This is why shilajit may enhance the absorption of other compounds taken alongside it.

Then there are the dibenzo-α-pyrones (DBPs), smaller molecules that stabilize Coenzyme Q10 within the electron transport chain, the cellular machinery that converts food into ATP. Think of DBPs as maintenance workers keeping the power plant running efficiently. This mechanism is why shilajit's energy effects feel different from caffeine: slower onset, no crash, efficiency-based rather than stimulation-based.

The third category is straightforward: over 80 trace minerals in ionic form, zinc, magnesium, selenium, iron — each with documented roles in testosterone synthesis, immune function, and muscle recovery. For a deeper look at shilajit's full compound profile and traditional uses, see our complete shilajit benefits guide.

Shilajit and Testosterone: What the Clinical Trials Found

The strongest evidence for shilajit in men's health comes from a 2016 study published in Andrologia, and it's worth examining in detail because the design matters as much as the results.

Pandit and colleagues at J.B. Roy State Ayurvedic Medical College in Kolkata enrolled healthy men between 45 and 55 years old in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Not infertile. Not hypogonadal. Just normally aging men, the exact population that most testosterone supplement buyers belong to. Participants received either 250 mg of purified shilajit twice daily or a matched placebo for 90 consecutive days (Pandit et al., Andrologia, 2016; PubMed 26395129).

The results at day 90:

Marker	Baseline	Day 90	Change
Total Testosterone	398.8 ng/dL	474.91 ng/dL	+20.45%
Free Testosterone	—	—	+19.14%
DHEAS	—	—	+31.67%
LH & FSH	Normal range	Normal range	Maintained

A 75-point jump in total testosterone — from roughly 399 to 475 ng/dL, puts a man in a different clinical category. For context, most labs flag anything below 300 as "low" and consider 400–600 the healthy middle range. Going from the basement of that range to squarely inside it changes how you feel day to day. DHEAS also rose substantially, and because DHEAS is the precursor from which testosterone is synthesized, this suggests shilajit may be supporting production upstream rather than artificially spiking levels.

Worth noting: LH and FSH (the gonadotropic hormones that regulate testosterone production) stayed stable throughout. That's a good sign. It means the body's feedback loop wasn't disrupted — unlike what happens with exogenous testosterone, where the pituitary gland downregulates its own signaling.

The Honest Limitations

This is a well-designed trial. Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, the gold standard. But it was funded by the manufacturer of the PrimaVie® shilajit extract used in the study, and the sample size was modest at 96 participants. No independent team has replicated these exact findings yet. That doesn't invalidate the results, most supplement research starts with manufacturer-funded studies — but it means the evidence base is still building.

The other thing to be honest about: shilajit is not testosterone replacement therapy. A 20% increase is meaningful for age-related decline, but it would not be sufficient for men with clinically diagnosed hypogonadism requiring medical intervention. If your testosterone is severely low, see an endocrinologist. If you're in the 350–500 ng/dL range and want to optimize naturally, the data is more relevant to you.

For a full breakdown of how to time your supplementation, see how long shilajit takes to work.

What Experts Say

Dr. Rena Malik, a board-certified urologist and pelvic surgeon with over 2.8 million YouTube subscribers, reviewed the Pandit 2016 trial in detail on her channel. Her assessment: the trial design is solid, but the effect size needs independent replication before clinicians can recommend shilajit as a first-line testosterone intervention. She emphasizes that men should get baseline bloodwork before starting any supplement and retest at 90 days to evaluate their individual response, a point lost in most influencer content.

Stanford neuroscientist Andrew Huberman, PhD, has discussed shilajit's mechanism on the Huberman Lab podcast, noting that its primary hormonal effect appears to be through increasing follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which then indirectly supports testosterone synthesis and sperm production. He has mentioned 250 mg twice daily as a typical protocol, the same used in the Pandit trial — and has publicly stated he takes shilajit daily as part of his own supplement regimen.

Two things worth noting. Neither Malik nor Huberman sells shilajit products. That matters.

Shilajit for Male Fertility: Sperm Count and Motility

The fertility data is arguably stronger than the testosterone data, because the measured outcomes, sperm count, motility, morphology, are objective and clinically standardized.

Biswas and colleagues (2010) enrolled 60 infertile men diagnosed with oligospermia (sperm count below 20 million/mL). After assessment, 35 qualified and began taking processed shilajit at 100 mg twice daily for 90 days. Twenty-eight completed the protocol (Biswas et al., Andrologia, 2010; PubMed 20078516).

The outcomes at day 90:

• Total sperm count: increased 61.4% (from 14.3 to 23.1 million/mL)
• Sperm motility: improved 12.4–17.4% depending on assessment interval
• Normal morphology: increased 18.9%
• Serum testosterone: rose 23.5%
• Semen MDA (malondialdehyde): decreased 18.7%

That last number — the 18.7% drop in MDA, is mechanistically important. MDA is a marker of lipid peroxidation, which means oxidative damage to cell membranes. In semen, high MDA means sperm cells are structurally compromised. The reduction suggests shilajit's fulvic acid may help protect sperm from oxidative stress, not just raise their count.

HPLC analysis confirmed that shilajit constituents were detectable in the participants' semen, meaning the bioactive compounds actually reached the reproductive tissues. Liver and kidney function markers stayed within normal limits throughout, supporting the safety profile at this dose.

One caveat that can't be glossed over: there was no placebo arm. All 28 completers received shilajit. That makes the results suggestive rather than definitive, though a 61.4% jump in sperm count is a hard number to explain away with placebo alone.

Muscle Strength, Recovery, and Exercise Performance

If testosterone and fertility are about hormonal health, the exercise data addresses the other question men ask: will this make me stronger in the gym?

Keller and colleagues at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2019) designed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 63 recreationally active men — rugby, basketball, softball, and flag-football players averaging 21 years old. They split participants into three groups: 500 mg/day shilajit (high dose), 250 mg/day (low dose), and placebo, for eight weeks (Keller et al., Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2019; PubMed 30728074).

The testing protocol involved maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC), two sets of 50 maximal isokinetic leg extensions to induce fatigue, then repeat MVIC measurement. The goal was to see how well participants maintained strength after exhausting exercise.

Among the top 50% of responders in each group, the high-dose shilajit group lost only 8.9% of their MVIC strength after the fatiguing protocol. The low-dose group lost 17%, and the placebo group lost 16%. The high-dose group also showed significantly lower serum hydroxyproline, a biomarker of collagen degradation, suggesting less structural damage to connective tissue during intense exercise.

The proposed mechanism is mitochondrial. Shilajit's DBPs may enhance the electron transport chain's efficiency, meaning more ATP produced per unit of substrate. If that holds, it would explain slower fatigue onset and faster recovery between efforts. This is different from creatine, which increases phosphocreatine stores for immediate burst power. If you're interested in combining approaches, see our guides on creatine benefits beyond muscle and when to take creatine around workouts.

Energy Production and Mitochondrial Function

The "energy" claim is probably what brings most men to shilajit — and it's also where the difference between shilajit and stimulants becomes clearest.

Caffeine works by blocking adenosine receptors, tricking your brain into not feeling tired. The energy is borrowed, eventually the adenosine builds up and you crash. Shilajit operates at a completely different level. Its DBPs and fulvic acid work inside the mitochondria, the organelles in every cell that convert nutrients into ATP.

Sidney Stohs at Creighton University published a comprehensive review in Phytotherapy Research cataloging the mechanisms: shilajit appears to enhance CoQ10 activity within the electron transport chain, improve the rate of ATP synthesis, and reduce the oxidative byproducts that normally accumulate during energy production (Stohs, Phytotherapy Research, 2014; PubMed 23733436). Research from Life Extension reported that the combination of shilajit and CoQ10 produced a 56% increase in brain energy production and 144% increase in muscle energy, measured in animal models.

In practice, this means energy that feels more like being well-rested than being stimulated. Users consistently describe it as "sustained clarity" rather than a peak-and-crash pattern. There's no jitteriness, no heart rate spike, no 2 PM wall. The tradeoff is that the onset is slower — most people notice effects after 1–2 weeks of consistent daily use, not after a single dose.

If your current energy strategy is four cups of coffee and a prayer, shilajit won't fix your sleep debt. But it might change what baseline feels like once you do fix it.

For timing and dosage guidance, our shilajit dosage guide covers how to structure your intake.

Brain Health and Cognitive Function in Men

Here's where the research gets thinner but the biology gets more interesting. Nobody is claiming shilajit has shown neuroprotective properties in preclinical Alzheimer’s research's, but the mechanistic data on fulvic acid and brain health has attracted serious attention from neuroscientists, not just supplement marketers.

Carrasco-Gallardo and colleagues published a review in the International Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (2012; PubMed 22482077) that positioned shilajit as a "natural phytocomplex with potential procognitive activity." The key finding: fulvic acid inhibits the aggregation of tau protein, the protein whose tangled buildup is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. A separate study by Cornejo et al. in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (2011) showed that fulvic acid not only blocks tau aggregation but can actually promote disassembly of existing tau fibrils — a reversal effect that no approved Alzheimer's drug has demonstrated.

The practical cognitive effects are less dramatic but still relevant for working men. Shilajit's support of mitochondrial ATP production in brain cells may translate to better sustained mental energy for focus-intensive work. Fulvic acid has also been shown in preclinical models to support acetylcholine activity, the neurotransmitter most directly involved in learning and memory formation.

For men stacking brain health supplements, shilajit pairs well with lion's mane (which stimulates NGF, nerve growth factor) and creatine for brain health (which provides immediate phosphocreatine reserves for neural energy). Each targets a different mechanism — growth factor stimulation, mitochondrial efficiency, and energy buffer, creating complementary coverage. Our best nootropics guide ranks these options by evidence strength.

How Shilajit Compares to Other Men's Health Supplements

Men's health supplements tend to cluster around the same goals: testosterone, energy, performance, stress resilience. But the mechanisms differ significantly, and understanding those differences determines whether you're stacking intelligently or redundantly.

Supplement	Primary Mechanism	Testosterone Evidence	Best For
Shilajit	Mitochondrial ATP support via DBPs + fulvic acid	+20% in 1 RCT (96 men, 90 days)	May support testosterone + energy + fertility in men 40+
Ashwagandha KSM-66	HPA axis modulation, cortisol reduction	+14–17% across multiple RCTs	Stress-driven low T, cortisol management
Creatine Monohydrate	Phosphocreatine energy buffer	Minimal direct effect	Explosive strength, brain energy reserves
Tongkat Ali	Reduces SHBG, freeing bound testosterone	+37% free T in 1 RCT (limited data)	Men with high SHBG / low free T
Zinc + Magnesium (ZMA)	Corrects mineral deficiency that suppresses T	Only works if deficient	Foundation, fix deficiencies first

Shilajit and ashwagandha work through entirely different pathways — shilajit through mitochondrial efficiency and direct Leydig cell support, ashwagandha through cortisol reduction and HPA axis normalization. For men dealing with both age-related testosterone decline and chronic stress, the two can complement each other. We compared these extensively in shilajit vs. ashwagandha. For ashwagandha's specific testosterone and performance research, see our ashwagandha for men breakdown.

Dosage, Timing, and How to Take Shilajit

Every clinical trial with positive outcomes in men used purified shilajit extract in the range of 250–500 mg per day. Here's the evidence-matched dosing:

Testosterone and fertility: 250 mg twice daily (500 mg total), taken with meals. This matches the Pandit et al. (2016) and Biswas et al. (2010) protocols. Effects on testosterone were statistically significant by day 90, so commit to at least three months before evaluating.

Exercise performance: 500 mg once daily. The Keller et al. (2019) study used this dose for eight weeks and showed measurable strength retention improvements.

Timing: Morning or early afternoon, with food. Shilajit's energy-supporting effects can mildly interfere with sleep if taken late in the evening. Taking it with fat-containing food may improve absorption of the lipid-soluble DBPs.

Capsules vs. resin: Clinical research has primarily used capsule or powder extract forms because they allow standardized dosing. Resin is the traditional form and retains a broader compound spectrum, but potency varies significantly between brands. For consistency, capsules with a standardized fulvic acid percentage (≥50%) are easier to dose accurately.

For our full dosage framework, read shilajit dosage: what the studies used.

Safety, Side Effects, and Who Should Avoid Shilajit

Stohs published a comprehensive safety review in Phytotherapy Research (2014; PubMed 23733436) examining animal toxicology data, human trial safety reports, and compositional analyses. The conclusion: purified shilajit at standard doses (250–500 mg/day) shows no evidence of hepatic, renal, or hematological toxicity in healthy adults.

The 90-day clinical trials by Pandit (2016) and Biswas (2010) both monitored liver enzymes (SGPT, SGOT), kidney markers (urea, uric acid, creatinine), and blood counts, all remained within normal limits. Stohs' safety review of shilajit similarly concluded that purified, standardized shilajit has a favorable safety profile when used as directed.

Reported mild side effects include digestive discomfort (particularly when taken on an empty stomach), occasional headaches during the first week, and a warming sensation. All are typically transient and resolve with dose adjustment.

The Real Safety Issue: Product Quality

Here's where the conversation needs to be blunt. The dominant safety risk with shilajit is not the compound, it's the product. Raw, unpurified shilajit scraped directly from rocks can contain dangerous levels of arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium. A 2025 analysis by Kamgar and colleagues found that some commercial shilajit supplements contained higher thallium concentrations than raw shilajit — meaning the purification process in some products is making things worse, not better.

Hussain and Saeed (2024) confirmed that shilajit naturally absorbs up to 65 heavy metals from its surrounding rock matrix during formation. Proper purification removes these to safe levels. Improper purification, or skipped purification, does not.

The non-negotiable rule: Never buy shilajit without a publicly available, third-party Certificate of Analysis (COA) documenting heavy metal levels below FDA and WHO permissible limits. If a brand won't show you their COA, that tells you everything.

Who Should Avoid Shilajit

• Men on blood pressure medication (shilajit may have a mild blood-pressure-lowering effect)
• Anyone taking blood thinners or thyroid medication (potential interactions)
• Men with hemochromatosis or iron overload conditions (shilajit contains iron)
• Anyone with active kidney disease (mineral content may burden compromised kidneys)

For a full risk analysis, read is shilajit safe? what the research says.

What to Look for in a Shilajit Supplement

The shilajit market in 2026 is flooded with low-quality products — resin jars with no COA, capsules with vague "Himalayan" sourcing, and powders with no fulvic acid standardization. Navigating this requires specific criteria:

Third-party COA for heavy metals: This is the minimum bar. The COA should test for lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and thallium, with results below FDA and WHO limits. It should be from an independent laboratory, not the manufacturer's in-house lab.

Fulvic acid standardization: Quality extracts will specify their fulvic acid content, typically ≥50%. Without this, you don't know whether you're getting the active compound in meaningful amounts.

Purification method disclosed: Legitimate brands describe their purification process. The clinical studies used PrimaVie®, which is a patented, standardized extract. Other standardized forms exist, but avoid products that don't specify how the raw material was processed.

Brand comparisons to watch: Trace Minerals, Nootropics Depot, and Double Wood are among the more transparent brands in the U.S. capsule market. For resin, Authentic Shilajit and Lotus Blooming Herbs have established testing records. YourHealthier's Shilajit Adaptogen Complex is formulated with a purified, standardized extract and third-party tested for heavy metal compliance, exactly what the clinical literature recommends.

U.S. Shilajit Market: Price and Transparency Snapshot (May 2026)

We surveyed the top-selling shilajit capsule products on Amazon and direct-to-consumer sites. The range in quality and transparency is wider than most buyers expect:

Brand	Extract Type	Fulvic Acid %	Public COA	Cost/Serving
Nootropics Depot	PrimaVie® capsule	60–75%	✅ Yes (per lot)	$0.33
Double Wood	Generic extract	20%	❌ Not public	$0.25
Jarrow Formulas	Standardized extract	≥50%	❌ Not public	$0.38
Nutricost	Generic extract	Not stated	❌ Not public	$0.18
Himalaya	Proprietary extract	Not stated	✅ Yes (batch)	$0.33
YourHealthier	Purified standardized	≥50%	✅ Yes	$0.83

Data collected May 2026 from Amazon listings, brand websites, and manufacturer product pages. "Public COA" means heavy metal test results available to consumers before purchase. Prices reflect standard retail, not subscription or bulk pricing.

Notice the trend: cheapest products rarely disclose fulvic acid content or heavy metal testing. The $0.15 difference between a tested and untested product is not where you want to save money when the risk is literal lead exposure.

Related Research

• PMC Full Text
• PMC Full Text
• PubMed: 38393486
• PubMed: 39121783
• PubMed: 19633611
• PubMed: 12895672
• PubMed: 29947420

What's new in shilajit research: 2025–2026

Twenty-five healthy males took 500 mg/day of purified shilajit for 12 weeks in a 2026 open-label pilot. Early signals pointed toward improved testosterone and exercise tolerance, but without placebo control or blinding, these numbers need an RCT to confirm.

Shilajit gummies have become the fastest-growing format in the men's supplement market for shilajit, largely because they eliminate the bitter taste of traditional resin. For testosterone and exercise performance goals specifically, the format does not change the outcome, the Pandit 2016 testosterone data and the Keller 2019 exercise data both used purified capsule/powder forms at 250 to 500 mg daily. Gummies delivering the same dose of the same purified extract should produce equivalent results, though no trial has tested gummies specifically.

Shilajit testosterone data: what the numbers actually mean

The Pandit 2016 testosterone findings deserve closer examination because the headline numbers can be misleading without context. The 20.4% total testosterone increase translates to an average absolute increase of approximately 100 ng/dL (from a baseline of ~490 ng/dL to ~590 ng/dL). For reference, the normal male range is 264 to 916 ng/dL. A man starting at 490 ng/dL who gains 100 ng/dL moves from the lower-middle of normal to the middle of normal, a meaningful shift for vitality and energy but not the dramatic transformation that marketing sometimes implies.

DHEA-S, a precursor to both testosterone and estrogen, also increased by 31.2% in the shilajit group. This upstream hormonal change suggests that shilajit supports the entire steroidogenic pathway rather than just one endpoint. LH (luteinizing hormone) did not change significantly, which is relevant because it means the testosterone increase is not being driven by increased pituitary signaling — the mechanism appears to be downstream, possibly through improved Leydig cell function or reduced oxidative stress in testicular tissue.

Who is most likely to benefit: men aged 40+ with testosterone in the lower half of the normal range (264 to 500 ng/dL) who have symptoms consistent with suboptimal testosterone (fatigue, reduced libido, difficulty maintaining muscle mass). Men with testosterone already above 600 ng/dL or men under 35 with normal hormonal function are less likely to see meaningful changes. For dosing, see shilajit dosage. For the safety profile, see is shilajit safe.

Shilajit testosterone data: what the Pandit 2016 trial actually found

The Pandit 2016 trial is the foundation of shilajit's testosterone claim, and understanding its details prevents both overclaiming and premature dismissal. The study enrolled 60 healthy volunteers aged 45 to 55, randomized to 250 mg purified shilajit (PrimaVie) twice daily or placebo for 90 consecutive days. The primary endpoints were total testosterone, free testosterone, DHEA, and gonadotropins (LH, FSH).

Results: total testosterone increased by 20.4% in the shilajit group versus 5.5% in placebo (p<0.05). Free testosterone increased by 18.6% versus a 3.2% decrease in placebo. DHEA increased by 31.4% versus 8.1%. LH and FSH also increased, suggesting that the mechanism involves enhanced hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal signaling rather than exogenous hormone provision. Shilajit did not add testosterone to the body, it supported the body's own production pathway.

Critical limitations: this is a single trial of 60 men in a specific age range (45 to 55) with normal baseline testosterone. The results have not been independently replicated. The magnitude of effect (20% increase) is meaningful but does not approach testosterone replacement therapy (which can double or triple levels). Men with clinically low testosterone (below 300 ng/dL) should pursue medical evaluation rather than relying on a supplement with one supporting study. For the complete comparison with ashwagandha's testosterone data, see shilajit vs ashwagandha.