Shilajit and energy: what the science says

Shilajit is often described as a "natural energy booster". But what does the scientific literature actually say? Here's an honest overview.

Cellular energy: the mitochondria lead

Our cells produce energy as ATP, mainly in the mitochondria. Preclinical work suggests that Shilajit's dibenzo-alpha-pyrones and fulvic acid may support mitochondrial function. These results come mostly from animal studies and need to be confirmed in humans.

Muscle fatigue

A randomised, double-blind study published in 2019 in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (Keller et al.) followed 63 active men for 8 weeks. Participants taking 500 mg/day of purified Shilajit retained their muscle strength better after a fatiguing protocol than the placebo group.

Vitality in men

A 2016 clinical study published in Andrologia (Pandit et al.) observed a significant increase in total testosterone versus placebo in men aged 45 to 55 taking 250 mg of purified Shilajit twice a day for 90 days.

Cognitive function

A review published in 2012 in the International Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (Carrasco-Gallardo et al.) explored the potential of fulvic acid on certain mechanisms linked to brain ageing. It's a research lead, not proof of efficacy.

Limitations to know

• Human clinical studies remain few and small;
• They use standardised extracts at specific doses, not every product on the market;
• The effects observed relate to the ingredient alone, not a complete formula.

Our approach

At Valterra, we prefer transparency to promises. We combine Shilajit with ashwagandha, ginger and honey — ingredients that have been studied in their own right — and we publish our sources on the Science page.