Shilajit Benefits for Men: What the Research Shows, Dosage and Heavy Metal Risks

Short answer: The best studied shilajit benefits for men are modest: one 90-day trial in men aged 45 to 55 found higher total testosterone on 500 mg a day of a purified extract, and an 8-week trial in young active men found less strength loss after fatiguing exercise at the same dose. Both trials were small and used one branded, purified extract, so they do not prove that any shilajit product will work. The bigger practical issue is purity: raw and poorly tested shilajit can carry heavy metals such as lead, arsenic and thallium, so a purified, third-party tested product is the only kind worth considering.

Key Takeaways

• Shilajit is a tar-like resin that forms in mountain rock as plant matter breaks down over very long periods. Its main studied compound is fulvic acid.
• Human evidence for men rests on a few small trials, mostly of a single purified extract at 500 mg per day. Most other shilajit research was done in animals or test tubes.
• Reported benefits in people are a rise in testosterone in middle-aged men and better strength retention during fatiguing exercise. Claims about memory, longevity, immunity and “stamina” are not well supported in humans.
• Heavy metal contamination is the main safety concern. Reviews and lab testing have found lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury and thallium in raw shilajit and in some finished supplements.
• Side effects reported include headache, dizziness, stomach upset, allergic reactions and a rise in blood pressure. People with heart, kidney, liver or blood pressure problems, and anyone on blood thinners, should speak to a doctor first.

What Is Shilajit?

Shilajit is a sticky, blackish brown substance that seeps from sedimentary rock, first harvested in the Himalayas and also found in other mountain ranges. It forms as plant and animal matter decomposes over centuries, and it is also sold under the names mineral pitch, mumijo and moomiyo.^[1][2] It has been part of Ayurvedic practice for a very long time, where it was used for joints, wounds, digestion, muscle wasting and male sexual function.^[2]

The compound most often discussed is fulvic acid, which microbes produce as they break down organic material.^[1] Shilajit can also contain minerals such as potassium, calcium and magnesium, and, unless it is cleaned and tested, heavy metals that came from the same rock.^[2]

Forms you will see for sale

Shilajit is sold as a resin or paste, powder, capsules, tablets, liquids and gummies, and it is often blended with herbs, adaptogens or minerals.^[1][2] “Purified” or “extract” products have been washed and filtered to remove debris and impurities.^[2] The human trials discussed below used a purified, standardized extract, not raw resin.

Shilajit Benefits for Men: What the Human Studies Show

The U.S. Department of Defense’s Operation Supplement Safety program sums up the evidence plainly: most research has been done in rats and mice, only a few small studies involved humans, and some of those human studies were funded by companies that sell shilajit.^[2] Cleveland Clinic physician Robert Saper, MD, describes the research as limited, mostly small studies with methodological problems, and not enough to justify clinical use.^[1] With that frame in mind, here is what the two most cited trials in men found.

Testosterone in middle-aged men

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in Andrologia, 75 healthy men aged 45 to 55 took 500 mg per day of a purified shilajit extract (PrimaVie) or a placebo for 90 days. At the end, the shilajit group’s total testosterone was about 20% higher and free testosterone about 19% higher, with changes in DHEAS also reported.^[3] This is the main source for most “shilajit raises testosterone” headlines.

The limits matter: it is a single trial of one branded extract in healthy men, not men diagnosed with low testosterone, and a rise in a lab number does not show that men will feel or perform differently. If you suspect low testosterone, the right first step is a blood test and a conversation with your doctor (see our guides to signs of low testosterone and normal testosterone levels).

Strength and fatigue during exercise

A trial published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition in 2019 randomized 63 recreationally active men (average age about 21) to 250 mg per day, 500 mg per day or placebo for 8 weeks.^[4] After a fatiguing exercise protocol, the 500 mg group lost about 8.9% of its maximal strength compared with about 17.0% on the low dose and 16.0% on placebo. The high-dose group also had lower serum hydroxyproline, a marker the authors linked to connective tissue turnover. The 250 mg dose did not differ from placebo.^[4]

Two caveats: the strongest results were reported for the upper half of participants based on baseline values, and these were young men, so the findings may not carry over to men in their 40s, 50s or 60s.^[4]

Fertility, energy and other claims

Older preliminary studies reported higher sperm counts, but Cleveland Clinic notes they are more than a decade old and had very small samples.^[1] Claims for immunity, inflammation, brain health, bone health and anti-aging come mostly from lab or animal work, and some findings point in both directions. For example, fulvic acid has shown both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects, and it may act as a pro-oxidant at high doses.^[1] The military’s supplement safety program concluded that little reliable evidence supports marketing claims for energy, vitality, stamina, endurance or mental performance.^[2]

Evidence at a Glance

How Shilajit Might Work

Proposed mechanisms center on fulvic acid, which shows antioxidant activity in lab settings but may act as a pro-oxidant at high doses.^[1] None has been confirmed in well-designed human studies, so treat them as hypotheses.

Shilajit Dosage: What Was Used in Studies

There is no official recommended dose, and Cleveland Clinic gives no dose or schedule, advising people to check with a physician first.^[1] The human trials used a purified extract at:

• 500 mg per day for 90 days in the testosterone trial in men aged 45 to 55.^[3]
• 250 mg or 500 mg per day for 8 weeks in the exercise trial, with only the 500 mg dose separating from placebo.^[4]

Research on up to 500 mg of shilajit extract suggests short-term safety, according to Operation Supplement Safety.^[2] That finding applies to purified, tested extract. It says nothing about raw resin, unlabeled products, or long-term use. Taking more than studied amounts also means more exposure to any contaminant a product carries.

Shilajit Side Effects and Heavy Metal Risk

Reported side effects

Side effects listed by Cleveland Clinic include sore throat, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, possible hormonal effects, and allergic reactions. One case report described pseudohyperaldosteronism, a pattern of high blood pressure, low potassium and metabolic alkalosis.^[1] Operation Supplement Safety lists suspected adverse effects including life-threatening allergic reactions, increased blood pressure, disorientation, dizziness and cognitive problems.^[2] Stop taking it if you notice unpleasant effects.^[1]

Heavy metals: the biggest concern

Because shilajit comes out of rock, it can carry whatever metals are in that rock. Cleveland Clinic cites a 2024 review that found raw shilajit often contains aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, thallium, lead and fungus.^[1] Operation Supplement Safety notes that lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury may be present and calls their presence a concern regardless of amount, since metals can build up in the body.^[2]

Thallium is a newer worry. A 2025 study in BMC Chemistry measured thallium in 13 crude shilajit samples from Iran, India, Nepal, Russia and Kyrgyzstan and in commercial shilajit supplements bought online.^[5] Thallium was found in most crude samples and in all but one supplement, and three supplements contained more thallium per gram than the most contaminated raw sample. None of the supplement labels listed heavy metal content.^[5]

To keep this in proportion: the authors estimated that two tablets a day of the worst product would supply about 0.19 micrograms of thallium, well below the thresholds they cited. They still warned that long-term use could lead to buildup in the kidneys and bones, and they called for routine testing and safe limits for these products.^[5] The honest takeaway is that shilajit products vary widely, and you cannot know what is in a jar without a batch test.

How to lower the risk if you choose to try it

• Avoid raw or “wild harvested” resin sold without lab results.
• Choose a purified extract with a batch-specific certificate of analysis (COA) that includes a heavy metal panel.^[1]
• Look for independent certification such as NSF Certified for Sport, Informed Sport, BSCG or USP.^[2] Our guide to third-party tested supplements explains what these seals cover.
• Remember that even testing is not foolproof, so stay within studied amounts and do not use it indefinitely without a check-in with your doctor.^[1]

Who Should Avoid Shilajit or Talk to a Doctor First

Cleveland Clinic advises that the following people avoid shilajit or speak with a clinician before using it:^[1]

• People with heart disease or blood pressure problems
• People with clotting or bleeding disorders, or who take blood thinners
• People with diabetes, liver disease or kidney disease
• People with overactive immune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or mast cell activation syndrome
• People with hemochromatosis (iron overload)
• Couples trying to conceive, and anyone pregnant or breastfeeding
• Children

Because supplements are not approved by the FDA before sale, the label alone does not tell you what a product contains.^[1] If you take prescription medicine, bring the product and its COA to your doctor or pharmacist before you start.

Where Ultra Bann Fits

Ultra Bann is a natural male vitality supplement by DL Bioproducts, and it is a different kind of product. Shilajit is not one of its ingredients. Each serving contains seven botanicals with every amount printed on the label and no proprietary blend: Thai Butea superba 345 mg, Panax ginseng 110 mg, Cynomorium songaricum 85 mg, black ginger (Kaempferia parviflora) 85 mg, tongkat ali 85 mg, epimedium (horny goat weed) 45 mg and reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) 45 mg, for a total of 800 mg. The serving is one capsule every 2 days.

You can review the full label on our Ultra Bann ingredients page, and our article on tongkat ali side effects covers one of its botanicals in detail. First orders include free US shipping and a 60-day money-back guarantee. If you want to learn more, visit the Ultra Bann shop. As with any supplement, check with your doctor first if you have a health condition or take medication.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does shilajit really increase testosterone?

One randomized trial of 75 healthy men aged 45 to 55 found about 20% higher total testosterone after 90 days on 500 mg per day of a purified extract.^[3] That is a promising signal, but it is one small study of one branded product, and it has not been widely repeated. It does not show that shilajit treats low testosterone, which needs a medical diagnosis.

Is shilajit safe to take every day?

Short-term research on up to 500 mg per day of purified extract suggests it is reasonably safe for healthy adults.^[2] Long-term daily safety has not been well studied, and the main risk is contamination with heavy metals, which can accumulate over time.^[1][5] Only use tested products and talk to your doctor if you plan to take it for months.

How long does shilajit take to work?

The human trials measured results after 8 weeks for exercise outcomes and 90 days for hormone levels.^[3][4] There is no good evidence for effects within days.

Does shilajit contain heavy metals?

Raw shilajit often does, including lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury and thallium, and testing has found thallium in some finished supplements too.^[1][5] Purification lowers the risk, but only a batch-specific certificate of analysis with a heavy metal panel tells you what a given product contains.

Who should not take shilajit?

People with heart disease, blood pressure problems, bleeding disorders, diabetes, liver or kidney disease, autoimmune conditions or iron overload, people on blood thinners, children, and anyone pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive should avoid it or get medical advice first.^[1]

References

1. Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials. A Quick Introduction to Shilajit (with Robert Saper, MD, MPH). March 2025. health.clevelandclinic.org/shilajit-benefits
2. Operation Supplement Safety (OPSS), U.S. Department of Defense. Shilajit: dietary supplement ingredient. September 2024. opss.org
3. Pandit S, Biswas S, Jana U, De RK, Mukhopadhyay SC, Biswas TK. Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers. Andrologia. doi:10.1111/and.12482. Summary: NutraIngredients, October 2015
4. The effects of Shilajit supplementation on fatigue-induced decreases in muscular strength and serum hydroxyproline levels. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. February 2019. DOAJ record
5. Kamgar E, Zembrzuska J, Zembrzuski W, Kaykhaii M. Quantifying of thallium in Shilajit and its supplements to unveil the potential risk of consumption of this popular traditional medicine. BMC Chemistry. 2025;19:20. doi:10.1186/s13065-025-01384-7

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This article is for information only and is not medical advice.