Condition
    Limited
    Effectiveness 3/5

    Shilajit for Low Testosterone (Male Hypogonadism)

    One 90-day randomized trial reported roughly a 20% increase in total testosterone with purified shilajit in men aged 45-55; replication is lacking.

    Overview

    One 90-day randomized trial reported roughly a 20% increase in total testosterone with purified shilajit in men aged 45-55; replication is lacking.

    Verdict

    Mixed evidence

    A single decent trial is intriguing but not enough — and product purity matters more here than in almost any other supplement.

    How It Works

    Dibenzo-alpha-pyrones support mitochondrial ATP production in Leydig cells, and preclinical work shows upregulation of steroidogenic enzyme expression, which could plausibly raise endogenous testosterone output.

    Dosing & Protocol

    Typical dose

    Recommended dose
    250mg purified shilajit twice daily, matching the trial protocol.
    Expected timeframe
    90 days

    Protocol

    form
    Purified, standardised shilajit stating fulvic acid content and tested for heavy metals - raw shilajit is a genuine contamination risk
    duration
    90 days, with a morning total testosterone measured at baseline and end
    co factor
    Take with food, morning and evening. Evidence is mixed: one small randomised trial in healthy men aged 45-55 reported roughly a 20% rise in total testosterone after 90 days at 250 mg twice daily, but it is a single study with a small sample, largely unreplicated, and industry-linked.
    titration
    500 mg/day is the dose studied; there is no support for going higher
    starting dose
    250 mg purified shilajit twice daily (500 mg/day) with food

    Evidence

    What the studies say

    The central study is a 2016 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 250mg purified shilajit twice daily for 90 days in 96 healthy men aged 45-55, which reported significant increases in total and free testosterone, DHEAS, and FSH versus placebo. A separate infertility study reported improved sperm parameters and testosterone after 90 days in oligospermic men. Both were conducted with the same commercial extract and have not been independently replicated by unrelated groups. Effect sizes were within the range that lifestyle variation alone can produce, and neither trial measured clinical endpoints such as libido, body composition, or mood with adequate power. Meanwhile analyses of raw shilajit repeatedly find arsenic, lead, and mercury above safe limits, making unpurified product a genuine hazard.

    Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers

    Score: 6/10
    2016
    rct
    n=96

    Pandit S, Biswas S, Jana U +3 more

    Purified shilajit 250 mg twice daily for 90 days significantly increased total and free testosterone versus placebo in healthy men aged 45 to 55.

    View source

    Safety

    Caveats

    Only use purified, third-party heavy-metal-tested product. Low testosterone with symptoms should be evaluated medically rather than self-treated.

    Less likely to help if

    Men with primary hypogonadism or pituitary disease, who need endocrinology assessment and replacement therapy.

    Medical Disclaimer

    The information provided on this website is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or before starting any supplement regimen.

    Individual results may vary. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products and information are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.