What Is Shilajit? Formation, Composition & What the Research Says

Shilajit is a thick, tar-like exudate that seeps from cracks in mountain rock at high altitude. It has been used in Ayurvedic and Central Asian traditional medicine for over 3,000 years — and in the past two decades has attracted serious attention from pharmacologists studying its bioactive compounds.

How Shilajit Forms

Shilajit is not mined like a mineral or harvested like a plant. It is the end product of millions of years of geological and biological pressure. Organic material — largely plant matter, microbial biomass, and humus — becomes compressed between rock strata in high-altitude mountain ranges. Under extreme pressure and temperature, this material undergoes a slow humification process that transforms it into a dense, resinous matrix rich in humic substances.

During warmer months, the resin softens and migrates through fractures in the rock, emerging as a dark, semi-solid exudate. This is what is collected, then typically purified before sale. Altitude plays a role in composition: deposits above 3,000 metres tend to have higher concentrations of bioactive compounds because the overlying organic material is denser and less exposed to degradation.

Key Compounds

Fulvic Acid

Fulvic acid is the most researched bioactive in shilajit. It is a low-molecular-weight humic substance that acts as a natural electrolyte and mineral chelator — meaning it binds to minerals and other molecules and assists their transport across cell membranes. This is thought to be the mechanism behind many of shilajit's mineral-delivery properties. Genuine shilajit typically contains 15–20% fulvic acid by dry weight, though this varies significantly by source and purification method.

See our full explainer: What Is Fulvic Acid? The Primary Bioactive in Shilajit.

Dibenzo-α-Pyrones (DBPs)

DBPs are a class of molecules unique to shilajit, not found in other humic substances. They appear to interact with mitochondrial energy production pathways and have been the subject of research into cognitive support. Ghosal et al. first characterized these compounds in a series of papers in the 1990s that remain the biochemical foundation for much of the subsequent shilajit literature.

Humic Acid, Minerals & Trace Elements

Beyond fulvic acid and DBPs, shilajit contains humic acid (higher molecular weight than fulvic acid, less bioavailable), plant-derived amino acids, phenolic compounds, and over 80 ionic minerals — including iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, and selenium — in their ionic form, which is thought to improve absorption compared with standard mineral supplements.

What the Clinical Research Shows

The honest picture is this: shilajit has a robust body of in-vitro and animal research, a smaller body of human clinical trials, and a large volume of brand-funded studies. The strongest human evidence is in three areas:

• Testosterone and male reproductive health. A randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial published in Andrologia (2016) found that 250 mg of purified shilajit twice daily for 90 days significantly increased total testosterone, free testosterone, and DHEAS in healthy male volunteers aged 45–55. Pandit S et al., Andrologia 2016.
• Fatigue and physical performance. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that 200 mg of shilajit twice daily reduced markers of chronic fatigue syndrome and improved muscle recovery. Surapaneni DK et al., J Ethnopharmacol 2012.
• Cognitive function. A systematic review and lab research suggest DBPs may inhibit tau protein aggregation relevant to Alzheimer's pathology, though human trials are still limited. Carrasco-Gallardo C et al., Int J Alzheimers Dis 2012.

A comprehensive safety and efficacy review by Stohs (2014) concluded that purified shilajit is generally safe at studied doses, but noted that unpurified or adulterated products carry significant risk due to heavy metal content. Stohs SJ, Phytother Res 2014.

What the Research Does Not Support (Yet)

Many popular health claims — anti-ageing effects, fertility in women, liver detoxification, bone healing — rest on animal studies or traditional use rather than controlled human trials. This does not mean they are false, but buyers should weigh confidence levels appropriately. Traditional use over millennia is meaningful evidence, particularly for safety, but it is not equivalent to a randomised controlled trial for efficacy.

Quality Depends on Purity and Source

Raw shilajit can contain heavy metals, mycotoxins, and microbial contamination. Authentic, purified shilajit that passes third-party laboratory testing is a different product from an untested resin sold on a marketplace. The composition of the final product is determined by three variables: the geology of the source deposit, the purification method, and whether that purification has been independently verified.

This is precisely why a public Certificate of Analysis from a named laboratory is the most important thing to look for when buying.