Shilajit is a sticky, tar-like substance that oozes from rocks in mountainous regions of Asia. It has a long history of use in traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda, where it is prized as a rejuvenating tonic and cure-all remedy. Modern research is now beginning to validate some of shilajit’s purported health benefits. In this blog post, I’ll break down the key takeaways from three recent studies examining the potential of shilajit supplementation in animal models and humans.
Study 1 – Shilajit and Thrombocytopenia
The first study looked at whether shilajit could protect against carboplatin-induced thrombocytopenia and oxidative stress in rats. Carboplatin is a chemotherapy drug that can cause thrombocytopenia, or low platelet counts, as a side effect. This study found that:
- Rats given carboplatin at 60 mg/kg showed the most significant decrease in platelets, indicating this was an effective dose to induce thrombocytopenia.
- Rats given shilajit at doses of 200 or 800 mg/kg after carboplatin had slightly higher platelet counts compared to rats only given carboplatin. However, the difference was not statistically significant.
- Shilajit supplementation significantly increased antioxidant activity in the carboplatin-treated rats in a dose-dependent manner. Markers of oxidative stress like glutathione and antioxidant enzymes increased, while malondialdehyde, a marker of lipid peroxidation, decreased.
The researchers concluded that shilajit exhibits potent antioxidant effects that help mitigate carboplatin-induced oxidative stress. However, more research is needed to determine if it can significantly protect against carboplatin-induced thrombocytopenia. The lack of a statistically significant increase in platelets indicates shilajit may not be very effective for treating low platelet counts, at least at the doses given in this study. But the antioxidant effects are very promising.
Study 2 – Shilajit for Diabetes and Lipid Profile
The second study looked at the effects of shilajit supplementation on blood glucose and lipid profile in normal and diabetic rats. The key findings were:
- Shilajit supplementation for 4 weeks at doses of 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg significantly lowered blood glucose levels in both normal and diabetic rats in a dose-dependent manner.
- When given with anti-diabetic drugs glibenclamide or metformin, shilajit (100 mg/kg) further enhanced the glucose-lowering effect compared to the drugs alone.
- Shilajit also markedly improved lipid profiles in diabetic rats by lowering cholesterol and triglycerides while increasing HDL cholesterol.
Based on these results, the researchers concluded that shilajit has anti-diabetic and hypolipidemic effects that could be useful in managing diabetes and preventing complications from dyslipidemia. The combination of shilajit with conventional diabetes drugs resulted in greater efficacy, indicating it may have a synergistic effect.
Study 3 – Clinical Evaluation of Shilajit
The third study was a clinical trial examining the effects of purified shilajit (PrimaVie) supplementation in 60 healthy adult humans. The participants took 250 mg shilajit twice daily for 90 days. The researchers found:
- Shilajit significantly increased levels of hemoglobin and red blood cells in the subjects after 90 days compared to baseline.
- Shilajit improved exercise performance by increasing activity time and metabolic equivalents during exercise.
- Supplementation increased ATP levels by 14% and cellular energy by 15% after exercise.
- Shilajit was well-tolerated with no reported adverse effects.
This study demonstrated shilajit supplementation can boost hemoglobin, improve energy production, and enhance exercise performance in healthy adults. The researchers concluded that shilajit shows potential as an energizer and ergogenic aid without apparent toxicity at the dose and duration examined.
The Good
- All three studies showed beneficial effects of shilajit in the various parameters examined like blood cells, glucose, lipids, energy, and exercise performance. The results indicate shilajit has antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-fatigue, and ergogenic properties that could be useful therapeutically.
- Shilajit demonstrated favorable synergistic effects when combined with conventional drug treatments like the antidiabetic medications metformin and glibenclamide.
- Animal toxicity studies found no adverse effects on organ function, pregnancy, or embryos at doses up to 1g/kg, indicating a high safety profile. The human clinical trial also reported no side effects at doses up to 500 mg/day in adults.
The Bad
- The first study found shilajit failed to significantly increase platelet counts compared to carboplatin alone, bringing into question its efficacy for treating thrombocytopenia. The antioxidant effects were more prominent.
- All the studies were relatively small with 6-8 animals per treatment group or 60 human subjects. Larger, more robust randomized controlled trials in humans are needed.
- The human study lacked a placebo control group for comparison. The effects could be influenced by additional factors not controlled for.
- Variability in shilajit composition and purity between sources may cause inconsistencies in therapeutic effects. Standardization and quality control is necessary.
The Unknown
- Optimal dosing in humans is not well established, with animal studies using substantially higher doses than human trials. Long-term safety of prolonged high-dose shilajit intake needs investigation.
- The compounds and mechanisms responsible for shilajit’s biological effects are not fully characterized. It’s unclear which components are necessary for efficacy.
- Potential drug interactions between shilajit and other medications like anticoagulants, blood thinners, etc are unknown currently and need to be studied.
- How shilajit compares to or combines with other herbal supplements like ashwagandha, turmeric, or ginseng remains uninvestigated.
The Most Interesting Findings
To me, the most intriguing results were shilajit’s apparent effects on energy metabolism and exercise performance in the human clinical trial.
The researchers found increased ATP generation, better oxygen utilization, and increased activity times and metabolic equivalents during exercise after shilajit supplementation – changes you would expect to see with an ergogenic aid like creatine.
Yet creatine and most mainstream exercise supplements work by providing precursor molecules that assist energy production in muscle tissue. The mechanisms behind shilajit’s apparent anti-fatigue effects are still unclear.
The combination of evidence from animal models and this small human trial suggests shilajit is doing something unique and different from conventional exercise supplements. Identifying shilajit’s active compounds and unraveling how it improves energy, stamina, and physical performance could reveal valuable insights into mitochondrial biology and metabolism.
The potential application as a natural exercise enhancer with antioxidant benefits is intriguing and merits more rigorous investigation in athletes and active individuals. If the results hold up, shilajit could become a sought-after supplement for sports nutrition.
Conclusion
In summary, recent studies provide preliminary evidence that shilajit has antioxidant, anti-diabetic, ergogenic and other beneficial effects that support its traditional use as a rejuvenating tonic. However, larger scale clinical trials and more research establishing optimal dose, safety, mechanisms of action, and vs. other herbal supplements is warranted before definitive conclusions can be made. The early findings are promising, but shilajit’s place in modern medicine still needs to be established.
The unique combination of mineral pitch from high mountain rocks and the array of bioactive compounds it contains make shilajit unlike any other natural supplement. More research is justified to fully evaluate the potential of shilajit and reveal the mysteries behind this ancient medicine. If substantiated, it could provide a complementary therapy or natural performance enhancer of considerable value. The key is rigorously validating traditional claims with modern science.
