Supplement

Shilajit as a Dietary Supplement Ingredient

Shilajit in mineral form

What is shilajit?

  • Shilajit is a blackish-brown, tar-like liquid that seeps from sedimentary rocks around the world. 

  • It develops from decomposing plant and animal matter and can contain minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, and heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury.

  • It has been used for centuries in Aryuvedic medicine in South Asia and across other cultures to treat both physical and mental health conditions such as joint inflammation, wounds, muscle wasting, epilepsy, stomach disorders, diabetes, and impotence. 

What are the marketed uses?

  • Shilajit is marketed to enhance energy and vitality, stamina and endurance, and memory and mental performance. It is commonly sold as a paste, powder, tablets, or capsules.

  • Shilajit extract, which is obtained by washing and filtering debris and impurities from raw shilajit, has been found in products marketed as testosterone-boosters.

  • Shilajit, when marketed as a dietary supplement, is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition.

Is there any truth to the marketing claims?

The effectiveness of shilajit for human use has not been thoroughly evaluated. There is very little information from well-designed, independent research studies to support the marketing claims made about shilajit products. 

  • Studies on the effectiveness of shilajit have been mostly limited to rats and mice. Only a few, small studies involved humans.

  • Some study results could be biased because funding for these studies came from dietary supplement companies selling shilajit products. 

Can shilajit negatively affect health and performance?

Shilajit consumption has been a suspected cause of several adverse effects, including life-threatening allergic reactions, increased blood pressure, disorientation, dizziness, and cognitive disorder. 

Although research studies on using up to 500 mg of shilajit extract suggest that it may be safe for short-term use, possible exposure to heavy metals is a concern.

  • The presence of heavy metals, regardless of amount, in shilajit is particularly concerning. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has indicated that accumulation of heavy metals in the body can have harmful health effects. 

  • Without laboratory testing, there is no way to know the actual ingredients (or their amounts) in a shilajit product and whether the product is free of heavy metals. Check the label to see if the product has a third-party certification seal from NSF Certified Sport, Informed Sport, BSCG Certified Drug Free, or USP.

Conclusion

Service Members should exercise caution in choosing shilajit products. 

Posted 17 September 2024