Shilajit (Expanded) for Testosterone Support

Research suggests that shilajit may support testosterone levels and related hormonal markers in men, with the most direct human evidence coming from two randomized controlled trials — one in healthy middle-aged men and one in infertile men — both of which reported increases in testosterone alongside improvements in other reproductive or hormonal parameters over 90-day supplementation periods. A small open-label pilot study also reported physical performance benefits in healthy men, and two animal studies provide mechanistic support, suggesting shilajit may have androgenic properties and protective effects against testicular damage caused by toxic or chemotherapeutic agents, though findings from mouse models cannot be directly applied to humans. A 2024 systematic review of testosterone-boosting supplements found that most such products fail to meaningfully raise testosterone compared to placebo, and notably did not single out shilajit as among the more evidence-supported options, which adds important context to the individual positive findings. Overall, the human evidence is promising but limited in scope — the supporting RCTs are small, short-term, and conducted by a narrow set of research groups — so larger, independent trials are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.