Supplement
Shilajit is a tar-like resin from mountain rock, used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine and thought to influence hormones involved in male fertility. People mostly look at it for low sperm count, and the evidence is limited: in a small trial of 60 men, follicle-stimulating hormone went up. Luteinizing hormone showed no clear difference, and one small study of 45 people found antioxidant enzymes went up, so the picture is early.
Sources: PMID 22557121
- Updated
- How we grade
- 2 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade C
- Conditions studied
- 5
- Outcomes
- 17
- Graded outcomes
- 0051
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
General Cardiovascular Health
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile Small Increase | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 1 study | 45 people | ||
Studies that measured anti-oxidant enzyme profile | ||||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile Small Increase | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 1 study | 45 people | ||
Studies that measured anti-oxidant enzyme profile | ||||||
Infertility
- Follicle-Stimulating Hormone: improves
- Luteinizing Hormone
- Oxidative Stress Biomarkers: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Small Increase | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 60 people | |||
| Luteinizing Hormone No effect | NoneNo effect | 60 people | ||||
| Oxidative Stress Biomarkers | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 60 people | |||
Studies that measured oxidative stress biomarkers | ||||||
| Sperm Quality | Improves (the measure goes up) | 60 people | ||||
| Testosterone | Improves (the measure goes up) | 60 people | ||||
Male Sexual Dysfunction
- Follicle-Stimulating Hormone: improves
- Oxidative Stress Biomarkers: changes; see studies
- Luteinizing Hormone: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Small Increase | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 60 people | |||
| Oxidative Stress Biomarkers | Changes; see studies | 1 study | 60 people | |||
Studies that measured oxidative stress biomarkers | ||||||
| Luteinizing Hormone | Improves (the measure goes up) | 60 people | ||||
| Sperm Quality | Improves (the measure goes up) | 60 people | ||||
| Testosterone | Improves (the measure goes up) | 60 people | ||||
Oligospermia
- Follicle-Stimulating Hormone: improves
- Oxidative Stress Biomarkers: changes; see studies
- Luteinizing Hormone: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Small Increase | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 60 people | |||
| Oxidative Stress Biomarkers | Changes; see studies | 1 study | 60 people | |||
Studies that measured oxidative stress biomarkers | ||||||
| Luteinizing Hormone | Improves (the measure goes up) | 60 people | ||||
| Sperm Quality | Improves (the measure goes up) | 60 people | ||||
| Testosterone | Improves (the measure goes up) | 60 people | ||||
Key findings
- Anti-Oxidant Enzyme ProfileImproves (the measure goes up)
- Follicle-Stimulating HormoneImproves (the measure goes up)
- Luteinizing Hormone
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- Grade C
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Studies cited
2 studies from PubMed