- Reported main components: fulvic acids, dibenzo-alpha-pyrones, proteins and minerals.[1]
- The organic part is a complex mixture of humic substances and plant and microbial metabolites.[2]
- “Fulvic acid” and “humic acid” are defined by how they behave in a lab test, not by a single chemical formula, so results depend on the method used.
- A long mineral list always includes elements you don’t want, such as lead, arsenic and thallium.[3]
The four component groups
Largest share
Humic substances
Large, variable organic molecules formed as plant matter decomposes. Fulvic acid is the most marketed fraction.
Small molecules
Dibenzo-alpha-pyrones
Aromatic compounds studied mostly in laboratory work, and sometimes used as markers in standardised extracts.
From the rock
Minerals & trace elements
Elements bound from the surrounding rock. Useful minerals and toxic metals arrive by the same route.
Minor, variable
Other organic compounds
Amino acids, lipids and phenolic compounds, in amounts that differ widely between samples.
Fulvic acid, humic acid and humin
Humic substances are split into three fractions according to how they dissolve in water at different acidity levels. These are operational definitions used across soil and environmental chemistry: the fraction is whatever the test procedure separates out.
| Fraction | Solubility | Relevance to shilajit labels |
|---|---|---|
| Fulvic acid | Soluble in water at all pH levels | Quoted as a percentage on most product pages |
| Humic acid | Soluble in alkaline conditions, precipitates when acidified | Sometimes quoted alongside fulvic acid |
| Humin | Insoluble at any pH | Largely removed by water extraction |
Because the fractions are method-defined, two labs testing the same jar can report different fulvic acid percentages. That is why our fulvic acid testing article treats percentages from different methods as non-comparable. The fraction itself is explained in fulvic acid in shilajit.
Dibenzo-alpha-pyrones
Dibenzo-alpha-pyrones (DBPs) are smaller aromatic molecules reported in shilajit and listed among its main components in trial reports.[1] Their proposed roles in cellular energy come mainly from laboratory work, and they are rarely quantified on consumer lab reports. Where a product claims DBP content, ask which method measured it. Our DBP explainer covers the research and the urolithin connection.
Minerals, and the “84 minerals” problem
Shilajit binds elements from the rock it forms in, which is why element panels on COAs can run to dozens of entries. A long list is often marketed as a benefit. Read it the other way: a panel that detects many elements is likely to include toxic ones too. A 2025 study measured thallium in shilajit and shilajit supplements, with some supplements higher than crude samples.[3]
The useful questions are which elements are present, at what levels, and whether the toxic metals fall within the legal limits for supplements. A count of “minerals” answers none of them. See the “84 minerals” claim, mineral profile testing and heavy metals in shilajit.
Why composition varies
| Factor | What changes | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Local plants, microbes and rock shape organic content and element profile | Origin and composition |
| Processing | Extraction cycles and drying change what stays in the product | Processing and composition |
| Test method | Different methods report different figures for the same material | Lab methods |
| Storage and moisture | Water content shifts concentrations per gram | Storage and shelf life |
The full explanation is on why shilajit composition varies.
Composition is not the same as quality
A higher fulvic acid figure is the most common way brands signal “stronger” shilajit. There is no evidence that a higher percentage produces better results in people, and the figure depends on the test. Quality for a consumer means confirmed identity, contaminants within limits and an honest label. Composition data is useful context alongside those, never a substitute. See can more fulvic acid mean better shilajit? and fulvic acid percentage claims.
How to read a composition claim
- Which method?A fulvic acid percentage should name the test method and the lab.
- Which batch?Composition varies, so the figure should relate to the batch you are buying.
- Per what?Per gram of resin, per capsule or per serving: the difference can be large for capsules with fillers.
- What about contaminants?A composition-only report tells you nothing about safety.
A real example of the batch point: Nature Elixirs publishes an IAS composition report for a sample received in November 2024 and a separate AGROLAB contaminant report for batch SJ2509, tested in 2025.[4][5] The two describe different samples and can’t be read as one batch profile. See the Nature Elixirs evaluation.
Common questions
What percentage of shilajit is fulvic acid?
It varies by sample, processing and test method, so there is no single correct figure. Compare percentages only when the same method was used.
Is shilajit a good source of minerals?
Amounts per serving are small and vary between products, and the same panel includes toxic metals. It isn’t a sensible way to correct a mineral deficiency.
Is fulvic acid from shilajit the same as fulvic acid supplements?
Fulvic acid products can come from other sources such as peat or other humic deposits, and they are not the same material as whole shilajit. See shilajit vs fulvic acid supplements.
Sources & further reading
Primary research, regulators and standards bodies are cited first. A source being listed here does not mean it supports every claim made by sellers; it supports the specific statement it is attached to.
- Keller JL, Housh TJ, Hill EC, Smith CM, Schmidt RJ, Johnson GO. The effects of Shilajit supplementation on fatigue-induced decreases in muscular strength and serum hydroxyproline levels. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 16:3, 2019. doi:10.1186/s12970-019-0270-2; PMID 30728074. View source (opens in a new tab) [Randomised controlled trial]
- Agarwal SP, et al.. Shilajit: a review. Phytotherapy Research 21(5):401–405, 2007. doi:10.1002/ptr.2100; PMID 17295385. View source (opens in a new tab) [Review]
- Quantifying of thallium in Shilajit and its supplements to unveil the potential risk of consumption of this popular traditional medicine. BMC Chemistry 19:20, 2025. doi:10.1186/s13065-025-01384-7. View source (opens in a new tab) [Laboratory analysis]
- IAS Laboratories (published by Nature Elixirs). Sample results: fulvic acid, humic acid, sulfur, moisture, organic matter (sample received 1 November 2024). natureelixirs.com, 2024. View source (opens in a new tab) [Brand-published laboratory report]
- AGROLAB LUFA GmbH (published by Nature Elixirs). Test report, Himalayan Shilajit, batch SJ2509, sample 765188. natureelixirs.com, 2025. View source (opens in a new tab) [Brand-published laboratory report]