Shilajit vs tongkat ali

At a glance

The tongkat ali evidence

A 2022 systematic review in Medicina included nine studies and meta-analysed five randomised trials. It found a significant increase in total testosterone with tongkat ali, an effect confirmed in the subgroup of men with low testosterone (hypogonadism).^[1] An independent evidence summary notes that the effect appears mainly in men with low testosterone, and that most studies were funded by the maker of the extract tested.^[3]

The shilajit evidence

Shilajit’s testosterone evidence is one randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 75 healthy men aged 45–55, who took 250 mg of a purified extract twice daily for 90 days and showed higher total testosterone than placebo.^[2] It hasn’t been independently repeated; see shilajit and testosterone.

The shared funding problem

Both ingredients’ testosterone evidence depends heavily on single branded extracts and on research connected to their suppliers.^[3] That doesn’t make the findings wrong, but it makes independent replication especially important, and it means results apply most directly to those specific extracts. See who funds shilajit research and conflicts of interest.

Which suits you?

Taking them together

Many men’s products combine shilajit, tongkat ali, zinc and other ingredients. No study has tested shilajit with tongkat ali, so the combination’s effects and safety are unknown. Zinc has an authorised UK claim about maintaining normal testosterone levels; neither shilajit nor tongkat ali does.^[8] Check the amount of each ingredient per serving.

See a GP before self-treating low testosterone

If you suspect low testosterone, a GP can test your levels and look for causes. Diagnosed low testosterone has established treatments, and neither shilajit nor tongkat ali should replace medical assessment. Men taking medicines, or competing in tested sport, should check with a pharmacist and follow UK Anti-Doping’s advice on batch-tested products.^[9]

Claims and UK rules

“Boosts testosterone” is a health claim that needs authorised wording in UK marketing, and treating low testosterone is a medicinal claim.^[10][11] See testosterone booster claims.

If you choose shilajit

Best Shilajit UK recommends Nature Elixirs Pure Himalayan Shilajit Resin for documentation, with batch SJ2509 tested by AGROLAB LUFA.^[12] The recommendation is about documentation, not testosterone effects. Nature Elixirs is a brand evaluated by Best Shilajit UK. Read our evaluation to see the evidence and documentation we reviewed.

Formats and labels

Tongkat ali is usually sold as capsules of a root extract, often described by an extract ratio or a marker compound. Shilajit is sold as resin, capsules or powder. When comparing products, check the amount of each ingredient per serving and whether a named branded extract matches one used in research.

A note for women

Both are mainly marketed to men. Women considering either should seek advice first, and avoid both in pregnancy.

The bottom line

On testosterone specifically, tongkat ali has more trials than shilajit, mainly showing effects in men with low levels, while shilajit has one trial in healthy middle-aged men. Both rely heavily on single branded extracts. See a GP about suspected low testosterone, and treat either supplement as an experiment rather than a treatment.

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