Evidence at a glance
Indirect human data on biomarkers related to ageing, from small studies using one standardised extract. How ratings work: evidence rating system.
Why shilajit is linked with ageing
The anti-ageing reputation has two roots. In Ayurveda, shilajit is a rasayana, a class of preparations associated with vitality and longevity.[1] In modern marketing, laboratory interest in oxidative stress and mitochondrial function, both linked with ageing in research, has been translated into “anti-ageing” language. Neither root is evidence that shilajit slows ageing in people. See antioxidant activity and mitochondria and energy metabolism.
The human studies related to ageing
| Study | Who | What was measured | What it can support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pingali & Nutalapati, 2022[3] | Postmenopausal women | Bone density over 48 weeks | A bone outcome in one group |
| Das et al., 2019[2] | Adult women | Skin gene expression and blood flow | Biomarker changes in skin |
| Das et al., 2016[4] | Overweight adults | Muscle gene expression | Biomarker changes in muscle |
| Keller et al., 2019[5] | Active men | Strength after fatigue | A performance outcome in younger men |
Each study measured something age-related, but none was designed to test whether shilajit slows ageing. Most used the same standardised extract, so the results may not apply to other products; see standardised and branded extracts.
How strong is this evidence?
Biomarkers such as gene expression or skin blood flow show biological activity. They don’t show that a person ages more slowly, looks younger or lives longer. The bone-density trial is the closest to a meaningful outcome, and it is covered separately in shilajit and bone health. No study has measured lifespan, frailty, or overall markers of biological ageing in people taking shilajit. That is why the rating is “Very limited” rather than “Limited”.
What older adults should consider
Older adults are the group most often targeted by anti-ageing marketing, and also the group most likely to take medicines or have health conditions that matter for supplement use. Long-term safety data for shilajit are limited, and contaminant exposure adds up over years of daily use, which makes batch testing especially important.[6] See shilajit for older adults, medication interactions and taking shilajit long term.
Anti-ageing claims and UK rules
“Slows ageing” and “anti-ageing” are health claims. In UK marketing, health claims for food supplements must be authorised on the GB nutrition and health claims register.[7][8] If you see a shilajit product promising to reverse ageing, that promise is not supported by the evidence and is unlikely to be authorised; see what sellers can claim.
Questions research hasn’t answered
- Does shilajit affect markers of biological ageing?Not studied.
- Does it help older people stay strong or mobile?Not tested in older adults.
- Is long-term daily use safe in older age?Long-term data are limited; see why long-term safety data matter.
What a convincing ageing study would need
A study capable of supporting an anti-ageing claim would need a large group of older adults, a placebo comparison, at least a year of follow-up, and outcomes that matter in later life, such as strength, mobility, frailty, cognition or validated measures of biological ageing. It would also need a product whose composition and contaminant results are published. None of the shilajit studies to date meets that description, which is why the gap between marketing and evidence is so wide; see evidence gaps.
A note on product choice
If you take shilajit long term for general wellbeing, contaminant exposure matters more than any anti-ageing promise. Choose a product with a batch report covering metals and microbiology, and match the batch number to your jar; see the brand transparency checklist.
The bottom line
Shilajit’s anti-ageing reputation rests on tradition and laboratory ideas, supported by a few small human studies of age-related markers. That is interesting, not conclusive. If healthy ageing is your goal, the established foundations of activity, diet, sleep and medical check-ups matter far more than any supplement, and shilajit should be judged against the evidence, not the marketing.
Frequently asked questions
Does shilajit slow ageing?
Why is shilajit called anti-ageing?
Because of its traditional role as an Ayurvedic rejuvenator and laboratory interest in oxidative stress and mitochondria.[1]
Does shilajit help with wrinkles?
No study has measured wrinkles or skin appearance. One study measured skin gene expression and blood flow.[2] See skin and hair.
Is shilajit good for older people?
Evidence is limited and older adults are more likely to take medicines. Speak to a GP or pharmacist first; see older adults.
Does shilajit increase lifespan?
No study has measured lifespan or longevity in people.
Can anti-ageing claims be made for shilajit in the UK?
What is the best-studied age-related outcome?
Bone density in postmenopausal women, in one 48-week trial.[3] See bone health.
Does shilajit affect telomeres?
No study has measured telomeres or other markers of biological ageing in people taking shilajit.
Does shilajit improve energy in older people?
Not studied in older adults specifically. See energy and fatigue for the general evidence.
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.
- Wilson E, Rajamanickam GV, Dubey GP, et al.. Review on shilajit used in traditional Indian medicine. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 136(1):1–9, 2011. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2011.04.033; PMID 21530631. View source (opens in a new tab) [Review]
- Das A, El Masry MS, Gnyawali SC, et al.. Skin transcriptome of middle-aged women supplemented with natural herbo-mineral shilajit shows induction of microvascular and extracellular matrix mechanisms. Journal of the American College of Nutrition 38(6):526–536, 2019. doi:10.1080/07315724.2018.1564088; PMID 31161927. View source (opens in a new tab) [Randomised controlled trial (biomarkers)]
- Pingali U, Nutalapati C. Shilajit extract reduces oxidative stress, inflammation, and bone loss to dose-dependently preserve bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteopenia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Phytomedicine 105:154334, 2022. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154334; PMID 35933897. View source (opens in a new tab) [Randomised controlled trial]
- Das A, et al.. The human skeletal muscle transcriptome in response to oral Shilajit supplementation. Journal of Medicinal Food 19(7):701–709, 2016. doi:10.1089/jmf.2016.0010; PMID 27414521. View source (opens in a new tab) [Human study (gene expression)]
- 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]
- 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]
- Department of Health and Social Care. Great Britain nutrition and health claims (NHC) register. GOV.UK. View source (opens in a new tab) [Official register]
- Committee of Advertising Practice. UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising (CAP Code), Section 15: Food, food supplements and associated health or nutritional claims. asa.org.uk. View source (opens in a new tab) [Advertising code]