Shilajit with existing health conditions
If you have a long-term health condition, check with your GP, specialist or pharmacist before taking shilajit. It has not been studied in people with conditions such as kidney or liver disease, diabetes, heart disease, thyroid disorders, autoimmune conditions or cancer, and some conditions change how the body handles minerals and metals. The questions are usually about contaminants, possible effects on blood sugar, and interactions with the medicines that conditions often require.
Shilajit, sport and anti-doping
Shilajit is not on the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list as a named substance, but that doesn’t make every shilajit product safe for tested athletes. Any supplement can be contaminated with banned substances during manufacture, and athletes are responsible for anything found in their sample. UK Anti-Doping advises athletes to assess the need for supplements and to use batch-tested products. Choose a product tested under a recognised sport scheme if you compete.
Shilajit in pregnancy and breastfeeding
We recommend avoiding shilajit during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. It has not been studied in pregnant or breastfeeding women, so its safety for the baby is unknown. Shilajit can also contain metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic in amounts that vary between batches, and these are a particular concern for a developing baby. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive, discuss any supplement with your midwife, GP or pharmacist.
Shilajit dosage: studied doses vs label doses
Shilajit doses used in human trials were mostly in the range of a few hundred milligrams a day of a purified, standardised extract. For example, 250 mg twice daily in the testosterone trial, and 250 or 500 mg a day in the exercise trial. Product labels vary widely and often use different materials, so a label serving isn’t the same as a studied dose. Follow your product’s label, don’t exceed it, and remember that more isn’t better.
Shilajit for children and teenagers
Shilajit is not recommended for children or teenagers under 18. It hasn’t been studied in young people, there is no established dose for them, and children are more vulnerable to contaminants such as lead, which can affect brain development. Shilajit is also often marketed for testosterone and sports performance, which is inappropriate for adolescents. If a young person is interested in shilajit, a conversation with a GP is the right step.
Shilajit for older adults
Older adults can take shilajit, but with more care than younger people. They are more likely to take regular medicines whose interactions with shilajit haven’t been studied, more likely to have reduced kidney function that affects how minerals and metals are cleared, and more likely to take a supplement for many years, which adds up contaminant exposure. A pharmacist check, a batch-tested product and staying within the label serving are sensible.
Shilajit and medication interactions
There are no published interaction studies of shilajit with medicines, so possible interactions are unknown rather than ruled out. Some laboratory and animal research suggests effects on blood sugar, which is a theoretical concern for people on diabetes medicines. Anyone taking prescribed medicines, especially for diabetes, blood pressure, heart conditions, blood thinning, thyroid, mental health or immune suppression, should check with a pharmacist before taking shilajit.
Shilajit before and after surgery
There is no research on shilajit and surgery. Because its interactions with anaesthetics, blood clotting and blood sugar haven’t been studied, the safest approach is to tell your surgical team you take it and follow their advice, which often means stopping herbal and dietary supplements for a period before an operation. After surgery, wait until your team says it is fine to restart, especially if you have new medicines.
Microbial contamination
Microbial contamination means bacteria, yeasts or moulds in a product. Shilajit can pick these up during collection, open-air drying, processing or handling at home. Good purification, controlled drying and hygienic packing keep counts low, and a batch report should show microbiology results such as total viable count, yeasts and moulds, and tests for harmful bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella. At home, a dry scoop and a sealed jar prevent most problems.
Other contaminants: mycotoxins, pesticides, PAHs, solvents
Beyond heavy metals and microbes, shilajit can be tested for mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticide residues, pyrrolizidine alkaloids and, for some extracts, residual solvents. Each comes from a different stage: storage, heat, the environment or processing. Not every brand tests all of them. A report that covers these alongside metals and microbiology gives the most complete picture of a batch.