Shilajit for Testosterone

Finding: Compared with placebo, 90 days of PrimaVie 500 mg/day significantly increased total testosterone (~+20.45%), free testosterone (~+19.14%) and DHEA-S (~+31.35%) (P < 0.05 for each), while LH and FSH remained stable. No clinical endpoint was measured. Single-center trial conducted by authors affiliated with the manufacturer; study is the basis for nearly all PrimaVie-testosterone marketing claims.

Finding: Shilajit at 500 mg/day attenuated fatigue-induced strength decline and altered hydroxyproline kinetics vs placebo. Testosterone was NOT an outcome; authors explicitly state 'the current study did not measure hormonal responses' and merely cited Pandit 2016 in the discussion. Therefore this RCT does NOT add primary evidence for the T-boosting claim despite frequent citation in marketing.

Finding: Reported gains in 1RM leg press (+12.94%, p<0.001), muscle endurance (+12.30%, p<0.001), CRP reduction (-25.35%, p=0.023). Open-label single-arm design with no placebo means changes cannot be attributed to Shilajit. Testosterone data, if reported, are uncontrolled exploratory observations and cannot support efficacy claims. Different product (TruBlk, not PrimaVie).

Finding: Narrative (not systematic) review concludes shilajit is generally safe in standard doses and may enhance spermatogenesis. Does NOT provide pooled testosterone effect estimates, does NOT apply Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment, and predates the Pandit 2016 RCT. Frequently cited in supplement marketing as 'evidence' despite being a narrative summary, not primary or meta-analytic data.

Finding: In a rodent toxicity model, shilajit upregulated steroidogenic enzymes and partially restored serum testosterone after cyclophosphamide exposure. Animal-only, pathological-injury model (not eugonadal physiology). Cannot be used to support T-boosting claims in healthy or hypogonadal men — listed here only to acknowledge mechanistic literature.