Shilajit Side Effects & Safety: What Evidence Shows
Quick answer: Research on Shilajit safety is limited. A 91-day study often cited online was conducted in rats, not people; it cannot establish long-term human or product safety.
What the safety research can tell us
A 2012 study often cited in discussions of Shilajit safety examined repeated administration for 91 days in rats. It was an animal study, so it does not establish how people will respond, how safe long-term use is in people, or whether a different Shilajit product has the same properties. The evidence should be described with those limits clear.
Research on a particular extract or preparation also cannot be assumed to apply to every resin, capsule or batch. Shilajit products can differ in composition and processing.
Product quality and contamination
Shilajit is a naturally variable material. Published analytical research has reported differences in elemental composition between samples and discusses why quality control matters. A product report is useful only when you can see which sample was tested, what was measured, the methods and units, and the reporting limits.
Eurofins tested the current Capsules batch ULSG2508357 and Resin batch ULSG2508011. These are the same batches currently used in products sold by 5 Rivers Nutrition. The reports list their measured parameters; they do not establish the absence of every possible contaminant or prove safety for every person. Check each report’s analyte list.
Side effects and medicine interactions
The available research does not provide a reliable, universal list of side effects or a dependable timetable for what someone might notice. Evidence about interactions with medicines is also limited. If you feel unwell after taking a supplement, stop using it and seek advice from a healthcare professional. Do not change prescribed treatment to accommodate a supplement.
UK Government guidance advises people to check with a GP or healthcare professional before taking a food supplement if they are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a medical condition or take regular prescribed medication. Follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
Questions to ask before choosing a Shilajit product
- Is the complete ingredient list and labelled serving easy to find?
- Is there a report for an identifiable product sample, with the laboratory, date, methods, results and units shown?
- Does the report state which analytes were tested and what it does not cover?
- Are you relying on evidence for the actual product and serving, rather than a study of a different extract or an animal study?
What the 5 Rivers reports show
5 Rivers publishes Eurofins reports for submitted Shilajit Gold+ Capsules and Resin samples. The listed analyses include fulvic-acid content and arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury. The reports describe those current product batchs and listed analyses; they correspond to the current product batches used in products sold by 5 Rivers Nutrition, microbial results, universal safety or an individual health outcome. Read the reports and their scope before drawing conclusions.
For product-specific ingredients and labelled servings, see Shilajit Gold+ Capsules and Shilajit Gold+ Resin. These links are for product information, not a recommendation that Shilajit is suitable for you.
Sources
- Velmurugan C, et al. Evaluation of safety profile of black shilajit after 91 days repeated administration in rats. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine. 2012. The study was in rats.
- Hussain A, Saeed A. Hazardous or Advantageous: Uncovering the Roles of Heavy Metals and Humic Substances in Shilajit. Biological Trace Element Research. 2024.
- UK Government. Food supplements guidance.
- UK Government. Nutrition, health claims and supplement labelling.
This page summarises published sources and product documentation; it is not medical advice. For personal advice, speak to a qualified healthcare professional.