Kerry’s Shilajit extract may boost collagen levels in healthy men: RCT

20-Jan-2023 - Last updated on 20-Jan-2023 at 14:09 GMT

Shilajit is an herbo-mineral exudate. Image © Sayali Pashte / Getty Images

Daily supplementation with purified Shilajit, an Ayurvedic ingredient, may increase levels of type 1 collagen, an important structural protein for skin, bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles, says a new study.

Eight weeks of supplementation with both 500 mg and 1,000 mg per day of the Shilajit extract led to significant increases in pro-c1α1, a biomarker of type 1 collagen synthesis, in recreationally trained young men, according to data from a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial conducted by scientists from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The 93.6% and 164.9% increases in pro-c1α1 for the low and high dose Shilajit groups, respectively, but only 15.7% increase for the placebo group, indicated that the 8 weeks of Shilajit supplementation with 500 mg·d−1 and 1000 mg·d−1 increased baseline type 1 collagen synthesis,” they wrote in the Journal of Dietary Supplements.

“Furthermore, there were no adverse or serious adverse events reported during this study, and the increases in type 1 collagen synthesis with the supplementation of Shilajit were not attributable to changes in dietary intake or exercise participation or between group differences in supplement compliance across the supplementation period.”

PrimaVie Shilajit

Shilajit, a herbo-mineral exudate, is derived from mountainous regions across Asia. It is also called mumie, moomiyo, or mummiyo. The “fluvic mineral complex exudate” is composed of fulvic acids, dibenzo-alpha-pyrones, proteins, and minerals.

The new study used PrimaVie Shilajit from Natreon, which was acquired by Kerry in early 2022. Natreon funded the new study.

The ingredient has previously been studied for a range of health endpoints, including healthy aging, energy, and testosterone increases in healthy males. PrimaVie Shilajit is reportedly obtained from the Himalayas.

“Shilajit supplementation has been shown to increase gene expression of collagen synthesis, however, it is unclear if increased gene expression translates to increases in circulating levels,” noted the Nebraska-based scientists.

Study details

To explore this, they recruited 35 men with an average age of 21 and randomly assigned to one of three groups: Placebo, or 500 mg per day, or 1,000 mg per day of PrimaVie Shilajit for eight weeks.

The results showed that both Shilajit groups experienced significant increases in pro-c1α1 from the start to the end of the study, while changes in the placebo group did not reach statistical significance.

In addition, 75% of men in the high dose group exhibited pro-c1α1 increases that exceeded the minimal clinically important difference, compared to 69% in the low-dose group, and 30% in the placebo group.

“The results of the current and previous studies indicated that 500 mg·d−1 of Shilajit supplementation across 8 weeks increased baseline type 1 collagen synthesis as indicated by serum pro-c1α1 levels, increased gene expression for synthesis of various types of collagen, and decreased baseline collagen degradation as indicated by serum hydroxy-proline levels,” wrote the researchers.

The researchers called for future studies to explore how dosage and the duration of supplementation may benefit health measures across the lifespan for men and women.

Source: Journal of Dietary Supplements
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1080/19390211.2022.2157522
“Effects of 8 Weeks of Shilajit Supplementation on Serum Pro-c1α1, a Biomarker of Type 1 Collagen Synthesis: A Randomized Control Trial”
Authors: T.J. Neltner et al.