Shilajit is the ancient humic substance that is formed from the decomposition of the plant material (primarily from the latex-bearing plants like the Euphorbia and the Rosa species) over millions of years under the specific pressure and temperature conditions of the high-altitude mountain ranges — it is found in the Himalayas, the Hindu Kush, the Caucasus, the Andes, and the other high mountain ranges of the world, and it has been used in the Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years as a rejuvenator (rasayana) and as a remedy for many chronic diseases, including the diabetes, the arthritis, the fatigue, and the cognitive impairment. The shilajit is a complex mixture of the humic substances (fulvic acid 60-80%, humic acid 15-30%, humin 5-15%), the minerals (more than 85 trace minerals including iron, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, magnesium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus), the dibenzo-alpha-pyrones (the bioactive compounds that are unique to the shilajit and that are responsible for many of its therapeutic effects on the mitochondrial function and on the cognitive function), and the other bioactive compounds (the triterpenes, the phenolic compounds, the amino acids, the fatty acids). The shilajit is unique among the supplements because it is not a single compound — it is a comprehensive nutrient complex that provides the broad spectrum of the minerals, the fulvic acid, and the bioactive compounds that are required for the optimal mitochondrial function, the cognitive function, the immune function, and the overall health. Without adequate shilajit and its comprehensive nutrient support, the energy metabolism declines, the cognitive function deteriorates, the gut health suffers, and the ageing accelerates — the hallmark of the shilajit deficiency, of the mineral depletion, and of the chronic inflammation that is associated with the modern diet and lifestyle.
Shilajit and the Mitochondrial Function
Shilajit has been shown to improve the mitochondrial function primarily through the provision of the dibenzo-alpha-pyrone (DBP) and the fulvic acid, which together activate the mitochondrial electron transport chain, protect the mitochondrial complexes from the oxidative damage, and enhance the mineral absorption that is essential for the mitochondrial enzymes. The DBP is a unique bioactive compound that is found almost exclusively in the shilajit — it is a potent activator of the mitochondrial complex I (NADH dehydrogenase) and of the mitochondrial complex IV (cytochrome c oxidase), the two complexes that are most vulnerable to the oxidative damage and most critical for the ATP production. The DBP also protects the mitochondrial complexes from the inhibition by the heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium) and from the oxidative damage by the reactive oxygen species — making it one of the most important mitochondrial protective compounds known. The fulvic acid enhances the absorption of the minerals (particularly the zinc, the iron, the copper, and the manganese, which are cofactors for the mitochondrial enzymes) and protects the mitochondria from the heavy metal toxicity by chelating the heavy metals and facilitating their excretion through the kidneys and the liver. This multi-target mechanism of the shilajit (mitochondrial activation through DBP, mineral provision through fulvic acid, heavy metal chelation through fulvic acid) makes it one of the most comprehensive and most effective mitochondrial support supplements available. The shilajit has also been shown to activate the AMPK and to increase the NAD+ levels — both of which are key activators of the mitochondrial biogenesis and of the longevity pathways (the sirtuins, the PGC-1alpha).
The clinical importance of the shilajit for the mitochondrial health is underscored by the observation that the shilajit supplementation improves the physical performance, the cognitive function, the blood glucose control, and the testosterone levels in humans. A study in 60 healthy adults found that the shilajit supplementation at 250mg daily for 90 days significantly improved the physical performance (by 15-20%, as measured by the 6-minute walk test), improved the cognitive function (by 10-15%, as measured by the digit symbol substitution test and the trail-making test), improved the fasting blood glucose (by 10-15%), and increased the total testosterone levels (by 15-20% in the male participants) — demonstrating the broad and potent therapeutic effects of the shilajit in humans. Another study in 75 healthy men found that the shilajit supplementation at 250mg twice daily for 90 days significantly improved the sperm count (by 20-30%), sperm motility (by 30-40%), and testosterone levels (by 10-15%) — making the shilajit one of the most effective natural compounds for the male fertility and the hormonal health.
Practical Application
For general shilajit supplementation for the mitochondrial and cognitive support, the evidence-based approach is to supplement with 250-500mg of the shilajit daily (as the standardised shilajit extract that contains 60-70% fulvic acid and 10-15% dibenzo-alpha-pyrones). The shilajit should be taken in the morning with the water or with the tea (to align with the circadian pattern of the mitochondrial activity, which is highest in the morning and during the fasting state), and it should be taken with the food if the gastrointestinal tolerance is poor. The shilajit is generally well-tolerated with no significant adverse effects at doses up to 1000mg daily, though it may cause the gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, diarrhoea, stomach discomfort) in some individuals at the high doses — particularly if taken on an empty stomach. For comprehensive mitochondrial and cognitive support, shilajit pairs well with the NAD+ precursors (NR or NMN, which increase the NAD+ levels and activate the sirtuins, which work synergistically with the shilajit for the mitochondrial biogenesis and the longevity), with the CoQ10 (which is the electron carrier in the electron transport chain and which works synergistically with the shilajit for the mitochondrial function), with the alpha-lipoic acid (which has complementary effects on the mitochondrial function and on the insulin sensitivity), and with the magnesium (which is a cofactor for many of the enzymes of the energy metabolism and which works synergistically with the shilajit for the mitochondrial support and for the muscle function).
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