What shilajit is made of
Shilajit is a sticky, tar-like exudate that seeps from rocks in high mountain ranges, most notably the Himalayas, formed over long periods from decomposed plant material. Its characterized active components are fulvic acid and a class of small molecules called dibenzo-alpha-pyrones (DBPs), along with a range of trace minerals.
Fulvic acid is a humic substance with many carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, which let it bind metal ions and cross cell membranes more readily than larger humic acids.
Proposed mechanisms and the evidence bar
Laboratory work suggests fulvic acid and DBPs can act as electron shuttles and as carriers that complex minerals into more bioavailable forms, and some studies propose antioxidant and mitochondrial roles. These mechanisms are largely from in vitro and animal models or small human trials.
Human evidence remains limited and preliminary, and product quality varies widely, with concerns about heavy-metal contamination in unpurified material. Shilajit is a dietary supplement, not an approved treatment for any condition, and the mechanistic claims above describe proposed pathways rather than established clinical effects.