Shilajit and Blood Pressure
Based on available evidence, shilajit supplementation does not appear to increase blood pressure and may actually have neutral to potentially beneficial cardiovascular effects.
Evidence Assessment
The provided evidence does not contain any studies directly examining shilajit's effects on blood pressure. The guideline evidence focuses on other medications (sibutramine, orlistat) and general hypertension management 1, 2, 3, while the research evidence on shilajit addresses muscular strength, obesity, skin health, and collagen synthesis 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
Clinical Studies on Shilajit
Safety Profile
- No adverse cardiovascular effects reported: In a study of 63 recreationally-active men taking shilajit at doses of 250 mg/day (low dose) and 500 mg/day (high dose) for 8 weeks, no adverse effects were documented 4
- Obesity trial safety: In 66 patients with obesity treated with shilajit processed with Agnimantha, no adverse effects were observed in any treated patients 5
- Extended supplementation safety: A 14-week study in healthy adult women using 125-250 mg twice daily reported no adverse effects throughout the study period 6
Cardiovascular-Related Findings
- Shilajit supplementation at 250 mg twice daily improved skin microperfusion and induced genes relevant to endothelial cell migration and blood vessel growth in healthy women 6
- These microvascular effects suggest potential cardiovascular benefits rather than harm 6
Clinical Recommendation
For patients considering shilajit supplementation, blood pressure elevation is not a documented concern based on available clinical trial data. However, the following caveats apply:
- Monitoring approach: Patients with pre-existing hypertension should have baseline and follow-up blood pressure measurements when starting any new supplement, following standard hypertension monitoring protocols 2, 3
- Dosing context: Clinical trials have used doses ranging from 125-1000 mg daily without cardiovascular adverse effects 4, 5, 6, 7
- Evidence limitation: The absence of blood pressure increases in these studies does not constitute definitive proof of safety, as blood pressure was not the primary outcome measured in any trial
Contrast with Known BP-Elevating Agents
Unlike medications such as sibutramine, which causes dose-related increases in blood pressure (2-4 mmHg increase in systolic and diastolic BP at 10-15 mg/day) 1, shilajit has not demonstrated similar effects in clinical trials.