A new shilajit preprint reports increases in testosterone after 90 days. The findings are preliminary: the paper has not been peer reviewed, the manufacturer funded the research, and the trial tested a particular resin in a selected group of men. It does not establish the same outcome for Rise.
Hormone research deserves a close reading. A percentage can sound dramatic while leaving out who was studied, what changed in the placebo group, and whether the result has survived independent review.
What the new paper tested
The 2026 medRxiv preprint describes a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 100 men aged 35–55 with mild-to-moderate erectile dysfunction and symptoms associated with androgen deficiency. Participants received TruBlk shilajit resin, 250 mg twice daily, or placebo for 90 days.
| Measure | Shilajit | Placebo |
|---|---|---|
| Total testosterone | +46.1% | +10.0% |
| Free testosterone | +37.4% | +6.8% |
Sexual desire did not show a statistically significant between-group improvement. The manufacturer funded the trial; disclosed relationships included company founders and a paid consultant among the authors.
Why “preprint” belongs in the headline
A preprint makes findings available before journal peer review. It allows researchers and readers to examine the work sooner, but the analysis and interpretation may change.
Manufacturer involvement does not automatically invalidate a result. It does make independent replication particularly valuable. For now, this belongs on the research watchlist rather than serving as a promise about an individual customer’s hormone levels.
The percentages also need a denominator. A percentage change from someone’s starting level is not a universal increase in ng/dL, and the placebo group changed too. “46.1% above baseline” is not the same statement as “46.1% higher than placebo.”
How it compares with earlier research
An earlier peer-reviewed trial published in Andrologia tested purified shilajit at 250 mg twice daily for 90 days in healthy men aged 45–55. It reported increases in total testosterone, free testosterone, and DHEAS compared with placebo.
That older result provides a reason to investigate further. It does not make different extracts, participant groups, or commercial blends interchangeable. A stronger evidence base would include independently replicated trials with clearly defined populations and consistent clinical outcomes.
What this means for Rise
XWERKS Rise contains 250 mg of shilajit extract per two-capsule serving alongside other ingredients. The new trial used 500 mg daily of a particular shilajit resin. The dose and preparation differ, and the researchers did not test the finished Rise formula.
That makes the study relevant to an ingredient in Rise, without making it a Rise efficacy trial. Do not double a multi-ingredient product to imitate one ingredient’s study dose: doing so changes the intake of every ingredient.
Does shilajit replace testosterone therapy?
No conclusion like that follows from these trials. They were not comparisons with testosterone replacement therapy. Symptoms such as low energy or reduced sexual function also do not, by themselves, establish a diagnosis of testosterone deficiency.
If hormone-related symptoms are persistent, medical evaluation is more useful than assuming a supplement result applies to you. For background on the ingredient, see our guide to shilajit for men and the broader shilajit research overview.
Research status checked November 2026: the new study is a preprint, not a peer-reviewed publication.
