Effects of 8 Weeks of Shilajit Supplementation on Serum Pro-c1 alpha 1, a Biomarker of Type 1 Collagen Synthesis: A Randomized Control Trial

Type 1 collagen is an abundant structural protein with importance to the skin, eyes, bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. 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. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of 8 weeks of daily supplementation with 500 mg center dot d(-1) and 1000 mg center dot d(-1) of Shilajit versus placebo on serum pro-c1 alpha 1, a biomarker of type 1 collagen synthesis. Thirty-five recreationally trained men (mean +/- SD: age = 21.1 +/- 1.8 yrs; body mass = 80.7 +/- 12.4 kg; height = 180.9 +/- 6.7 cm) volunteered to participate in this study. Mixed factorial and one-way ANOVAs were used to analyze mean differences between groups, with follow-up t-tests when necessary. Individual subject responses were assessed using the minimal clinically important difference and Chi-squared tests. There were significant (Low dose: p = 0.008, d = 1.2; High dose: p = 0.007, d = 1.3) increases in serum pro-c1 alpha 1 from pre- (Low dose: 42.5 +/- 12.4 ng center dot mL(-1); High dose: 42.7 +/- 12.7 ng center dot mL(-1)) to post-supplementation (Low dose: 82.3 +/- 46.5 ng center dot mL(-1); High dose: 113.1 +/- 78.7 ng center dot mL(-1)) for the low and high dose groups, however, no change (p > 0.05) for the placebo group. A greater proportion (p = 0.03) of subjects exhibited increases in pro-c1 alpha 1 that exceeded the minimal clinically important difference in the high dose Shilajit group (75%) compared to the placebo group (30%), but no differences (p = 0.06) between the low dose Shilajit group (69%) and placebo. In conclusion, 8 weeks of Shilajit supplementation with 500 and 1000 mg center dot d(-1) increased type 1 collagen synthesis as indicated by serum levels of pro-c1 alpha 1.