Shilajit extract reduces oxidative stress, inflammation, and bone loss to dose-dependently preserve bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteopenia: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

• Published in: Phytomedicine (Stuttgart) 2022-10, Vol.105, p.154334-154334, Article 154334
• Main Authors: Pingali, Usharani, Nutalapati, Chandrasekhar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: antioxidants; bone density; Bone loss; Bone mineral density; bone resorption; dietary supplements; Estrogen; estrogens; femur; inflammation; lumbar spine; Menopause; osteopenia; osteoporosis; Oxidative stress; placebos; Postmenopausal women; postmenopause; risk
• ISSN: 0944-7113; 1618-095X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154334

Accelerated bone loss associated with aging and estrogen withdrawal is mediated in part by increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Investigate dietary supplementation with a standardized aqueous extract of shilajit with clinically demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and collagen-promoting activity on attenuating bone loss in postmenopausal women with osteopenia. Sixty postmenopausal women aged 45 – 65 years with osteopenia were randomized to receive 1 of 3 treatments daily for 48 weeks: (1) placebo, (2) 250 mg shilajit extract, or (3) 500 mg shilajit extract. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) were measured at weeks 0, 24, and 48, and circulating markers of bone turnover (CTX-1, BALP, RANKL, OPG), oxidative stress (MDA, GSH), and inflammation (hsCRP) at weeks 0, 12, 24, and 48. BMD of both the LS and FN progressively decreased in women receiving placebo but was dose-dependently attenuated with shilajit extract supplementation, resulting in significantly increased percentage changes from baseline in BMD at 24- and 48-weeks in both supplemented groups compared to placebo (p