PlainPill

Creatine vs Shilajit for energy

Short answer: For energy, users rate them about the same: 97% report improvement with Creatine (268 reports) and 94% with Shilajit (67 reports).

Creatine has 763 meta-analyses and 2,794 randomized trials on PubMed; Shilajit has 1 and 7.

Based on 2,279 reports about Creatine and 427 about Shilajit. Not medical advice.

Creatine
Supplement
Shilajit
Supplement
Users say it helped72%helped1,048 reports · high confidence61%helped154 reports · high confidence
Verdict
Mostly positive
Mostly positive
ResearchAResearch: StrongBResearch: Moderate
Meta-analyses / RCTs763 / 2,7941 / 7
Mainly used for
Performance
% reporting improvement
98% (542)89% (18)
Energy
% reporting improvement
97% (268)94% (67)
Focus
% reporting improvement
93% (249)93% (15)
Mood
% reporting improvement
87% (125)93% (28)
Recovery
% reporting improvement
98% (95)—
Common side effectsstomach issues, hair loss, insomnia, water retentionirritability, anxiety, drowsiness, insomnia
Typical dose reported5 g / daily400-600 mg / daily with food
Creatine
Latest review conclusion

The results of the meta-analysis suggest that creatine supplementation did not significantly alter serum creatinine levels (standardized mean difference = 0.48, 95% confidence interval 0.24-0.73, P = .001, I2 = 22%), and did not alter plasma urea values (standardized mean difference = 1.10, 95% confidence interval 0.34-1.85, P = .004, I2 = 28%). The findings indicate that creatine supplementation does not induce renal damage in the studied amounts and durations.

J Ren Nutr, 2019 ↗
What a user said
“I actually feel a lot better. Mentally clearer and more balanced, like I have my brain back.”
Full Creatine profile →
Shilajit
Latest review conclusion

The exceptions were β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate and betaine, which can be considered effective for male athletes. Eurycoma longifolia, a blend of Punica granatum fruit rind and Theobroma cacao seed extracts (Tesnor™) and purified Shilajit extract (PrimaVie™) can be considered possibly effective for men with late-onset hypogonadism; Eurycoma longifolia and Withania somnifera possibly effective for healthy men; and a non-hormonal aromatase inhibitor (Novadex XT™) possibly effective for male athletes.

Int J Impot Res, 2024 ↗
What a user said
“Shilajit actually did wonders for me, I'm chronically ill so energy levels and mental clarity were in the dumps and it's the first thing I've tried that boosts a noticeable amount.”
Full Shilajit profile →

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Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate