Analgesic Efficacy of Native Himalayan Shilajit as Add-On Therapy in Myofascial Pain Syndrome: An Exploratory Pilot Clinical Trial

Verdict. The main outcome was the percentage of participants with more than or equal to 30% VAS reduction at Day 49. It intersects mitochondrial stress/dysfunction themes (bioenergetics; disease context).

What the authors report

BACKGROUND: Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) is a common musculoskeletal pain condition associated with myofascial trigger points that has been reported to occur in 30-93% of patients who present with musculoskeletal pain. The current pharmacologic treatments (such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs], muscle relaxants, and tricyclic antidepressants) are only partially effective and have side effects.

Key results stated in the abstract include the following. The main outcome was the percentage of participants with more than or equal to 30% VAS reduction at Day 49. Mean VAS score declined from 6.63 (SD 1.08) at baseline to 3.63 (SD 1.72) at Day 49 (mean reduction 45.3%; Friedman Chi-square= 278.5, p<0.001). The first signs of pain reduction were seen at Day 24.

Why it matters for mitochondrial biology

Within mitochondrial research, this work maps primarily to immunology, therapeutics. It is relevant to mitochondrial dysfunction discourse because the abstract invokes bioenergetics, disease context. That does not by itself establish a validated disease mechanism; it indicates thematic proximity. Because a therapeutic or interventional angle is present, the piece is of interest for mitochondrial-targeted drug hypothesis generation—subject to full-text validation of endpoints and safety context. Server: medrxiv. Posted 2026-08-03. Synthesis confidence is bounded by abstract completeness.

Study design (abstract-level)

BACKGROUND: Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) is a common musculoskeletal pain condition associated with myofascial trigger points that has been reported to occur in 30-93% of patients who present with musculoskeletal pain. Patients aged 18 to 65 years with clinically diagnosed MPS (Simons et al. Native Himalayan Shilajit 250 mg daily was administered as add-on therapy for 49 days.

Principal findings

1. The main outcome was the percentage of participants with more than or equal to 30% VAS reduction at Day 49.
2. Mean VAS score declined from 6.63 (SD 1.08) at baseline to 3.63 (SD 1.72) at Day 49 (mean reduction 45.3%; Friedman Chi-square= 278.5, p<0.001).
3. The first signs of pain reduction were seen at Day 24.
4. The number of analgesic doses consumed decreased by 75.5% during the study period (chi-square = 126.1, p<0.001).
5. There was a significant reduction in trigger point count from baseline to Day 49 (p=0.031) of 23.4%.

Limitations of this brief

• This Mitos brief is an abstract-level synthesis of a preprint; it is not peer review and not a substitute for reading the full paper.
• Preprint status: findings may change with revision or journal review.
• Effect sizes, n numbers, statistics, and full experimental controls are typically incomplete at abstract resolution.
• Primary source: medrxiv DOI 10.64898/2026.07.24.26357716 (posted 2026-08-03).

Open scientific questions

• Which specific experimental panels in the full paper establish the strongest causal claim, and how robust are the controls?
• What dose, timing, and off-target profile would be required to take the intervention seriously as a therapeutic hypothesis?
• How do these findings sit relative to prior literature on the same pathway—replication, contradiction, or incremental extension?

Bottom line

For mitochondrial biologists focused on immunology, therapeutics, this preprint is worth full-text review if the topic matches your program. Abstract-level takeaway: The main outcome was the percentage of participants with more than or equal to 30% VAS reduction at Day 49. Confirm methods, effect sizes, and controls in the full PDF before citing the result as established.

Bibliographic record

Abstract-based editorial synthesis by Mitos. Not peer review.