International Journal of Sport, Exercise and Health Research 2026; 10(1): 27-32 DOI:10.31254/sportmed.10105

Review Article

Dual-Pathway Mechanistic Framework for Athletic Performance Enhancement: Mitochondrial Bioenergetics of the Shilajit Gold Herbal Complex versus the Phosphagen System of Creatine Monohydrate

Govindarajan Raghavan¹ , Sasibushan Vedula¹

Govindarajan Raghavan,Sasibushan Vedula

1. R & D, Kapiva Academy of Ayurveda, Bengaluru- 560048, Karnataka, India

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 29th June, 2026 / Revised: 1st January, 1970 / Accepted: 8th August, 2026 / Published : 24th August, 2026

Abstract

The ergogenic properties of Ayurvedic compounds have attracted growing scientific interest; however, mechanistic comparisons with established synthetic supplements remain underexplored. This narrative review proposes a mechanistic framework contrasting the mitochondrial bioenergetic pathway of the Shilajit Gold herbal complex (Shilajit, Withania somnifera, Curcuma longa, Tribulus terrestris, Curculigo orchioides and Coffea canephora extract) with the phosphocreatine (PCr) resynthesis pathway of creatine monohydrate, evaluating the evidence supporting the contribution of each component to exercise performance. A battery of in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies were conducted and published across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, mapping evidence for each compound to its primary energy system target. Fulvic acid, withanolides, and curcumin are proposed to form a core that is hypothesized to act through electron transport chain facilitation, PGC-1α-mediated biogenesis, and AMPK activation, respectively. These mechanisms are currently supported mainly by preclinical and in vitro data with clinical evidence largely limited to functional endpoints rather than direct mechanistic confirmation in human skeletal muscle. Tribulus terrestris and Curculigo orchioides are proposed to contribute to amplification, and chlorogenic acid is proposed to function as a metabolic efficiency primer, although evidence for these constituents is limited and conflicting. In contrast, the role of creatine in the phosphagen system is an established mechanism supported by biochemical characterization and decades of replicated controlled trials. The two frameworks are positioned as complementary rather than competing targeting distinct regenerating adenosine triphosphate (ATP) resynthesis timeframes, which is consistent with the existing International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) position on creatine and dietary antioxidants, although no dedicated ISSN position stand yet exists for shilajit or the associated herbs. The Shilajit Gold complex offers a multi-mechanistically plausible, although largely unconfirmed, human skeletal muscle approach to aerobic endurance and recovery, while creatine remains the benchmark supplement for explosive anaerobic performance with an established mechanism of action.