Maca

Maca

Uses

Botanical names:
Lepidium meyenii, Lepidium peruvianum

Parts Used & Where Grown

Maca is a cruciferous vegetable in the mustard family, related to radishes and turnips. Used as food and medicine in the Andes Mountains of Peru, it is not known to occur naturally anywhere else in the world. The four major cultivars of maca are red, black, cream, and purple; none has been definitely proven to be medicinally superior to any other.

What Are Star Ratings?

This supplement has been used in connection with the following health conditions:

Used for Why
2 Stars
Low Libido
1,500 mg or 3,000 mg per day for 8 weeks
In a double-blind study, treatment with maca increased sexual desire in young and middle-aged men. 
In a double-blind study, treatment with maca in the amount of 1,500 mg or 3,000 mg per day for 8 weeks increased sexual desire in young and middle-aged men. The mechanism of action of maca was not clear; it did not appear to be due to an increase in testosterone levels or to an improvement in mood.
2 Stars
Male Infertility
1,500 to 3,000 mg daily
A small clinical trial found that healthy men who took dried maca powder had increased sperm counts and enhanced sperm motility.

A small clinical trial found that healthy men who took dried maca powder had increased sperm counts and enhanced sperm motility.
2 Stars
Menopause
2.5 to 3 grams per day for 6 to 12 weeks
Traditionally used for balancing female hormones, maca appears to be beneficial in treating menopausal symptoms.
Maca (Lepidium meyenii) has been used traditionally for balancing female hormones. A review of randomized controlled trials concluded that maca appeared to be beneficial in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. The amount used in these studies was 2.5 to 3 grams per day for 6 to 12 weeks.
1 Star
Stress
Refer to label instructions
Studies have shown that maca can reduce the negative effects of stress.

The herbs discussed here are considered members of a controversial category known as adaptogens, which are thought to increase the body's resistance to stress, and to generally enhance physical and mental functioning. Many animal studies have shown that various herbal adaptogens have protective effects against physically stressful experiences, but whether these findings are relevant to human stress experiences is debatable.

Animal studies have shown that maca can reduce the negative effects of stress; however, whether maca is effective in humans is unknown.

Traditional Use (May Not Be Supported by Scientific Studies)

Maca root has been an important food for the native people in the Andes of Peru, including the Incas, for at least 2,000 years.1 It is eaten baked, dried, mixed with milk, or in a variety of other forms and dishes. It is also traditionally believed to enhance strength, endurance, libido, and fertility.2

How It Works

Botanical names:
Lepidium meyenii, Lepidium peruvianum

How It Works

Maca contains substantial quantities of protein, fat, fiber, and minerals including iron, which also contribute to its nutritional value. It also contains glucosinolates,3 the strong-smelling compounds that are responsible for the pungent smell and taste of mustard family plants. Neither these nor any other constituents in maca have definitively been shown to contribute to its actions.

Preliminary studies have shown that maca can increase libido in healthy men.4 It does this without influencing levels of testosterone or any other sex hormones.5 Healthy men who take maca have also been shown to have increased semen volume, increased sperm counts, and enhanced sperm motility.6

Numerous animal studies show that maca extracts can increase sex drive and improve fertility.7, 8, 9 Other studies support that it can relieve the negative effects of stress reactions.10 The red cultivar, though not the black or cream, also reduced enlarged prostates in rats.11

How to Use It

The amount used successfully in studies so far has been 500 to 1,000 mg three times per day of dried root powder in capsules.12

Interactions

Botanical names:
Lepidium meyenii, Lepidium peruvianum

Interactions with Supplements, Foods, & Other Compounds

At the time of writing, there were no well-known supplement or food interactions with this supplement.

Interactions with Medicines

As of the last update, we found no reported interactions between this supplement and medicines. It is possible that unknown interactions exist. If you take medication, always discuss the potential risks and benefits of adding a new supplement with your doctor or pharmacist.
The Drug-Nutrient Interactions table may not include every possible interaction. Taking medicines with meals, on an empty stomach, or with alcohol may influence their effects. For details, refer to the manufacturers' package information as these are not covered in this table. If you take medications, always discuss the potential risks and benefits of adding a supplement with your doctor or pharmacist.

Side Effects

Botanical names:
Lepidium meyenii, Lepidium peruvianum

Side Effects

Glucosinolates can cause goiter (swollen thyroid gland with decreased activity) if taken in excess combined with a low-iodine diet. Though this is documented to occur with other glucosinolate-rich foods, it is not known if maca causes goiter.

References

1. Valentova K, Ulrichova J. Smallanthus sonchifolius and Lepidium meyenii - prospective Andean crops for the prevention of chronic diseases. Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub 2003;147:119-30.

2. Smith E. Maca root: Modern rediscovery of an ancient Andean fertility food. J Amer Herbalists Guild 2003;4:15-21.

3. Piacente S, Carbone V, Plaza A, Zampelli A, Pizza C. Investigation of the tuber constituents of maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.). J Agric Food Chem 2002;50:5621-5.

4. Gonzales GF, Cordova A, Vega K, et al. Effect of Lepidium meyenii (maca) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy men. Andrologia2002;34:367-72.

5. Gonzales GF, Córdova A, Vega K, et al. Effect of Lepidium meyenii (maca), a root with aphrodisiac and fertility-enhancing properties, on serum reproductive hormone levels in adult healthy men. J Endocrinol 2003;176:163–8.

6. Gonzales GF, Cordova A, Gonzales C, et al. Lepidium meyenii (maca) improved semen parameters in adult men. Asian J Androl 2001;3:301-3.

7. Cicero AF, Piacente S, Plaza A, et al. Hexanic maca extract improves rat sexual performance more effectively than methanolic and chloroformic maca extracts. Andrologia2002;34:177-9.

8. Gonzales GF, Ruiz A, Gonzales C, et al. Effect of Lepidium meyenii (maca) roots on spermatogenesis of male rats. Asian J Androl 2001;3:231-3.

9. Ruiz-Luna AC, Salazar S, Aspajo NJ, et al. Lepidium meyenii (maca) increases litter size in normal adult female mice. Reprod Biol Endocrinol2005;3:16.

10. Lopez-Fando A, Gomez-Serranillos MP, Iglesias I, et al. Lepidium peruvianum Chacon restores homeostasis impaired by restraint stress. Phytother Res 2004;18:471-4.

11. Gonzales GF, Miranda S, Nieto J, et al. Red maca (Lepidium meyenii) reduced prostate size in rats. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2005;3:5.

12. Gonzales GF, Cordova A, Gonzales C, et al. Lepidium meyenii (maca) improved semen parameters in adult men. Asian J Androl 2001;3:301-3.

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