What are the properties of Maca in supplements?

Maca - References & External links

Maca (Lepidium Meyenii)

The references to scientific articles about Maca are not meant to imply that any products treat, cure, or diagnose any disease or human condition. We encourage our audience to do their own research beyond the resources we have provided so your decision is as educated as possible.

• The general properties of Maca:
  • GONZALES, Gustavo F. Ethnobiology and Ethnopharmacology of Lepidium Meyenii (Maca), a Plant From the Peruvian Highlands. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012, 2012: . PMID:21977053
  • GONZALES-ARIMBORGO, Carla. Acceptability, Safety, and Efficacy of Oral Administration of Extracts of Black or Red Maca (Lepidium Meyenii) in Adult Human Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Pharmaceuticals, 2016, 9.3: 49. PMID:27548190
• The properties of Maca against Menopause syndrome:
  • BROOKS, Nicole A. Beneficial Effects of Lepidium Meyenii (Maca) on Psychological Symptoms and Measures of Sexual Dysfunction in Postmenopausal Women Are Not Related to Estrogen or Androgen Content. Menopause, 2008, 15.6: 1157-1162. PMID:18784609
    Conclusions: Preliminary findings show that Lepidium meyenii (Maca) (3.5 g/d) reduces psychological symptoms, including anxiety and depression, and lowers measures of sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women independent of estrogenic and androgenic activity.
  • MEISSNER, H. O.; et al. Use of Gelatinized Maca (Lepidium Peruvianum) in Early Postmenopausal Women. International journal of biomedical science: IJBS, 2005, 1.1: 33. PMID:23674952
    Conclusions: It is reasonable to suggest that Maca-GO when used in EPMW, depending on the length of use, was acting as a toner of hormonal processes as reflected by decrease in FSH and increased LH secretion, which stimulated production of both ovarian hormones, E2 and PG and resulted in a substantial reduction of menopausal discomfort felt by women participating in the study, with a distinctive placebo effect, thus, fully justifying further, more complex study on effectiveness of Maca-GO as a reliable alternative to HRT program.
  • MEISSNER, H. O.; et al. Hormone-Balancing Effect of Pre-Gelatinized Organic Maca (Lepidium Peruvianum Chacon): (III) Clinical Responses of Early-Postmenopausal Women to Maca in Double Blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Crossover Configuration, Outpatient Study. International journal of biomedical science: IJBS, 2006, 2.4: 375. PMID:23675006
• The properties of Maca supporting Men's Health / Prostate:
  • GONZALES, Gustavo Francisco; et al. Maca (Lepidium Meyenii Walp), a Review of its Biological Properties. Revista peruana de medicina experimental y salud publica, 2014, 31.1: 100-110. PMID:24718534
  • YI, Fan; et al. In Silico Profiling for Secondary Metabolites From Lepidium meyenii (Maca) by the Pharmacophore and Ligand-Shape-Based Joint Approach. Chinese medicine, 2016, 11.1: 42. PMID:27708692
    Conclusion: In silico target fishing identified maca's traditional effects on treatment and prevention of osteoporosis, prostate cancer, and kidney diseases, and its potential function of treating cardiovascular diseases, as the most important of this herb's possible activities.
• The properties of Maca as a Female Aphrodisiac:
  • STOJANOVSKA, Lily; et al. Maca Reduces Blood Pressure and Depression, in a Pilot Study in Postmenopausal Women. Climacteric, 2015, 18.1: 69-78. PMID:24931003
    Conclusions: Maca did not exert hormonal or immune biological action in the small cohort of patients studied; however, it appeared to reduce symptoms of depression and improve diastolic blood pressure in Chinese postmenopausal women. Although results are comparable to previous similar published studies in postmenopausal women, there might be a cultural difference among the Chinese postmenopausal women in terms of symptom reporting.
• The properties of Maca as an Aphrodisiac:
  • LEE, Myeong Soo; et al. The Use of Maca (Lepidium Meyenii) to Improve Semen Quality: A Systematic Review. Maturitas, 2016, 92: 64-69. PMID:27621241
  • ABARIKWU, Sunny O.; ONUAH, Chigozie Linda; SINGH, Shio Kumar. Plants in the Management of Male Infertility. Andrologia, 2020, 52.3: e13509. PMID:31989693
  • AOKI, Yusuke; et al. Effect of Lepidium meyenii on in Vitro Fertilization via Improvement in Acrosome Reaction and Motility of Mouse and Human Sperm. Reproductive medicine and biology, 2019, 18.1: 57-64. PMID:30655722
    Conclusions: Maca improved in vitro fertilization rates by inducing an acrosome reaction and increasing sperm motility.