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Maca
Sacred to the Incas, maca is a root vegetable from the Peruvian Andes that has been cultivated as a food and used as a medicine in South America for at least 3,000 years. And for good reason. The purported benefits of maca, a relative of the radish, range from boosting energy and enhancing athletic performance, to improving memory, fertility, hormone imbalance and libido.
In modern times, maca has been studied in relation to its effect on energy and endurance. Studies have shown that maca, which is an adaptogen, improves endurance in both tests on humans and on mice.
Energy is great, but modern studies surely can’t overlook maca’s aphrodisiac properties. Additional research into the use of maca in the treatment of low sexual desire has found evidence to suggest that “maca may also have a beneficial effect on libido.” Other hormonal conditions are also being studied, with evidence suggesting that maca may be a valuable non-hormonal plant preparation for balancing levels of hormones and alleviating negative symptoms experienced by perimenopausal women.
Maca is also being studied for its effects on anxiety and depression, along with its antioxidant properties.
Active constituents
Acyclic keto acid (5-oxo-6E,8E-octadecadienoic acid), beta-sitosterol, macaridine: 1,2-dihydro-N-hydroxypyridine, alkamides (macamides): N-benzyl-5-oxo-6E, 8E-octadecadienamide & N-benzylhexadecanamide, macaenes: N-benzyl-9-oxo-12Z-octadecenamide, N-benzyl-9-oxo-12Z,15Z-octadecadienamide, N-benzyl-13-oxo-9E,11E-octadecadienamide , N-benzyl-15Z-tetracosenamide, N-(m-methoxybenzyl)hexadecanamide, imidazole alkaloids (lepidiline A & lepidiline B), thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin C, calcium, copper, potassium, zinc, and glucosinolates.
Cautions and warnings
If you are taking antidepressants, consult a health care practitioner prior to use.
If you are taking blood thinners, consult a health care practitioner prior to use.
If you have high blood pressure, consult a health care practitioner prior to use.
If you suffer from any psychological disorder and/or condition such as frequent anxiety or depression, consult a healthcare practitioner prior to use.
AVAILABLE RESEARCH
Energy and Endurance
In this randomized, crossover study, eight male cyclists completed 40 km cycling time trial before and after 14 days of using maca then placebo (or vice versa). The results: maca group had improved 40 km cycling time trial performance and sexual desire compared to baseline.
In this study, rats were given 30 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg maca extract for three weeks and then swimming endurance was assessed. Results show that rats supplemented with 30 mg/kg increased swimming endurance by 25%. Rats supplemented with 100 mg/kgx increased swimming endurance by 41%. Thus, lipid soluble maca extract relieves exercise-induced oxidative stress, which improved swimming endurance.
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH
There is ongoing research on the effects of maca as it relates to the following health concerns:
Helps to support healthy mood balance during menopause
In this study, the effects of Pre-Gelatinized Organic Maca (Maca-GO) on quantitative physiological responses and alleviation of symptoms contributing to menopausal discomfort in 20 perimenopausal women was examined. The findings show that “in addition to reduction in body weight, blood pressure and increasing serum HDL and iron, pre-gelatinized Maca-GO may be a valuable non-hormonal plant preparation for balancing levels of hormones (FSH, E2, PG and ACTH) and alleviating negative physiological and psychological symptoms (frequency of hot flushes, incidence in night sweating, interrupted sleep pattern, nervousness, depression and heart palpitations) experienced by women in perimenopausal stage.”
Helps to support emotional aspects of sexual health
In this double-blind, randomized, parallel group dose-finding pilot study, researchers compared a low dose (1.5 g/day) to a high dose (3.0 g/day) maca regimen in 20 remitted depressed outpatients with SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction. The results suggest that “maca root may alleviate SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction, and there may be a dose-related effect. Maca may also have a beneficial effect on libido.”
This study was a 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, parallel-trial, active treatment where different doses of Maca Gelatinizada was compared with placebo on men aged 21 to 56 years. The results showed, that “treatment with Maca improved sexual desire.”
In this randomized, double-blind study, 50 Caucasian men with mild erectile dysfunction were tested on a 12-week trial of 2400 mg maca dry extract or placebo. Researchers then used the IIEF-5 (International Index of Erectile Function) & SAT-P (Satisfaction Profile) before and after 12 weeks of treatment. Results showed significant effect on subjective perception of general and sexual well-being.
Anxiety and Depression
In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, 14 post-menopausal women were given 3.5 g powdered maca for six weeks then placebo for six weeks (or vice versa). The hormones estradiol, FSH, LH and SHBG were measured at baseline, six weeks and 12 weeks and menopausal symptoms were assessed via the Greene Climacteric Scale. Maca extracts were also tested for androgenic and estrogenic activity. Results showed decreased anxiety, depression and sexual dysfunction without an effect on estradiol, FSH, LH or SHBG.
In this randomized, controlled study, 80 ovariectomized female mice were given yellow maca, red maca and black maca for 21 days and given a water finding-task (designed for memory and learning) and a forced swimming test (for depression). Results showed all three types of maca had antidepressant effect but only black maca was beneficial on latent learning.
Provides antioxidants
This work focused on the effect of Maca on lipid, antioxidative, and glucose parameters in hereditary hypertriglyceridemic (HHTg) rats, which are used to assess cardiovascular risk factors. Results demonstrate that “maca seems to be promising for a positive influence on chronic human diseases (characterized by atherogenous lipoprotein profile, aggravated antioxidative status, and impaired glucose tolerance), and their prevention.”
AVAILABLE RESEARCH ON CONTRAINDICATIONS
If you are taking antidepressants, consult a health care practitioner prior to use.
This article presents evidence that MTCA is a natural constituent of Maca and suggests that, when consumed as multi-component, MTCA may lose its adversity as drug action.
If you have high blood pressure, consult a health care practitioner prior to use
The aim of this randomized placebo-controlled, 90-day study was to evaluate the effects of yacon and maca in combination with silymarin on plasma and lipoprotein lipids, serum glucose and safety parameters in patients suffering from the metabolic syndrome. The results found, that “the combination silymarin and yacon appears to be promising as a nutraceutical in the prevention of diseases with a proatherogenic lipoprotein profile and liver steatosis. The effect of maca on AST level and blood pressure must be considered when using high doses of maca powder.”
0.6 g per day of maca resulted in moderate increases in AST levels and diastolic blood pressure (vs silymarin, silymarin + yacon).
If you suffer from any psychological disorder and/or condition such as frequent anxiety or depression, consult a healthcare practitioner prior to use.
This article discusses relations between maca and psychological disorders, and its ability to affect them.
Other research that discusses the safe use of maca
5 g per kg body weight without toxicity.
In vitro studies on rat hepatocytes and human breast cancer cells shows that maca was not hepatotoxic.
Rats given high sucrose diet with maca for two weeks resulted in significantly increased activity of SOD (superoxide dismutase) in the liver, glutathione peroxidase in the blood and levels of glutathione in the liver.