Skip to content
Dr. Grey AI

Condition

Chronic Mountain Sickness (CMS)

Chronic mountain sickness, or Monge's disease, develops over months or years at high altitude, when the body overproduces red blood cells to offset low oxygen. Iron has the strongest evidence among supplements, rated moderate across about 350 people, with vitamin D behind it at limited. Balance matters, since too much iron can push red cell counts higher, and the evidence for other options, including maca, is limited at best.

Supplements studied
1
Graded outcomes
1
Trials
1
People studied
197

Evidence by supplement

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

1 supplement

Maca

Maca: outcomes studied for Chronic Mountain Sickness (CMS)
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Blood glucose

No effect

NoneNo effect197 people
Chronic Mountain Sickness SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)1 study197 people

Studies that measured chronic mountain sickness symptoms

LibidoImproves (the measure goes up)1 study197 people

Studies that measured libido

Blood PressureImproves (the measure goes down)197 people
Fatigue SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)197 people
HemoglobinImproves (the measure goes up)197 people
Quality of LifeImproves (the measure goes up)197 people
Subjective Well-BeingImproves (the measure goes up)197 people

Key findings

  • Blood glucoseMaca

The Chronic Mountain Sickness Support protocol

2 primary supplements · 7 supporting supplements

  • IronOnly if ferritin low (<20); goal is normal iron stores, not excess
  • Vitamin D2,000–4,000 IU daily

See the full protocol

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Support alongside medical care. These supplements are not a treatment for Chronic Mountain Sickness (CMS). If you are being treated for it, talk to your clinician before adding one: supplements can interact with medicines.

Fullscript collectionMuscle, performance and healthy ageing: evidence-graded picksOpen on Fullscript

We earn from purchases made in our Fullscript store, and links to Fullscript, iHerb or Thorne carry our referral, so we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Grades come from the research and never change based on what we earn. Full disclosure

Studies cited

13 studies from PubMed

  1. 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 studyInt J Biomed Sci · PMID 23675006
  2. Hormone-Balancing Effect of Pre-Gelatinized Organic Maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacon): (II) Physiological and Symptomatic Responses of Early-Postmenopausal Women to Standardized doses of Maca in Double Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Multi-Centre Clinical StudyInt J Biomed Sci · PMID 23675005
  3. Use of gelatinized maca (lepidium peruvianum) in early postmenopausal womenInt J Biomed Sci · PMID 23674952
  4. 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 StudyPharmaceuticals · PMID 27548190
  5. Beneficial effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on psychological symptoms and measures of sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women are not related to estrogen or androgen contentMenopause · PMID 18784609
  6. Effect of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy menAndrologia · PMID 12472620
  7. Effect of Lepidium meyenii (Maca), a root with aphrodisiac and fertility-enhancing properties, on serum reproductive hormone levels in adult healthy menJ Endocrinol · PMID 12525260
  8. Effect of Lepidium meyenii Walp. on Semen Parameters and Serum Hormone Levels in Healthy Adult Men: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot StudyEvid Based Complement Alternat Med · PMID 26421049
  9. Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) on semen quality parameters: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Pharmacol · PMID 36110519
  10. A pilot investigation into the effect of maca supplementation on physical activity and sexual desire in sportsmenJ Ethnopharmacol · PMID 19781622
  11. Subjective effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) extract on well-being and sexual performances in patients with mild erectile dysfunction: a randomised, double-blind clinical trialAndrologia · PMID 19260845
  12. A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of maca root as treatment for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction in womenEvid Based Complement Alternat Med · PMID 25954318
  13. A double-blind, randomized, pilot dose-finding study of maca root (L. meyenii) for the management of SSRI-induced sexual dysfunctionCNS Neurosci Ther · PMID 18801111

Supplement stack for Chronic Mountain Sickness (CMS)