Supplement

Maca

Maca is a root vegetable from the high Peruvian Andes, long eaten as food and used traditionally as an adaptogen, meaning a plant thought to help the body handle stress. People mostly look at it for sexual desire and function, and the evidence is limited: a small trial found libido went up. That pilot study followed only 20 sportsmen, so it says little about women, older adults, or long-term use.

Sources: PMID 19781622

Updated 30 September 2026
How we grade
13 studies cited

Best evidence: Grade B
Conditions studied: 13
Outcomes: 89
Graded outcomes: 0165

Evidence by condition

Strong
Moderate
Limited
Very limited

13 conditions

Infertility

Infertility: outcomes studied for Maca
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Estrogen Small Increase	Worsens (the measure goes up)	Small effect	1 study	76 people
Studies that measured estrogen 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
	Follicle-Stimulating Hormone	Improves (the measure goes up)		3 studies	76 people
Studies that measured follicle-stimulating hormone 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 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 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
	Sperm Count	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	135 people
Studies that measured sperm count Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) on semen quality parameters: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Pharmacol · PMID 36110519
	Testosterone	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	76 people
Studies that measured testosterone Effect of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy menAndrologia · PMID 12472620
	Luteinizing Hormone	Improves (the measure goes up)			76 people
	Prolactin	Improves (the measure goes up)			56 people
	Serum T4	Improves (the measure goes up)			20 people
	Sperm Quality	Improves (the measure goes up)			20 people
	Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone	Improves (the measure goes up)			20 people

Male Sexual Dysfunction

Male Sexual Dysfunction: outcomes studied for Maca
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Estrogen Small Increase	Worsens (the measure goes up)	Small effect	1 study	56 people
Studies that measured estrogen 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
	Follicle-Stimulating Hormone	Improves (the measure goes up)		3 studies	56 people
Studies that measured follicle-stimulating hormone 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 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 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
	Libido	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	8 people
Studies that measured libido A pilot investigation into the effect of maca supplementation on physical activity and sexual desire in sportsmenJ Ethnopharmacol · PMID 19781622
	Testosterone	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	56 people
Studies that measured testosterone Effect of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy menAndrologia · PMID 12472620
	Luteinizing Hormone	Improves (the measure goes up)			56 people
	Prolactin	Improves (the measure goes up)			56 people

Sexual Dysfunction

Libido: improves
Sexual Function: improves

Sexual Dysfunction: outcomes studied for Maca
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Libido Moderate Increase	Improves (the measure goes up)	Moderate effect	1 study	20 people
Studies that measured libido A pilot investigation into the effect of maca supplementation on physical activity and sexual desire in sportsmenJ Ethnopharmacol · PMID 19781622
	Sexual Function	Improves (the measure goes up)		2 studies	20 people
Studies that measured sexual function A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of maca root as treatment for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction in womenEvid Based Complement Alternat Med · PMID 25954318 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

Menopause

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
Blood Pressure
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone: improves

Menopause: outcomes studied for Maca
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Mixed effect				34 people
	Blood Pressure No effect		NoneNo effect		76 people
	Follicle-Stimulating Hormone	Improves (the measure goes up)		3 studies	186 people
Studies that measured follicle-stimulating hormone 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 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 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
	Progesterone	Improves (the measure goes up)		3 studies	186 people
Studies that measured progesterone 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 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 Use of gelatinized maca (lepidium peruvianum) in early postmenopausal womenInt J Biomed Sci · PMID 23674952
	Estrogen	Changes; see studies		1 study	186 people
Studies that measured estrogen 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
	Bone Mineral Density	Improves (the measure goes up)			34 people
	Cortisol	Improves (the measure goes down)			34 people
	Heart Rate	Improves (the measure goes down)			42 people
	High-density lipoprotein (HDL)	Improves (the measure goes up)			136 people
	Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)	Improves (the measure goes down)			136 people
	Luteinizing Hormone	Improves (the measure goes up)			186 people
	Menopausal Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)			186 people
	Serum T3	Improves (the measure goes up)			34 people
	Serum T4	Improves (the measure goes up)			34 people
	Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone	Improves (the measure goes up)			34 people
	Total cholesterol	Improves (the measure goes down)			136 people
	Triglycerides	Improves (the measure goes down)			136 people
	Weight	Improves (the measure goes down)			76 people

Female Sexual Dysfunction

Anxiety Symptoms: improves
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone: improves
Sexual Function: improves

Female Sexual Dysfunction: outcomes studied for Maca
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Anxiety Symptoms Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect		16 people
	Follicle-Stimulating Hormone	Improves (the measure goes up)		3 studies	16 people
Studies that measured follicle-stimulating hormone 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 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 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
	Sexual Function	Improves (the measure goes up)		2 studies	61 people
Studies that measured sexual function A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of maca root as treatment for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction in womenEvid Based Complement Alternat Med · PMID 25954318 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
	Estrogen	Changes; see studies		1 study	16 people
Studies that measured estrogen 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
	Depression Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)			16 people
	Luteinizing Hormone	Improves (the measure goes up)			16 people
	Menopausal Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)			16 people
	Sex Hormone Binding Globulin	Improves (the measure goes up)			16 people

Metabolic Health

Anxiety Symptoms: improves
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone: improves
Sexual Function: improves

Metabolic Health: outcomes studied for Maca
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Anxiety Symptoms Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect		16 people
	Follicle-Stimulating Hormone	Improves (the measure goes up)		3 studies	16 people
Studies that measured follicle-stimulating hormone 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 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 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
	Sexual Function	Improves (the measure goes up)		2 studies	16 people
Studies that measured sexual function A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of maca root as treatment for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction in womenEvid Based Complement Alternat Med · PMID 25954318 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
	Estrogen	Changes; see studies		1 study	16 people
Studies that measured estrogen 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
	Blood glucose	Improves (the measure goes down)			197 people
	Blood Pressure	Improves (the measure goes down)			197 people
	Depression Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)			16 people
	Fatigue Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)			197 people
	Hemoglobin	Improves (the measure goes up)			197 people
	Luteinizing Hormone	Improves (the measure goes up)			16 people
	Menopausal Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)			16 people
	Quality of Life	Improves (the measure goes up)			197 people
	Sex Hormone Binding Globulin	Improves (the measure goes up)			16 people

Erectile Dysfunction

Erections: improves
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone: improves
Testosterone: improves

Erectile Dysfunction: outcomes studied for Maca
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Erections Small Increase	Improves (the measure goes up)	Small effect		50 people
	Follicle-Stimulating Hormone	Improves (the measure goes up)		3 studies	50 people
Studies that measured follicle-stimulating hormone 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 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 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
	Testosterone	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	50 people
Studies that measured testosterone Effect of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy menAndrologia · PMID 12472620
	Luteinizing Hormone	Improves (the measure goes up)			50 people
	Prolactin	Improves (the measure goes up)			50 people
	Subjective Well-Being	Improves (the measure goes up)			50 people

Sexual Health

Blood glucose
Estrogen: changes; see studies
Libido: improves

Sexual Health: outcomes studied for Maca
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Blood glucose No effect		NoneNo effect		197 people
	Estrogen	Changes; see studies		1 study	57 people
Studies that measured estrogen 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
	Libido	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	254 people
Studies that measured libido A pilot investigation into the effect of maca supplementation on physical activity and sexual desire in sportsmenJ Ethnopharmacol · PMID 19781622
	Testosterone	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	57 people
Studies that measured testosterone Effect of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy menAndrologia · PMID 12472620
	Fatigue Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)			197 people
	Hemoglobin	Improves (the measure goes up)			197 people
	Quality of Life	Improves (the measure goes up)			197 people
	Subjective Well-Being	Improves (the measure goes up)			197 people

Chronic Mountain Sickness (CMS)

Blood glucose
Chronic Mountain Sickness Symptoms: improves
Libido: improves

Chronic Mountain Sickness (CMS): outcomes studied for Maca
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Blood glucose No effect		NoneNo effect		197 people
	Chronic Mountain Sickness Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	197 people
Studies that measured chronic mountain sickness symptoms 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
	Libido	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	197 people
Studies that measured libido A pilot investigation into the effect of maca supplementation on physical activity and sexual desire in sportsmenJ Ethnopharmacol · PMID 19781622
	Blood Pressure	Improves (the measure goes down)			197 people
	Fatigue Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)			197 people
	Hemoglobin	Improves (the measure goes up)			197 people
	Quality of Life	Improves (the measure goes up)			197 people
	Subjective Well-Being	Improves (the measure goes up)			197 people

Cycling Performance

Anaerobic Capacity
Heart Rate: improves
Rating of Perceived Exertion: improves

Cycling Performance: outcomes studied for Maca
Outcome	Effect	Size	People
Anaerobic Capacity No effect		NoneNo effect	8 people
Heart Rate	Improves (the measure goes down)		8 people
Rating of Perceived Exertion	Improves (the measure goes up)		8 people

Mood Improvement

Blood glucose
Libido: improves
Fatigue Symptoms: improves

Mood Improvement: outcomes studied for Maca
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Blood glucose No effect		NoneNo effect		197 people
	Libido	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	197 people
Studies that measured libido A pilot investigation into the effect of maca supplementation on physical activity and sexual desire in sportsmenJ Ethnopharmacol · PMID 19781622
	Fatigue Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)			197 people
	Hemoglobin	Improves (the measure goes up)			197 people
	Quality of Life	Improves (the measure goes up)			197 people
	Subjective Well-Being	Improves (the measure goes up)			197 people

Depression

Sexual Function: improves

Depression: outcomes studied for Maca
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Sexual Function	Improves (the measure goes up)		2 studies	45 people
Studies that measured sexual function A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of maca root as treatment for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction in womenEvid Based Complement Alternat Med · PMID 25954318 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

Antidepressant-Induced Sexual Dysfunction (AISD)

Sexual Function: improves

Antidepressant-Induced Sexual Dysfunction (AISD): outcomes studied for Maca
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Sexual Function	Improves (the measure goes up)		2 studies	45 people

Key findings

EstrogenInfertilityWorsens (the measure goes up)
LibidoSexual DysfunctionImproves (the measure goes up)
Adrenocorticotropic HormoneMenopause

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Third-party tested Maca products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.

Grade B

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Studies cited

13 studies from PubMed

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
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
Use of gelatinized maca (lepidium peruvianum) in early postmenopausal womenInt J Biomed Sci · PMID 23674952
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
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
Effect of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy menAndrologia · PMID 12472620
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
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
Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) on semen quality parameters: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Pharmacol · PMID 36110519
A pilot investigation into the effect of maca supplementation on physical activity and sexual desire in sportsmenJ Ethnopharmacol · PMID 19781622
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
A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of maca root as treatment for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction in womenEvid Based Complement Alternat Med · PMID 25954318
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

Evidence by condition

Key findings

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Studies cited

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