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evidence · mechanism · dose
Supplements/Herb

Maca

aka Lepidium meyenii

Andean root associated with libido improvement and energy without hormone changes.

Libido & Sexual HealthEnergy ProductionFertilityWomen's Health

Overview

Andean root associated with libido improvement and energy without hormone changes.

Natural sources
  • Lepidium meyenii root
Common forms
  • Black, red, yellow maca
  • Gelatinized maca

Mechanism of action

Mechanism unclear; does not change testosterone or estrogen significantly.

Pathways
  • · Unknown (likely CNS)

Effects on the body

Supports
Libido (without hormone changes)
Supports
Sperm parameters

Organ system effects

Reproductive

Increases libido & sperm concentration.

Evidence-based benefits

Improves sexual desire

Moderate evidence

Improves sperm concentration/motility

Moderate evidence

Reduces SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction

Moderate evidence

Potential side effects

Common
  • · GI upset
Rare
    Serious

      Drug interactions

      No notable interactions reported.

      Safety & non-supplemental interactions

      Educational summary — always confirm with your clinician or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or combining with prescription therapy.

      Avoid if you are
      • ·Pregnant or breastfeeding (insufficient safety data)
      • ·Children under 18 (unless directed by a clinician)

      Supplement interactions

      Pairs well with

      None listed.

      Avoid combining with

      No specific avoidances listed.

      Dosing & bioavailability

      Typical dose
      1.5–3 g/d
      Study range
      1.5–3 g/d for 8–12 weeks

      Where to buy

      Affiliate-style search links to reputable retailers. We don't endorse specific brands — verify third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Sport) before purchase.

      Herb
      Maca
      Amazon
      Wide selection · fast shipping
      Herb
      Maca
      iHerb
      Global delivery · curated brands
      Herb
      Maca
      Thorne
      Practitioner-grade · NSF tested

      Scientific evidence (10)

      Systematic reviewBMC Complement Altern Med · 2010

      Maca (Lepidium meyeri) for improvement of sexual function in men

      Shin BC, et al.

      Review of 4 RCTs evaluating maca for sexual dysfunction.

      Key findings

      Maca improved sexual desire after ≥6 weeks at 1.5–3 g/d.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Maca — Improves sexual desire

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Maca Improves sexual desire" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Maca and "Improves sexual desire". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Maca — Improves sperm concentration/motility

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Maca Improves sperm concentration/motility" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Maca and "Improves sperm concentration/motility". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Maca — Reduces SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Maca Reduces SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Maca and "Reduces SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Maca — randomized controlled trial

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Maca randomized controlled trial" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Maca and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Maca — meta-analysis

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Maca meta-analysis" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Maca and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Maca — pharmacokinetics

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Maca pharmacokinetics" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Maca and "pharmacokinetics". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Maca — safety adverse events

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Maca safety adverse events" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Maca and "safety adverse events". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Maca — dose response

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Maca dose response" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Maca and "dose response". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewGoogle Scholar · 1970

      Google Scholar: Maca — clinical evidence

      Live Scholar search

      Cross-database citation index for Maca as it relates to "clinical evidence".

      Key findings

      Includes preprints, theses, and journal articles. Useful for tracking citation counts and follow-on work.

      Open study
      Educational use only. This profile is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic condition.