Maca is a traditional Peruvian cruciferous plant that has been used for centuries for its edible and medicinal properties. It grows only in the Andes Mountains at an altitude of 4,000 to 4,500 meters, in a habitat of extreme cold, strong sunlight, low oxygen and strong winds, which makes it tough because few plants can survive in this environment.
The main and edible part of the plant is a radish-like tuber (the hypocotyl, 10-14 cm long and 3-5 cm wide), which constitutes the lower cotyledons and the root of the plant. After natural drying, the size of the hypocotyl is sharply reduced to 2-8 cm.
There is a great genetic diversity in the morphology of maca roots, with different weights (1-5 kg), different shapes (spherical, oval, spherical oval, spindle), and various colors (white, cream, yellow, orange, red and purple), each with different biological characteristics.
The Function of Maca Extract Powder
1. Maca and Fertility
Testosterone levels have been declining among men in developed countries since the 1970s, most likely due to the insufficiency of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the environment. Likewise, sperm count has also shown a significant downward trend. Research shows that sperm counts decline by about 1% each year, and have fallen by about 50% to 60% since 1970. It turns out that maca root may be helpful in this regard, as some evidence suggests that it actually helps.
For example, a 2001 study showed that supplementing with maca root may increase sperm production, count, and motility. Likewise, a 2015 study showed that a control group that consumed maca root daily had a significant increase in sperm count and motility compared to a placebo group. Additionally, according to another study published in the Journal of Andrology, control subjects who took maca for 12 weeks had significantly higher sperm concentrations than those in the placebo group.
However, a 2016 literature review suggested that while the evidence was encouraging, more research was needed to draw firm conclusions.
2. Maca and erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction (ED) remains a common concern for millions of people around the world. In the United States alone, more than 50% of men between the ages of 40 and 70 suffer from erectile dysfunction. As a result, preparations such as maca root that may help optimize men's function are gaining popularity as a preventive measure. Related research evidence seems to support this. For example, a 2009 study found that supplementing with maca root may significantly improve sexual health in patients with erectile dysfunction.
Likewise, in a 2019 study, the effects of maca root extract taken together with Chinese chive extract were observed. Researchers found that taking the two extracts together may have a better impact on men's function than taking each separately. Additionally, the authors of a 2010 literature review found that maca root may increase men's sexual interest. However, the study authors note that more research is still needed to draw more definitive conclusions.
3. Maca and Mood, Anxiety, and Depression
Mental health issues such as anxiety and depression have become a major issue over the past few years. For example, a 2008 study published in the Journal of Menopause showed that taking 3.5 grams of maca root daily may have a moderating effect on psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression in postmenopausal women. Similarly, in another study, 29 postmenopausal women in Hong Kong were divided into two groups and took 3.3 grams of maca or a placebo daily for six weeks. The researchers found that taking maca root may significantly control blood pressure and depression symptoms compared to the placebo group.
In addition, a large number of animal studies also support this claim. For example, a 2019 laboratory study showed that supplementing with maca root may have the effect of soothing anxiety and depression. Studies have shown that maca may reduce some important parameters related to stress, such as cortisol (also known as the stress hormone) levels and some other related hormone levels.
4. Maca and Menopausal Symptoms
For many women, navigating menopause can be challenging. The good news is that supplements like maca root can be very beneficial during and after menopause. Research suggests that taking maca root may not only enhance sexual performance and mental health, but may also help manage menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, nervousness, palpitations, and disrupted sleep.
In a 2006 study of 124 postmenopausal women, researchers concluded that supplementing with maca may help alleviate some of the uncomfortable symptoms of postmenopause and may help reduce reliance on hormone replacement therapy. As a result, maca root has become a good option for women seeking alternative treatments to relieve menopausal discomfort.
5. Maca Benefits for Learning and Memory
Whether age-related or not, memory problems such as dementia have become a major health issue worldwide. Unfortunately, there is no easy cure for memory problems, which greatly increases the importance of alternative remedies. Numerous studies have shown that adaptogens such as maca root may help with neurological health. Maca root may help optimize learning and memory.
A 2007 animal study found that maca root may modulate memory loss caused by scopolamine, an alkaloid commonly used to treat motion sickness and postoperative nausea and vomiting. Meanwhile, a 2011 study found that maca root may alleviate ethanol-induced memory loss in laboratory mice. However, whether this approach applies to humans has yet to be determined.
Similarly, a 2016 study showed that maca root may also slow age-related cognitive decline. However, large-scale human studies are needed to draw definitive conclusions.
6. Maca May Boost Energy and Endurance
Some evidence suggests that maca root, as a possible energy-boosting supplement, may increase energy and endurance. A 2017 study showed that maca root may enhance antioxidant activity in muscle and improve muscle mitochondrial levels in laboratory mice. Another study also showed that maca root supplementation may help the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, which supports carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism and has an energy-boosting effect.
In addition to animal studies, human studies have also shown that maca root supplementation may improve mood, energy, and health-related quality of life.
Interestingly, according to a 2020 literature review, a variety of high-altitude plants may have these health benefits. Researchers found that high-altitude plants like maca root may significantly boost energy by preventing brain damage, boosting energy, regulating metabolism, and acting as a compound to reduce inflammation.
7. Maca Benefits for Skin Health
Among other health benefits, some evidence suggests that maca root may help protect the skin from harmful effects of UV radiation. Maca may have significant antioxidant activity on the skin. It may help protect the skin from lipid peroxidation, a series of reactions in which lipids are oxidatively degraded, leading to cell membrane damage and cell death. In addition, maca root contains a variety of nutrients, including alkaloids, polyphenols, and sterols. These compounds have been shown to have photoprotective effects on the skin.
8. Maca and the Body's Defense System
Research suggests that maca root may also strengthen the body's defense system. Many animal studies have shown that maca root extract may increase the activity of macrophages, CD4+ T cells, and white blood cells in general. White blood cells, including macrophages, neutrophils, and T cells (lymphocytes), are one of the body's important defenses against foreign invaders such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. At the same time, managing stress levels is also crucial to maintaining a strong body defense system.
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