Maca and reproductive health claims reviewed
What it found
The evidence for maca as a fertility and libido enhancer is inconclusive, with most studies in animals and only small trials in people.
The authors say the health claims cannot be fully supported.
What they found
Studies in people
Male fertility in people
Small trials in men showed improvements in sperm motility after 3 months of maca, but other trials found no significant change. The evidence remains inconclusive.
Sexual desire in people
Some small trials in men found increased sexual desire after 8 to 12 weeks of maca, but larger trials are needed to confirm these results.
Animal and lab studies
Chemical compounds
Compounds unique to maca, such as macamides and glucosinolates, have been found, but their role in health effects cannot be confirmed due to lack of data.
Male fertility in animals
In rats and other animals, some maca extracts increased certain sperm production stages, but results varied by maca colour and extract type. Overall sperm count was not always affected.
Other findings
Traditional uses
Andean people have used maca for over 1,300 to 2000 years as food and medicine, including as a tonic and fertility enhancer for humans and cattle.
Global market growth
Maca demand grew dramatically after the 1990s, especially in China, where it is now cultivated widely. This shift to mass production with fertilisers and pesticides may affect the plant's composition and product quality.
What the authors conclude
- They note that the indigenous knowledge about maca has been taken out of context to fit market demands.
- They warn that the lack of protocols to regulate production and marketing poses a threat to consumer safety and supply sustainability.
How it was done
Maca has been promoted as a remedy for reproductive problems in men and women, and the authors wanted to assess whether these claims are justified.
The authors searched databases like EMBASE and hand-searched for peer-reviewed articles and reports about maca, covering literature up to May 2017.
What it can’t tell you
- Most studies were in animals, so they cannot show what happens in people.
- The clinical trials in people were small and had inconsistent methods, so they cannot provide firm conclusions.
- This review cannot determine the exact compounds in maca responsible for any effects.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- UCL School of Pharmacy, United Kingdom
The paper
- Title
- Is the hype around the reproductive health claims of maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) justified?
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Beharry S, Heinrich M (2018). Is the hype around the reproductive health claims of maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) justified?. Journal of ethnopharmacology. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2017.08.003Free full textPubMed 28811221DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error