Maca
Root of Lepidium meyenii or Lepidium peruvianum used as a food and supplement. Black, red, yellow, raw, gelatinized, and concentrated preparations differ chemically, so results from one preparation should not be generalized to all products. Human trials are generally small and focus on sexual function, subjective wellbeing, or performance.
Pharmacokinetic model
A route-level PK model for maca is being prepared from published data. Dosing references, studies, and documented interactions are below; the app catalog is updated as models are validated.
Key facts
- Category
- Herb
- Suggested cadence
- once daily
Research behind this entry
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Exploring the chemical and pharmacological variability of Lepidium meyenii: a comprehensive review of the effects of maca
Review documents substantial chemical variability across ecotypes, growing conditions, and processing and summarizes a mixed preclinical and clinical literature. It notes generally good reported tolerance but calls for…
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Effects of Black Maca supplement on isokinetics muscular performance of elite women's handball players: placebo-controlled, crossover study
Eight adolescent elite handball athletes completed a small placebo-controlled crossover experiment using 2,500 mg concentrated black maca for four weeks. Several performance measures improved, but the tiny, specialized…
2 published studies referenced in the app, each with a plain-language summary.