Maca for Testosterone

Legendary “Peruvian Ginseng” may help with fertility & libido conditions without altering sex hormone status.

Grown in the S. American Andes mountains, Maca is an ancient herb of increasing value in the West for its potent effects on energy, stamina, & sex. While its role as a bona fide T-booster requires more comprehensive exploration, Maca’s legendary status as a male-enhancer is justifed by its benefits on male health–which include:

• Improved Sperm Quality. Although the mechanism remains a mystery, Maca’s pro-fertility benefits bear clinical promise.
• Enhanced Sex Drive. Backed by both research & reputation, Maca is a potent aphrodisiac.
• Anti-Inflammatory Adaptogenesis. Unlike other adaptogens, this herb seems to counter a by-product of stress (inflammation), rather than stress itself.

Overview

Originating exclusively from the high altitudes of the central Andes, Lepidium meyenii (Maca) is a legendary aphrodisiac botanical that has been cultivated for more than 2000 years for its nutritional, energizing, sex-enhancing benefits.¹

While it’s not technically a ginseng, Maca is commonly referred to as “Peruvian Ginseng” for its A) Primarily Peruvian location, and B) Reputation as a life-giving adaptogenic herb–most of which stems from its reputation as a “high-altitude” remedy for the stresses of “high-altitude” living.

These actions mirror bio-actions of other adaptogenic ginsengs and high-altitude herbs (namely Rhodiola) that are believed to aid sexual function, in addition to sex hormone status & general sexual health. And while Maca fits the profile of a T-boosting adaptogen, its bio-actions on male health (i.e. male hormones) don’t quite meet the adaptogenic modus operandi.

How Maca Might Help Masculine Health

Admittedly, the underlying mechanisms of Maca’s aphrodisiac action remain largely unknown & preclinical. But here’s how we think Maca helps male health:

Improves Sperm Quality

In both modern & traditional medicine, Maca is believed to possess pro-fertility capabilities–namely due to its demonstrated benefits on sperm quality. Maca might aid male fertility by increasing:

• Sperm production
• Sperm motility

Researchers suggest this is due to an increased response to sex hormones while consuming Maca.²

Reduces Inflammatory Markers

In the high Andean altitudes where Maca is traditionally grown & consumed, the stress of high elevations has shown increases in Interleukin-6 (IL-6)–an inflammatory cytokine associated with negative health outcomes when found in excess. Additionally, low IL-6 levels correlate with health T levels.³

By combating the oxidative stress that promotes inflammation, Maca has shown to decrease IL-6 levels–which either relates to optimized T levels, Maca acting as a T mimic, or another unknown function(s).⁴

Protects Prostate Health

Most Maca research on prostate health stems from preclinical animal trials, which don’t necessarily translate to human health–regardless, the results show promise for male health all the same.

Under conditions of abnormal prostate growth, Zinc (major T-boosting mineral) levels are often found in excess in and around the organ. Administering Maca during such conditions resulted in:

• Returns to normal prostate sizes.
• Decreases in excess Zinc levels.

Whether this relates to Maca’s potential action on sex hormones remains to be seen.⁵

Research

Animal Research

The running narrative on Maca is that it’s an aphrodisiac, not a T-booster. Human trials support this, but animal research offers conflicting evidence. For instance, one study on male rats found that Maca increased:

• Serum T levels (T in bloodstream)
• Area of Leydig cells (site of T production)
• Weight of seminal vesicles (site of semen production)⁶

Granted, this study used a unique hydroalcoholic extract of black Maca, the results are optimistic with regards to Maca’s general T-boosting abilities. Additional rat research showed that “higher effect on reproductive parameters was elicited with a dose of 1 g extract/kg corresponding to 2.2 g dry Maca hypocotyls/kg”—indicating a dose-response to Maca’s effects on sexual health.⁷

Yet, whether Maca’s T benefits are particular to rats or not remains unknown, as human research spins a different tale:

Human Research

Maca improves sexual desire independent of sex hormones and mood.

In 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial, men aged between 21-56 years were administered either 1,500 mg or 3,000 mg Maca daily or placebo for 12 weeks to determine whether the resulting self-perception of sexual desire correlates with mood or serum T levels. Both T & estrogen levels were assessed.

• While improvements in sexual desire were observed after 8 weeks of Maca supplementation, T & estrogen levels were unchanged. Additionally, mood measures of depression & anxiety were unaffected by Maca as well, leading to the observation that “Maca has an independent effect on sexual desire” with regards to mood & sex hormones in adult healthy men.⁸

Both high & low Maca dosages show no effect on sex hormone levels.

Following the previous study, the same researchers took another crack at administering Maca while observing sex hormone levels, except this time including more comprehensive measures of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone, and 17-beta estradiol. Another sample of healthy 21-56 year olds were administered 1,500 or 3,000 mg Maca daily or placebo for 12 weeks and tested at the 2, 4, 8, and 12 week markers.

• Compared with placebo, Maca had no effect on any of the hormones studied—nor did any of the hormones change at any point during the 12-week period. Considering that T isn’t a necessary option for increasing libido in T-healthy individuals, Maca makes for an interesting alternative for “healthy adult men”—possibly possessing “testosterone-like” effects. Regardless, the researchers concluded that “Maca does not affect serum reproductive hormone levels.”⁹

Maca improves several measures of sperm quality.

Filling in another puzzle piece on the mystery of Maca’s aphrodisiac properties, this small study administered 1,500 or 3,000 mg/day to men aged 24-44 for 12 weeks to determine the effects of Maca on semen quality—in addition to sex hormone levels.

• Predictably, Maca showed no changes on sex hormones, but “improved sperm production and sperm motility by mechanisms not related to LH, FSH, prolactin, testosterone, and estrogen.” The researchers reasoned that while Maca doesn’t alter hormone levels, it may improve the response to FSH—which would explain the increased sperm production.²

Animal research aside, Maca shows little potential for boosting testosterone, but seems to significantly increase libido and fertility. Although it bears mentioning that in a systemic review on Maca the cumulative research on the herb has been classified as “too limited to draw firm conclusions” and that “more rigorous studies are warranted.”¹¹

Dosage

The standard dose for Maca ranges from:

• 1,500 – 3,000 mg daily
• Typically split into 3 servings

Bear in mind, Maca is technically a food, as opposed to a dietary supplement, and thus is regulated as one (which is to say it’s not regulated). But this can be complicated by Maca supplements, or Maca extracts, which are more potent than raw Maca—thus, requiring smaller dosages.

Side Effects

Both humans and rats have withstood high Maca dosages over a decent length of time with no significant toxicity reports. As such, Maca is labelled as SAFE—even in the traditional technique of boiling 20+ grams of Maca to drink.¹²

Any chance of side effect will depend on the specific extract or brand, so be sure to do your own personal research on a specific Maca product before supplementing it.

Available Forms

Traditionally, Maca is consumed in its plain, raw form–typically after being ground and boiled in water. While this practice is upheld in both traditional & Western medicines, Maca can also be found in capsule, tablet, powder, & liquid form. In terms of potency, Maca’s range includes:

• Plain Maca. Most naturalists prefer plain, raw Maca in powder form due to its complete, unaltered chemical profile.
• Maca Extract. Extracting Maca for certain active constituents (i.e. glucosinolates) can increase the potency of Maca’s bio-activities. Yet, this depends entirely on the what and how much is extracted from Maca for it to be effective.
• Maca Standardized. Most standardized Maca products offer an extract of 0.6% glucosinolates, which seems to work best for pill-form Maca.

What about Gelatinized Maca? Beginning in the 1990s, gelatinized Maca has been produced–which involves the pressurized removal of Maca’s starch content, making Maca easier to digest. Some Maca enthusiasts claim this is the only way to consume Maca; Others complain that it eliminates too many Maca nutrients. Then there’s some who simply state that it doesn’t even matter. As of now, no research supports any of these claims.

References