Maca
Maca is a plant from the Peruvian Andes whose underground part is traditionally eaten after heating or drying and milling. It is also sold as powders, capsules and tablets.
Also listed as Organic Black Maca Root Powder, Lepidium meyenii, Maca root, Peruvian Ginseng
What side effects have been reported?
Memorial Sloan Kettering lists reports of stomach symptoms, cramps, insomnia, mood changes and altered menstrual cycles. Reports alone do not tell us how often these occur or prove maca caused them. They do show why “plant-based” is not a complete safety description. 1
When does the context matter?
MSK advises discussing maca with a clinician in pregnancy or breastfeeding and with hormone-sensitive cancers. It also reports possible interference with testosterone blood tests; an unexpected result may need interpretation in light of supplement use. 1
An interaction with the blood-pressure medicine losartan has been observed in hypertensive rats. Its relevance to people remains unknown. This is an animal safety signal to flag, not a demonstrated human interaction. 1
Studied doses are not safety limits
The trials described here used 1.5–3 g daily for 12 weeks in healthy men and 3.5 g daily during a six-week treatment period in postmenopausal women. These are research exposures, not an established long-term safe intake for all adults. 2 3
In its 2007 assessment, BfR could not derive a safe intake for maca-containing supplements from the available data. That dated assessment documents a safety gap; it should not be presented as a contemporary proof that all maca products are harmful. 4
For information, not individual medical advice. Ingredient studies do not establish the effectiveness of these products.
Sources
- Maca Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center