Maca is a Peruvian plant of the Brassicaceae family cultivated for more than 2000 years, which grows exclusively in the central Andes between 4000 and 4500 m altitude. Maca is used as a food supplement and also for its medicinal properties described traditionally.
Interest in maca has in increased worldwide during the last 10 years. Maca is used since childhood and mainly after hypocotylsis (the stem of a germinating seedling) it is naturally dried. The consumption is mainly as juices, and the variety that they consume is a mixture of different colors of the hypocotyls
Experimental scientific evidence showed that maca has nutritional, energizer, and fertility-enhancer properties, and it acts on sexual dysfunctions, osteoporosis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, memory and learning, and protects skin against ultraviolet radiation. Clinical trials showed efficacy of maca on sexual dysfunctions as well as increasing sperm count and motility. Maca is a plant with great potential as an adaptogen and appears to be promising as a nutraceutical in the prevention of several diseases.
Memory and Learning:
While traditional descriptions of maca did not mention its effects on memory and learning, native communities in the central Peruvian Andes have observed improved school performance in children who consume maca.
Experimental studies have shown that the black variety of maca has positive effects on learning and memory in animal models. Specifically, black maca improved memory in mice with induced memory impairment and ovariectomized mice.
Studies suggest that black maca's antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities contribute to its ability to improve memory. 📚🧠
Maca and Metabolic Syndrome:
Studies on maca's effects on metabolic syndrome have yielded mixed results. While some studies reported no adverse effects, others found slight increases in AST levels and diastolic blood pressure. However, maca has shown promise in reducing blood pressure and inhibiting angiotensin I-converting enzyme activity, which may be beneficial for hypertension management. 🩺💊
Maca and Osteoarthritis:
In combination with other supplements, maca has been studied for its effects on osteoarthritis. One study showed significant improvements in pain, stiffness, and functioning in patients with osteoarthritis who received maca supplementation. However, more research with placebo controls is needed to confirm these effects. 🦴🌱
Sources:
Gustavo F. Gonzales, Ethnobiology and Ethnopharmacology of Lepidium meyenii (Maca), a Plant from the Peruvian Highlands, Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, Published online 2011 Oct 2
Dongho Shin and al, Efficacy and Safety of Maca (Lepidium meyenii) in Patients with Symptoms of Late-Onset Hypogonadism: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial, World J Mens Health, Published online 2023 Jan 1