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Maca root: What It Is, What the Evidence Shows and How to Choose a Supplement
Lepidium meyenii · Also known as Peruvian ginseng
BioMedic Africa Editorial Desk
Published 29 August 2026 · Last updated 29 August 2026 ·
Editorial policy
Maca is a high-altitude Andean root sold worldwide in energy and libido formulas. It is a food-grade ingredient with a modest but real research base, and it is one of the ingredients most often oversold on packaging.
What is maca root?
Maca is the root of Lepidium meyenii, cultivated on the Peruvian altiplano and eaten locally as a food. Yellow, red and black varieties are sold, and their composition is not identical.
Supplement products use dried root powder or concentrated extracts; gelatinised maca has been heat-treated to improve digestibility.
Traditional and regional use
Maca is an Andean staple food and traditional tonic. It has no African traditional history and appears in the region purely as an imported supplement ingredient.
What does the research say?
Evidence, not endorsement. What follows describes published research about the ingredient. It is not a claim about any specific product, and no supplement containing this ingredient may claim to treat a disease.
Small randomised trials have looked at maca in relation to sexual desire, mood and menopausal symptoms, with some positive results and considerable methodological limitations.
Reviews conclude the evidence is limited and call for larger trials.
There is no accepted evidence that maca alters testosterone levels in humans, despite frequent claims to that effect on packaging.
How is it used in supplements?
Maca appears in men’s vitality complexes, women’s hormonal-balance products and energy blends, usually at gram-level doses of powder or a stated extract ratio.
Forms and sources
- Dried root powder
- Gelatinised maca powder
- Concentrated extracts in capsules
- Blended energy powders
Safety
- Eaten as a food in the Andes and generally regarded as well tolerated at usual supplement intakes.
- Long-term high-dose safety has not been thoroughly studied.
- People with thyroid conditions should note that maca belongs to the brassica family, which contains glucosinolates.
Possible side effects
Digestive discomfort and occasional sleep disturbance if taken late in the day.
Interactions
No well-documented drug interactions, but the research base is small; disclose it alongside any hormone-related treatment.
Who should seek professional advice
People with thyroid disease, people with hormone-sensitive conditions, and anyone pregnant or breastfeeding.
How to choose a supplement containing maca root
- Check whether the product is powder or extract, and at what ratio — a gram of extract is not a gram of powder.
- Ignore testosterone claims; they are not supported and are not permitted on labels in the region.
Products containing maca root
Products documented in African markets whose supplier material names this ingredient.
Supplement categories using this ingredient
Related health topics
Frequently asked questions
Does maca contain caffeine?
No. Any energising effect reported by users is not from caffeine, and maca can be taken by people avoiding stimulants.
Is black maca better than yellow?
Varieties differ in composition and a few small studies have compared them, but the evidence is not strong enough to declare one superior.
Related ingredients
References
Medical disclaimer. BioMedic Africa publishes consumer health information and supplement research summaries. It is not a pharmacy, a clinic or a medicines regulator, and nothing here is a diagnosis, a prescription or a treatment plan. Dietary supplements are foods, not medicines: they are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Speak with a pharmacist or a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, living with a long-term condition, or taking prescription medication.