Maca is a root vegetable traditionally cultivated and used in Peru, and sometimes referred to as the "Peruvian ginseng." According to the New York University Mangone Medical Center, Maca has been used as a traditional remedy to increase energy, stamina and virility in men and women. Maca has not gone through extensive safety testing, and though two separate human clinical trials have not revealed serious adverse health effects, you should always use caution when using a dietary supplement.
Maca Effects
Dietary supplement manufacturers market Maca as a supplement people can use to improve male and female fertility, sexual function and stamina. However, according to the NYU Mangone Medical Center, there is no reliable scientific evidence that supports these claims. Maca also does not appear to increase testosterone levels or affect other hormone levels.
Safety
The NYU Mangone Medical Center reports that the two main clinical trials testing maca on human subjects revealed no serious adverse side effects. The studies tested dosages of between 1,000 and 3,000 mg, and though they reported results of increased male libido and sperm function, both had methodology problems; the results of the studies are not reliable.
Other Potential Benefits
Maca manufacturers also tout the root's ability to treat other medical conditions, such as menopausal symptoms. To date, there are no clinical tests to support maca's beneficial effects for infertility, menopauseal symptoms, sexual perormance, strength, stamina or as a cancer treatment, according to the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Though maca has been used for many years in Peru, it appears to have neither significant benefits nor harmful health effects.
Government Action
The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for overseeing the safety and health effects of the nation's foods and medicines. Maca root typically qualifies as a nutritional supplement. The FDA does not have to approve the sale of nutritional supplements. Maca root, as a botanical, qualifies as a dietary ingredient, and manufacturers have to ensure their products are safe before they sell them. The FDA can recall a product it finds to be unsafe, but it does not approve dietary supplements before they are introduced.
