On the internet, you’ll find a wealth of claims that maca root helps with various health issues. But in most cases, rigorous scientific evidence (that is, recent randomized controlled trials in big populations of humans) to support these claims is lacking.
“There’s not enough evidence at this time to say if you take this you will for sure see this benefit,” Ibarra says. “The research is limited. They’re great studies, but we need larger samples.”
That said, here are some of the potential benefits of maca root.
It May Boost Libido
“Studies in both men and women have shown increases in libido without any shift in hormone levels,” says Bliss Lewis, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist and an integrative medicine doctor at the Mind Body Seven in Brooklyn, New York. She notes that these studies are small, older, and have inconsistent results, so it’s not necessarily conclusive evidence.
It Could Ease Menopause Symptoms
There’s some evidence to show that maca root may help treat symptoms of menopause, like sexual dysfunction, depression, and anxiety.
But these studies are small and preliminary, says Dr. Lewis.
It Could Improve Erectile Dysfunction
One study found that men with mild erectile dysfunction who took 2,400 milligrams (mg) of maca for 12 weeks reported notable improvement in performance compared with a placebo group.
This is a randomized, double-blind trial, says Lewis, which is the gold standard. But the study is “still relatively small, so we’re only beginning to fully understand how maca works on a biochemical level,” she adds. As a result, newer and bigger studies are needed to better understand the effect of maca on erectile dysfunction.
It Could Improve Semen Quality
A study found that men with reduced sperm motility or a low sperm count who took 2 grams (g) of maca root for 12 weeks saw improvements in sperm concentration compared with those taking the placebo. “It’s not clear if this translates to improved fertility, however,” says Casey Kelley, MD, an integrative and functional medicine doctor based in Chicago.
More research that focuses on the long-term effects of these sperm changes in larger groups of people would be needed to prove that this claim is true.