Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society Vol. 15, No. 6, pp. 1157/1162 * 2008 by The North American Menopause Society

Study objective:

To examine the estrogenic and androgenic effects of maca on women’s hormonal profiles and menopausal symptoms.

Forty postmenopausal women participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. They were divided into two groups:

Group A took 3.5 grams of maca powder daily for six weeks, followed by placebo for six weeks.

Group B took placebo for six weeks, followed by 3.5 grams of maca powder daily for six weeks.

Mean age was 53.5 years, and the study lasted 12 weeks. Blood tests of hormone profiles were performed at weeks 6 and 12, and questionnaires assessed menopausal symptom severity using the Greene Climacteric Scale.

Study results:

In both groups, estrogen, FSH, LH and other sex hormones showed no changes from baseline during either maca or placebo use.

Questionnaires showed reduced anxiety and depression and improved sexual desire in women taking maca compared with placebo.

Both groups showed a 27–30% reduction in menopausal symptoms during maca use compared with placebo periods. Anxiety symptoms decreased by 30.8% and depression symptoms by 27%. Sexual dysfunction and libido improved by an average of 34.6%.

Overall, the Greene Climacteric Scale score decreased by 18%.

Researchers’ conclusion:

Maca can reduce psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression and improve sexual function in postmenopausal women without affecting hormone levels, owing to activity of a monoamine-enzyme-inhibiting type.

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