Here’s what we’ll cover:<\/p>\n
- \n
- What is Maca root?<\/li>\n
- Does it have an affect on libido?<\/li>\n
- Maca root and testosterone – what do the studies say?<\/li>\n
- What\u00a0else can you do to boost your T levels?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nWhat is Maca Root?<\/h2>\n
Lepidium meyenii<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>is a genus, herbaceous plant that grows in central Peru. Commonly known as Peruvian ginseng<\/strong><\/em> or\u00a0Maca Root<\/strong>, <\/em>it\u00a0<\/em>has a similar look to a turnip, but falls within the broccoli family.<\/p>\n
This herb grows exclusively between 4000 and 4500 meters in the central Andes [1] and\u00a0is a cultivated root that has been used in Andean medicine for centuries. Traditionally, the dried roots of the plant have been eaten after boiling in water, or used to make juices with added ingredients such as honey. Some parts of the plant can even be eaten fresh.<\/p>\n
It is a particularly nutritious plant, containing fatty acids, sterols and a number of essential nutrients<\/strong><\/em> such as phytonutrients and alkaloids.<\/p>\n
The root also contains a compound called\u00a0p-methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate <\/strong><\/em>which is claimed has supposed aphrodisiac and fertility-enhancing qualities. History suggests that local Peruvian villagers found living at high altitudes had negative effects on their libido, and that eating this plant helped to enhance sexual appetite and performance.<\/p>\n
\n![\"Peruvian-Ginseng-\"](\"https:\/\/www.testofuel.com\/tf\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Peruvian-Ginseng-.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n\nKey Point:<\/strong> Maca is a nutritious plant found at high altitudes in Peru. It has been used for centuries for its apparent libido-enhancing effects.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nCan Maca Boost Libido?<\/h2>\n
According to the studies the answer would be yes, although not conclusive.<\/p>\n
For example, Zenico et al [2] used\u00a050 men who were all affected by mild erectile dysfunction to see if supplementation with the Peruvian plant extract would improve their sexual performance over a 12-week period.<\/p>\n
The researchers gave one group\u00a0a relatively high dose of 2,400mg and the other a placebo. At 12 weeks, the group that received the Peruvian plant extract reported a small but\u00a0significant improvement in physical and social sexual performance,\u00a0<\/strong>showing that\u00a0subjective perception of general and sexual well-being had improved.<\/p>\n
Interestingly though, the placebo group also showed an increase in sexual performance – although not quite as significant.<\/p>\n
More promising results were published using a group of athletes in the\u00a0Journal of Ethnopharmacology<\/em>\u00a0[3].\u00a0<\/em>In this study, 8 male cyclists were asked to take the supplement over a 14-day period.<\/p>\n
In order to test the effects of the herb on physical performance they completed a time trial before the study, and again at week 12. The volunteers also completed a ‘sexual desire inventory’ questionnaire prior to each visit.<\/p>\n
At 12 weeks, sexual desire had significantly increased\u00a0<\/strong>showing evidence that the herb\u00a0may indeed boost libido. The group\u00a0improved their time trial performance but not any more than a placebo group though.<\/span><\/p>\n
So\u00a0does that mean that it will boost your T levels, or does the increase in sexual performance come from another mechanism altogether? Let’s take a look at what the small number of studies say…<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
\n![\"Maca-Herb-for-T-Boosting\"](\"https:\/\/www.testofuel.com\/tf\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Maca-Herb-for-T-Boosting.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n\nKey Point:<\/strong>\u00a0Maca seems to increase libido and sexual performance, but the effects\u00a0although research is not conclusive.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nDoes Maca Increase Testosterone?<\/h2>\n
There is a surprising lack of empirical research on this herb which in itself is worrying. The studies that have been conducted show very little evidence that it affects your T levels at all. There is some evidence to suggest that the herb has aphrodisiac qualities, but the action doesn’t come from changes to male hormones.<\/p>\n
#Study 1:<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>Gonzales et al [4]<\/p>\n
This study, published in\u00a0Andrologia,\u00a0<\/em>used a group of male volunteers to investigate the effects of the Peruvian herb on mood and sexual desire, and whether any changes were due to increased androgen levels.<\/p>\n
The males were given two doses – 1,500mg or 3,000mg, and some were given a placebo as a way of controlling for variables. At weeks 4, 8 and 12 the group had to complete a questionnaire called the Hamilton test as a way of measuring their state of mind.<\/p>\n
The results found an improvement in sexual desire at week 8, leading the researchers to conclude the herb as an aphrodisiac, <\/strong>however this was not due to changes in\u00a0testosterone\u00a0– T levels\u00a0were unchanged throughout the study.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
#Study 2:<\/strong><\/span> Gonzales et al [1]<\/p>\n
This study, again led by Professor Gustavo Gonzales and his team of researchers, aimed to investigate the effects of his previous study and confirm that Maca had no effect on T levels.<\/p>\n
Over a 12-week period, different doses of the herb were administered to a group of males aged between 21 and 56. The research team measured their testosterone, as well as\u00a0luteinizing hormone<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0follicle-stimulating hormone\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>levels\u00a0– both important regulators of T production.<\/p>\n
The analysis of the results showed that\u00a0Maca had no effect on any of the hormones studied, nor did the hormones show any changes over time.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
#Study 3:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>Gonzales et al [5]<\/p>\n
This study used a longer test period of 4 month to see if the herb extract\u00a0would have any effects on hormone or semen levels.<\/p>\n
The research team found that between 1500-3000mg per day\u00a0increased seminal volume, sperm count per ejaculum, motile sperm count, and sperm motility\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>in the group of healthy males. However, again there were no changes to either testosterone or any other parameter of male hormones.<\/p>\n
\nSummary – Can Maca Boost Testosterone?<\/h2>\n
Maca root is a\u00a0herbaceous plant that grows in central Peru. Commonly known as Peruvian ginseng,\u00a0<\/em>it\u00a0<\/em>has a similar look to a turnip and\u00a0grows exclusively between 4000 and 4500 meters in the central Andes.<\/p>\n
It is a particularly nutritious plant, containing fatty acids, sterols and a number of essential nutrients such as phytonutrients and alkaloids.<\/p>\n
The root contains a compound called\u00a0p-methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate that has been found to have aphrodisiac and fertility-enhancing qualities, with some studies reporting positive effects on sexual performance and libido.<\/p>\n
Research suggests that regardless of the aphrodisiac effects of this plant, it has no effect on testosterone levels at all, including secondary male hormones such as luteinizing hormone or follicle stimulating hormone.<\/p>\n
\nWhat else Boosts Testosterone?<\/h2>\n
\nReferences<\/h2>\n
- \n
- Gonzales, GF et al.\u00a0Effect of Lepidium meyenii (Maca), a root with aphrodisiac and fertility-enhancing properties, on serum reproductive hormone levels in adult healthy men.\u00a0<\/em>J Endocrinol. 2003; 176(1): 163-8<\/li>\n
- Zenico, T et al.\u00a0Subjective effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) extract on well-being and sexual performances in patients with mild erectile dysfunction: a randomised, double-blind clinical trial.\u00a0<\/em>Andrologia. 2009; 41(2): 95-9<\/li>\n
- Stone, M et al.\u00a0A pilot investigation into the effect of maca supplementation on physical activity and sexual desire in sportsmen.\u00a0<\/em>J Ethnopharmacol. 2009; 126(3): 574-6<\/li>\n
- Gonzales, GF et al.\u00a0Effect of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy men.\u00a0<\/em>Andrologia. 2002; 34(6): 367-72.<\/li>\n
- Gonzales, GF et al.\u00a0Lepidium meyenii (Maca) improved semen parameters in adult men.\u00a0<\/em>Asian J Androl. 2001; 3(4): 301-3.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Testosterone is responsible for giving us our muscular frame, strength and virility. It promotes hair growth and voice deepening, and reduces the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and sexual dysfunction. If your goal is to boost your T levels then training hard and eating properly\u00a0should\u00a0at the top of the list – but that’s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1592,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[245,243,244],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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- Gonzales, GF et al.\u00a0Effect of Lepidium meyenii (Maca), a root with aphrodisiac and fertility-enhancing properties, on serum reproductive hormone levels in adult healthy men.\u00a0<\/em>J Endocrinol. 2003; 176(1): 163-8<\/li>\n