Botanical guide
Maca
Maca supplements can look deceptively simple. In practice, a raw powder, gelatinised black maca and a 6:1 extract are different products and their milligram numbers are not directly interchangeable.
Compare products ↓What is maca?
Maca is an edible root crop native to the high Andes and belongs to the Brassicaceae family. The underground storage organ is dried and used as food or processed into powders, capsules and extracts. Commercial maca is commonly described as yellow, red or black according to the root phenotype.
Why do people take maca supplements?
Maca is studied particularly in connection with sexual desire and sexual wellbeing. Small clinical trials have reported some positive findings, but the evidence remains limited. Energy, exercise and menopausal wellbeing are other areas of consumer interest.
Sexual function is one of the better-studied consumer themes — but evidence is still limited
A systematic review identified four randomised trials and found some positive results for sexual desire or dysfunction, but concluded that the number of trials, sample sizes and methodological quality were insufficient for firm conclusions. Trials used about 1.5–3.5 g/day of dried or gelatinised maca.
A later review of maca for mild erectile dysfunction likewise found only two eligible randomised trials. The evidence signal is interesting, but not strong enough to treat maca as a proven treatment.
What about menopause and fertility?
Small trials have investigated maca in peri- and postmenopausal women, and an older systematic review found favourable signals but concluded that evidence and safety data were too limited for firm conclusions. Fertility and semen-quality research also exists, but differences in preparations and small study numbers make strong consumer promises inappropriate.
Raw vs gelatinised maca
Does maca colour matter?
Black, red and yellow maca contain somewhat different profiles of secondary metabolites, and preclinical research has suggested colour-specific effects. Human evidence comparing the colours directly is much thinner. A red or black label is therefore a useful product characteristic, not an effectiveness ranking.
Compare maca preparations and daily amounts →What should you compare?
Preparation
Raw powder, gelatinised powder or extract.
Root colour
Yellow, red, black or a blend — useful descriptive information, not a winner badge.
Actual amount per day
Keep the real powder/extract amount separate from “equivalent to X mg root” marketing numbers.
Extract ratio
If present, show it explicitly rather than comparing the equivalent amount with plain powder.
Format
Powder can make multi-gram servings easy; capsules can be more convenient.
Other active ingredients
Zinc, selenium, vitamins or other botanicals can change what the product is actually designed for.
Product comparison
Compare maca supplements
Compare daily amount, amount per unit, serving, preparation, root colour, extract ratio, format and vegan suitability.
| Product | Daily amount | Amount / unit | Recommended serving | Preparation | Root colour | Extract ratio / equivalent | Format | Vegan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Natural Organic Red Maca 10:1 ExtractView product ↗ | 900 mg extract | 450 mg extract | 2 capsules daily | Water/ethanol maca root extract | Red | 10:1; 9,000 mg fresh-maca equivalent/day | HPMC capsule | Yes |
| Salud Viva Premium Gelatinized MacaView product ↗ | 3–9 g | Powder | 3–9 g daily | Gelatinised powder | 34% yellow / 33% red / 33% black | No extract ratio | Powder | Yes |
| Sunday Natural Organic Red Maca GelatinisedView product ↗ | 3–9 g | Powder | 1–3 teaspoons daily | Gelatinised organic root powder | Red | No extract ratio | Powder | Yes |
| Sunday Natural Organic Yellow Maca GelatinisedView product ↗ | 3–9 g | Powder | 1–3 teaspoons daily | Gelatinised organic root powder | Yellow | No extract ratio | Powder | Yes |
| NOW Foods Maca 500 mgView product ↗ | 500–1,500 mg | 500 mg | 1 capsule 1–3× daily | Maca root | Not specified | No extract ratio | Veg capsule | Yes |
EU health claim details
Authorised health claims
No EU-authorised health claim is listed for this ingredient.
On-hold botanical claims
Pending EU-level consideration — not final authorised claims● Sexual desire and libido.Maca · Submitted botanical claim theme
On hold / pending EU-level consideration
Ingredient
Lepidium meyenii (Maca)
Claim ID
2838
EFSA question
EFSA-Q-2008-3571
Regulatory note
This is not a final EU-authorised health claim. The heading summarises the submitted claim theme.
EFSA source record ↗
● Male and female fertility.Maca · Submitted botanical claim theme
On hold / pending EU-level consideration
Ingredient
Lepidium meyenii (Maca)
Claim ID
2839
EFSA question
EFSA-Q-2008-3572
Regulatory note
This is not a final EU-authorised health claim. The heading summarises the submitted claim theme.
EFSA source record ↗
● Bone health during menopause.Maca · Submitted botanical claim theme
On hold / pending EU-level consideration
Ingredient
Lepidium meyenii (Maca)
Claim ID
2840
EFSA question
EFSA-Q-2008-3573
Regulatory note
This is not a final EU-authorised health claim. The heading summarises the submitted claim theme.
EFSA source record ↗
● Sexual function and energy.Maca · Submitted botanical claim theme
On hold / pending EU-level consideration
Ingredient
Lepidium meyenii (Maca)
Claim ID
3416
EFSA question
EFSA-Q-2008-4145
Regulatory note
This is not a final EU-authorised health claim. The heading summarises the submitted claim theme.
EFSA source record ↗
● Energy, stamina and physical and mental performance.Maca · Submitted botanical claim theme
On hold / pending EU-level consideration
Ingredient
Lepidium meyenii (Maca)
Claim ID
3864
EFSA question
EFSA-Q-2008-4580
Regulatory note
This is not a final EU-authorised health claim. The heading summarises the submitted claim theme.
EFSA source record ↗