- What is maca? Maca root is sold as a starchy powder or gelatinized powder (which may be more digestible), and as extracts (see "What It Is"). Most clinical studies have used the root powder or gelatinized root powder and may, therefore, be preferable to extracts.
- Health benefits of maca supplements: Maca is commonly used to increase stamina and sexual function and improve mood, based on traditional use and evidence from preliminary clinical studies, but there are no large, well-controlled, long-term studies to support these uses. Maca does not appear to affect sexual hormones in men or women. (See "What It Does")
- Maca safety and side effects: Maca root powder has been consumed for centuries as a food source and is considered fairly safe, but reported side-effects include headache, stomach upset, sleep disruption and increased sweating and it may affect liver function and blood pressure. (See "Concerns and Cautions")
- How much maca should I take? A typical dosage of maca root powder used in clinical studies is 1,500 to 3,000 mg (less than one teaspoonful), which can be as loose powder mixed with water or into a beverage, or as several capsules. Capsules typically contain about 500 mg of powder. (See "ConsumerTips™")
- What did CL's tests of maca find? Testing by ConsumerLab.com of maca supplements found several to appear to be authentic based on DNA and microscopic testing. However, one product could not be Approved by ConsumerLab.com due to contamination with lead. (See "What CL Found")
- Best value for maca: Among CL Approved products, the lowest cost per gram (1,000 mg) of powder was 10 cents from a loose maca powder or 12 cents from a loose gelatinized maca root powder. Maca in capsules generally cost a bit more than loose maca powders. (See "Top choices")
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Maca Supplements Review
Choose the Best Maca Supplement. Make Sure Your Maca Supplement Isn't Contaminated With Lead
Reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D.
Maca root powder supplement brands compared in this review
Botanic Choice Maca
Gaia Herbs Gelatinized Maca Powder
GNC Herbal Plus Maca Root
Maca Magic
Nature's Way Maca Root
Navitas Naturals Maca
NutriGold Maca Gold
Plnt by V Maca (Vitamin Shoppe)
Solaray Maca
Swanson Maca Powder
Vega Maca
Make sure the maca supplement you take passed our quality review and is right for you!
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Summary
You must be a member to get the full test results for maca supplements along with ConsumerLab.com recommendations and quality ratings. In this comprehensive review of maca supplements, you'll get test results and quality ratings for 11 supplements (including one that passed our voluntary Quality Certification Program). You'll learn:
- Which maca supplements passed or failed ConsumerLab.com's testing and review
- Quality ratings and comparisons of maca supplements, plus our top choices among Approved products
- The difference between "gelatinized" maca root powder and regular maca root powder
- The dosage of maca taken for different applications and the related clinical evidence
- Potential side effects of maca supplements
- Tips for buying and using maca, and more!
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Related CL Answers (5)
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