Objective: To examine the estrogenic and androgenic activity of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) and its effect on the
hormonal profile and symptoms in postmenopausal women.
Design: Fourteen postmenopausal women completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover
trial. They received 3.5 g/day of powered Maca for 6 weeks and matching placebo for 6 weeks, in either order, over
a total of 12 weeks. At baseline and weeks 6 and 12 blood samples were collected for the measurement of estradiol,
follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and sex hormoneYbinding globulin, and the women completed
the Greene Climacteric Scale to assess the severity of menopausal symptoms. In addition, aqueous and methanolic
Maca extracts were tested for androgenic and estrogenic activity using a yeast-based hormone-dependent reporter
assay.
Results: No differences were seen in serum concentrations of estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing
hormone, and sex hormoneYbinding globulin between baseline, Maca treatment, and placebo (P 9 0.05). The
Greene Climacteric Scale revealed a significant reduction in scores in the areas of psychological symptoms,
including the subscales for anxiety and depression and sexual dysfunction after Maca consumption compared with
both baseline and placebo (P G 0.05). These findings did not correlate with androgenic or >-estrogenic activity
present in the Maca as no physiologically significant activity was observed in yeast-based assays employing up to
4 mg/mL Maca extract (equivalent to 200 mg/mL Maca).
Conclusions: Preliminary findings show that Lepidium meyenii (Maca) (3.5 g/d) reduces psychological
symptoms, including anxiety and depression, and lowers measures of sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal
women independent of estrogenic and androgenic activity.