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Maca Supplements Reviewed by ConsumerLab.com

Summary

  • 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") Although different colors of maca, (i.e. red, black and yellow) are sometimes promoted as having different effects, these claims are based on animal studies, there do not appear to be any studies comparing the effects of different colors of maca in people (see ConsumerTips).
  • 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 root powder supplement brands compared in this review

View Larger Image 2751_small_BotanicChoice-Maca-Small-2015.jpg

Botanic Choice Maca

View Larger Image 2758_small_GaiaHerbs-Maca-Small-2015.jpg

Gaia Herbs Gelatinized Maca Powder

View Larger Image 2752_small_GNC-Maca-Small-2015.jpg

GNC Herbal Plus Maca Root

View Larger Image 2753_small_MacaMagic-Maca-Small-2015.jpg

Maca Magic

View Larger Image 2754_small_NaturesWay-Maca-Small-2015.jpg

Nature's Way Maca Root

View Larger Image 2759_small_NavitasNaturals-Maca-Small-2015.jpg

Navitas Naturals Maca

View Larger Image 2755_small_NutriGold-Maca-Small-2015.jpg

NutriGold Maca Gold

View Larger Image 2761_small_PlntByV-Maca-Small-2015.jpg

Plnt by V Maca (Vitamin Shoppe)

View Larger Image 2756_small_Solray-Maca-Small-2015.jpg

Solaray Maca

View Larger Image 2757_small_Swanson-Maca-Small-2015.jpg

Swanson Maca Powder

View Larger Image 2760_small_Vega-Maca-Small-2015.jpg

Vega Maca

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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Additional Information
Tested through CL's Quality Certification Program prior to, or after initial posting of this Product Review.