People mainly take Maca for libido, energy, mood. Based on 139 first-hand reports and 13 meta-analyses & systematic reviews in the medical literature. Ranked #332 of 1,974 overall.
Of reports that state an outcome, 53% are positive.
Of the people who reported each effect, the share who said it got better.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from PubMed, with their published conclusions.
3+ meta-analyses or systematic reviews and 10+ randomized controlled trials in humans. The grade measures how much human research exists — read the conclusions below for what it found.
Conclusion: Conclusion: The evidence from the included studies suggests unclear effects of maca on semen quality parameters in both men experiencing infertility and healthy men. However, the total number of RCTs and the total sample size were too small to draw firm conclusions.
PubMed 36110519 ↗Conclusion: In summary, there is some weak evidence to suggest that several botanical extracts may be effective in reducing the appearance of skin aging but no evidence that this effect is enduring. Independent replications with larger, more diverse samples, longer treatment durations and more rigorous study designs are required to validate these preliminary findings.
PubMed 21087067 ↗Conclusion: The inconsistencies might have been related to intervention-related factors, such as duration or dose. Furthermore, conclusions may be different if other health benefits are considered.
PubMed 29557436 ↗Conclusion: A high frequency of 1-1-1/1 RCC in MaCa has been described. Most systematic review reports confirm that two-rooted MaCa are found considerably less frequently than single-rooted ones.
PubMed 34639498 ↗As stated by users — not a recommendation. Follow the label or your doctor.
How often each side effect came up across all reports.
Verbatim quotes, shortened only — each links to the original discussion.
“Maca;”
“2 Capsules Maca Root from Nutra Champs”
“*Maca* - Trying 1 bag of Ecoideas Black Maca”
“Maca is pretty great for sex drive, but I only take it to keep up with my FWB”
“Maca.”
User data from public discussions; research from PubMed. Information only, not medical advice — talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. Data updated October 2, 2026. How we rate