Maca vs Zinc for libido
Short answer: For libido, users rate them about the same: 88% report improvement with Maca (112 reports) and 88% with Zinc (95 reports).
Maca has 13 meta-analyses and 13 randomized trials on PubMed; Zinc has 220 and 555.
Based on 299 reports about Maca and 1,264 about Zinc. Not medical advice.
| Maca Supplement | Zinc Supplement | |
|---|---|---|
| User score | 51 | 42 |
| Verdict | Mixed | Mostly positive |
| Positive of reports that state an outcome | 52% | 61% |
| Reports | 299 | 1,264 |
| Research | AResearch: Strong | AResearch: Strong |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | 13 / 13 | 220 / 555 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Weight loss % reporting improvement | — | 100% (3) |
| Appetite % reporting improvement | — | 33% (3) |
| Focus % reporting improvement | 90% (10) | 62% (26) |
| Energy % reporting improvement | 82% (40) | 71% (51) |
| Sleep % reporting improvement | 40% (5) | 82% (68) |
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 43% (7) | 73% (30) |
| Mood % reporting improvement | 87% (30) | 80% (61) |
| Memory % reporting improvement | — | 20% (5) |
| Performance % reporting improvement | 100% (4) | 90% (20) |
| Recovery % reporting improvement | — | 86% (7) |
| Pain & inflammation % reporting improvement | — | 56% (9) |
| Digestion % reporting improvement | 0% (2) | 0% (2) |
| Libido % reporting improvement | 88% (112) | 88% (95) |
| Hormones % reporting improvement | 73% (15) | 89% (63) |
| Heart & lipids % reporting improvement | — | 50% (2) |
| Skin & hair % reporting improvement | — | 81% (32) |
| Immunity % reporting improvement | 100% (2) | 86% (28) |
| Common side effects | anxiety, stomach issues, insomnia, acne | nausea, fatigue, stomach issues, copper depletion |
| Typical dose reported | daily | daily |
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.
Front Pharmacol, 2022 ↗“The better experiences were with gelatinized maca powder, 20g or so in a cup and my cock was hard as El Peñón de Gibraltar.”
Acne patients have decreased serum zinc levels. Zinc is effective for the treatment of acne, particularly at decreasing the number of inflammatory papules, when used as monotherapy or as an adjunctive treatment.
Dermatol Ther, 2020 ↗“I had actual energy in the mornings for the first time I could remember.”
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Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate