Maca reduces blood pressure and depression, in a pilot study in postmenopausal women

Abstract

Objective: Lepidium meyenii (Maca), a herbaceous plant, has been used for centuries for its fertility enhancing and aphrodisiac properties. In an Australian study, Maca improved anxiety and depressive scores. The effects of Maca on hormones, lipids, glucose, serum cytokines, blood pressure, menopausal symptoms and general well-being in Chinese postmenopausal women were evaluated Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study was conducted in 29 postmenopausal Hong Kong Chinese women. They received 3.3 g/day of Maca or placebo for 6 weeks each, in either order, over 12 weeks. At baseline, week 6 and week 12, estradiol, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), full lipid profiles, glucose and serum cytokines, were measured. The Greene Climacteric, SF-36v2, Women's Health Questionnaire and Utian quality of life, scales were used to assess the severity of menopausal symptoms and health related quality of life.Results: There were no differences in estradiol, FSH, TSH, SHBG, glucose, lipid profiles and serum cytokines amongst those who received Maca as compared to placebo group, however, a significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure was apparent after Maca treatment. The Greene Climacteric Scale revealed lower scores in the areas of psychological symptoms, including anxiety and depression following Maca. SF-36v2 showed stronger improvement in general and mental health when compared to baseline, whilst the women's health questionnaire showed improvement in depression and anxiety symptoms following Maca consumption. The Utian quality of life scoring did not show any differences in all domains tested.Conclusions: Maca does not exert hormonal or immune biological action in the small cohort of patients studies, however, it appears to reduce symptoms of depression and improve diastolic blood pressure in Chinese postmenopausal women. Although results are comparable to previous similar published studies in postmenopausal women, there might be a cultural difference among the Chinese postmenopausal women in terms of symptom reporting.

Lepidium meyenii

“…In a randomised, double-blind, placebocontrolled crossover study of 29 postmenopausal Hong Kong Chinese women, maca treatment did not exert hormonal or immune biological action in the small cohort of patients; however, it appeared to reduce symptoms of depression and improve diastolic blood pressure (Stojanovska et al 2014 ). Although results were comparable to previous similar published studies in postmenopausal women, there might be a cultural difference among the Chinese postmenopausal women in terms of symptom reporting.…”

Royal jelly attenuates nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by inhibiting oxidative stress and regulating the expression of circadian genes in ovariectomized rats

“…Although HRT has been reported to inhibit the development of NAFLD, it also results in unexpected adverse effects (Florentino et al, ; Gutierrez‐Grobe, Ponciano‐Rodríguez, Ramos, Uribe, & Méndez‐Sánchez, ; Mintziori et al, ). As HRT is controversial, the use of natural products has recently attracted more attention (Kim et al, ; Stojanovska et al, ). A phytol‐enriched diet has been reported to influence the fatty acid metabolism via PPARα‐dependent and ‐independent pathways.…”

Antioxidants in Maca (Lepidium meyenii) as a Supplement in Nutrition

“…Although macamides content is higher in black maca, red one enhanced the health score of human suffered from chronic mountain illness [55]. It has been shown in women that postmenopausal symptoms such as anxiety, depression and sexual dysfunction are reduced without being dependent on reproductive hormones [56,57]. Similar effects were also observed in men.…”

“…Some studies suggested that maca consumption is well tolerated and has no adverse effect [55]. On the contrary, some studies have reported negative effects on blood pressure [57,63,64].…”