Super Maca Supplement - Energising Maca to Improve Sexual Function

Super Maca is a dietary supplement containing maca standardised to 0.6% macamides and macaenes, the most active compounds for supporting sexual function. This is the highest amount on the market.

Ethically-produced on the high plateaus of the Peruvian Andes, it helps to stimulate sexual desire and invigorate the body in both men and women, as does extract of Tongkat ali.

Who is Super Maca aimed at?

Super Maca is designed for several different groups of people:

• men suffering from erectile dysfunction (1) ;
• anyone wishing to improve their sexual performance (2) ;
• men looking to regain normal spermatogenesis (3) (though the ‘black’ maca ecotype appears to be more effective in this respect [4]) ;
• men with benign prostatic hyperplasia or enlarged prostate (though the ‘red’ ecotype appears to be more effective in this respect) ;
• those with general weakness and fatigue, lacking in vitality.

What exactly is Maca?

Maca is the tuber of Lepidium peruvianum, a cruciferous plant which grows exclusively in harsh conditions at high altitudes (more than 4000m above sea level), primarily in Peru. It resembles a yellow turnip (though there are other varieties) and has a pleasant, nutty, caramel taste.

It’s traditionally used by Native Americans to increase fertility and fortify the body.

Which of maca’s compounds are responsible for its alleged effects?

Traditionally, maca would have been dried till it was rock-hard, after which it was boiled to make a juice.

When dried, maca contains 60% carbohydrates, 10% protein, numerous sterols including sitosterol, ergosterol, campesterol, brassicasterol and ergostadienol, glucosinolates (known for their anti-proliferative activity and thus beneficial for the prostate) as well as two essential compounds, macamides (also called benzylalkamides) and macaenes (5). It is these last two compounds which are responsible for maca’s effects on sexual function. They are polyunsaturated fatty acids which normally account for 0.012% of the total dry mass. In Super Maca, however, they represent 0.6% of dry matter as a result of a proprietary extraction process.

Maca’s impact on sexual function does not appear to come from any effect on testosterone production. Instead, maca appears to influence androgenic receptors and activate the production of IGF-1 in specific tissues (6). Several studies have demonstrated its aphrodisiac properties, both in animals (7) and humans (8-9).

Which ecotype is in Super Maca?

There are several maca ecotypes, each with a different colour and chemical composition (10). ‘Black’ and ‘red’ maca contain more glucosinolates, whereas ‘yellow’ maca has a higher content of macaenes, macamides and phenols (11).

As Super Maca is a ‘yellow’ ecotype, it’s focused more on sexual function. The acid soil of the high Peruvian plateaus, rich in organic matter and perfect for maca, gives it an exceptionally rich composition.

How long should you take Maca for?

Extract of maca does not act in the same way as a drug.

Studies show that a period of 8 weeks’ supplementation is needed to provide a long-lasting increase in sexual desire, sexual activity and even mood (12-14). The effects on spermatogenesis seem to require even lengthier supplementation: four months according to one study (15).

In all cases, it’s necessary to take a daily dose of around 1500mg. No significant side-effects have been observed and several clinical studies have shown long-term use of maca to be safe.

A scientific study on this atypical plant:
Gustavo F. Gonzales Carla Gonzales Cynthia Gonzales-Castañeda, Lepidium meyenii (Maca): A Plant from the Highlands of Peru – from Tradition to Science, Forsch Komplementmed 2009;16:373–380 Published online: December 16, 2009 DOI: 10.1159/000264618

Updated: 30/01/2019

Notes

This product should not be used to replace a varied, balanced diet or healthy lifestyle. Follow the advice on use, the recommended daily dose and the use-by date. Not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or for children under 15. Keep out of young children’s reach. Store in a cool, dry place.

1. McKay, D. Nutrients and botanicals for erectile dysfunction: examining the evidence. Altern Med Rev 2004;9(1):4-16. 15005641
2. Cicero, A. F., Bandieri, E., and Arletti, R. Lepidium meyenii Walp. improves sexual behaviour in male rats independently from its action on spontaneous locomotor activity. J Ethnopharmacol 2001;75(2-3):225-229. 11297856
3. Lee MS, Lee HW, You S, Ha KT. The use of maca (Lepidium meyenii) to improve semen quality: A systematic review. Maturitas. 2016 Oct;92:64-69. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2016.07.013. Epub 2016 Jul 21.
4. Gonzales, C., Rubio, J., Gasco, M., Nieto, J., Yucra, S., and Gonzales, G. F. Effect of short-term and long-term treatments with three ecotypes of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) on spermatogenesis in rats. J Ethnopharmacol 2-20-2006;103(3):448-454. 16174556
5. WU, H., KELLY, C.J., PINO-FIGUEROA, A., VU, H.D. & MAHER, T.J. (2013): Macamides and synthetic analogs as in vitro fatty acid amide inhibitors. Bioorg. Med. Chem., 21, 5188–5197.
6. Miller MJ, Ahmed S, Bobrowski P, Haqqi TM: The chrondoprotective actions of a natural product are associated with the activation of IGF-1 production by human chondrocytes despite the presence of IL1beta. BMC Complement Altern Med 2006;6:13.
7. B. L. Zheng, K. He, C. H. Kim, L. Rogers, Y. Shao, Z. Y. Huang, Y. Lu, S. J. Yan, L.C. Qien, and Q. Y. Zheng. Effect of a lipidic extract from Lepidium meyenii on sexual behavior in mice and rats. Urology 55, 2000: 598–602.
8. N. A. Brooks, G. Wilcox, K. Z. Walker, J. F. Ashton, M. B. Cox, and L. Stojanovska. Benecial effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on psychological symptoms and measures of sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women are not related to estrogen or androgen content. Menopause 15, 2008: 1157–1162.
9. F. Gonzales, A. Cordova, K. Vega, A. Chung, A. Villena, C. Goñez, and S. Castillo. Effect of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy men. Andrologia 34, 2002: 367–372
10. GONZALES, G.F. (2012): Ethnobiology and ethnopharmacology of Lepidium meyenii (Maca), a plant from the Peruvian highlands. Evid. Based Complement. Alternat. Med., eCAM, 193496. doi:10.1155/2012/193496LENTZ
11. CLÉMENT, C., DIAZ GRADOS, D.A., AVULA, B., KHAN, I.A., MAYER, A.C., PONCE AGUIRRE, D.D. & KREUZER, M. (2010): Infl uence of colour type and previous cultivation on secondary metabolites in hypocotyls and leaves of maca (Lepidium meyenii Walpers). J. Sci. Food Agric., 90, 861–869.
12. Gonzales GF, Córdova A, Vega K, Chung A, Villena A: Effect of Lepidium meyenii (maca), a root with aphrodisiac and fertility-enhancing properties, on serum reproductive hormone levels in adult healthy men. J Endocrinol 2003;176:163–168
13. Gonzales GF, Cordova A, Vega K, Cheng A, Villena A, Gonez C, Castillo S: Effect of Lepidium meyenii (maca) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy men. Andrologia 2002;34:367–372.
14. Gonzales GF: Biological effects of Lepidium meyenii, maca, a plant from the highlands of Peru; in Singh VK, Bhardwaj R, Govil JN, Sharma RK (eds): Natural Products. Series: Recent Progress in Medicinal Plants, vol 15. Houston, TX, Studium Press, 2006, pp 217–242
15. Gonzales GF, Córdova A, Gonzales C, Cheng A, Vega K, Villena A: Improved sperm count after administration of Lepidium meyenii (maca) in adult men. Asian J Androl 2001;3:301–304.