Maca (Lepidium meyenii), a plant in the mustard family has been used in the Andes to manage anemia, infertility, and female hormone balance.

Researchers in South Korea and the UK reviewed the evidence for relieving symptoms of menopause.

First, the details.

• 4 studies of maca-based treatment were reviewed
• Each used a placebo control.
• All patients were healthy peri-menopausal, early postmenopausal, and late postmenopausal women.

And, the results.

• All studies reported favorable effects of maca on menopausal symptoms.

The bottom line?

Despite the positive results, the authors concluded, “The results of our systematic review provide limited evidence for the effectiveness of maca as a treatment for menopausal symptoms.”

The small number of studies, small number of participants, and the average quality of study design limited their ability to draw firm conclusions.

The safety of maca has not been proved.

10/19/11 22:13 JR