Lepidium meyenii (Maca) improved semen parameters in
adult men.
Gonzales GF, Cordova A, Gonzales C, Chung A, Vega K, Villena A.
Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Philosophy and
Instituto de Investigaciones de la Altura, Universidad Peruana Cayetano
Heredia, Lima, Peru. iiad@upch.edu.pe
AIM: The present study was designed to determine the effect of a 4-month
oral treatment with tablets of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on seminal analysis
in nine adult normal men aged 24-44 years old. METHODS: Nine men received
tablets of Maca (1500 or 3000 mg/day) for 4 months. Seminal analysis was
performed according to guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Serum luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH),
prolactin (PRL), testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) were measured before
and after treatment. RESULTS: Treatment with Maca resulted in increased
seminal volume, sperm count per ejaculum, motile sperm count, and sperm
motility. Serum hormone levels were not modified with Maca treatment.
Increase of sperm count was not related to dose of Maca. CONCLUSION: Maca
improved sperm production and sperm motility by mechanisms not related to
LH, FSH, PRL, T and E2.
