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Effect of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy men
Author(s) -
Gonzales G. F.,
Córdova A.,
Vega K.,
Chung A.,
Villena A.,
Góñez C.,
Castillo S.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
andrologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1439-0272
pISSN - 0303-4569
DOI - 10.1046/j.1439-0272.2002.00519.x
Subject(s) - testosterone (patch) , placebo , mood , sexual desire , psychology , depression (economics) , anxiety , medicine , free testosterone , endocrinology , sex hormone binding globulin , clinical psychology , psychiatry , androgen , human sexuality , hormone , gender studies , alternative medicine , pathology , sociology , economics , macroeconomics
Summary. This study was a 12‐week double blind placebo‐controlled, randomized, parallel trial in which active treatment with different doses of Maca Gelatinizada was compared with placebo. The study aimed to demonstrate if effect of Maca on subjective report of sexual desire was because of effect on mood or serum testosterone levels. Men aged 21–56 years received Maca in one of two doses: 1500 mg or 3000 mg or placebo. Self‐perception on sexual desire, score for Hamilton test for depression, and Hamilton test for anxiety were measured at 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment. An improvement in sexual desire was observed with Maca since 8 weeks of treatment. Serum testosterone and oestradiol levels were not different in men treated with Maca and in those treated with placebo (P:NS). Logistic regression analysis showed that Maca has an independent effect on sexual desire at 8 and 12 weeks of treatment, and this effect is not because of changes in either Hamilton scores for depression or anxiety or serum testosterone and oestradiol levels. In conclusion, treatment with Maca improved sexual desire.