MACA Cancer Impacts: the good and the concerning...

What You Should Know About Maca: Cancer Support or Cause for Caution?

Researched and Written by Keith Bishop, Clinical Nutritionist, Cancer Coach, Retired Pharmacist and Founder of Prevail Over Cancer

Maca root (Lepidium meyenii) extract is a worldwide consumed food supplement for sexual dysfunctions, increasing sperm production and its motility, and alleviating menopausal symptoms. Various bioactivities of maca include enhanced reproductive health, antifatigue, antioxidation, neuroprotection, antimicrobial activity, anticancer, hepatoprotection, immunomodulation, and improving skin health and digestive system's function.

MACA has not been well studied for its impact on cancer. Over all Brassica vegetables, such as mustard, broccoli, and MACA, is associated with decreased risk of developing cancer.
There is a laboratory cancer cell study showing ingredients in MACA decrease liver cancer and colon cancer cell growth.

But another laboratory cell study shows that high dose maca encourages triple negative breast cancer cells to metastasize.

In summary, at the time of publication MACA has not been studied in humans. Based on its known impact on hormones and laboratory cell studies we recommend limiting MACA to normal up to once a day consumption.

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MACA and Cancer Reference Resources

Lenzi RM, Campestrini LH, Semprebon SC, Paschoal JAR, Silva MAG, Zawadzki-Baggio SF, Mantovani MS, Petkowicz CLO, Maurer JBB. Glucosinolate-Enriched Fractions from Maca (Lepidium meyenii) Exert Myrosinase-Dependent Cytotoxic Effects against HepG2/C3A and HT29 Tumor Cell Lines. Nutr Cancer. 2022;74(4):1322-1337. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.go...

Bizinelli D, Flores Navarro F, Lima Costa Faldoni F. Maca Root (Lepidium meyenii) Extract Increases the Expression of MMP-1and Stimulates Migration of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells. Nutr Cancer. 2022;74(1):346-356. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2021.1882511. Epub 2021 Feb 9. PMID: 33560149. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.go...