Bone Health

The current body of evidence suggests that Lepidium meyenii (maca) may have clinically meaningful effects on bone biology, particularly in the context of estrogen deficiency. Preclinical, mechanistic, and limited clinical data align to indicate potential benefits for bone mineral density, trabecular structure, and osteoblast function.

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Preclinical rodent studies provide the most consistent and compelling evidence. In an early long-term study, female Sprague-Dawley rats given an ethanolic extract of maca (0.096 or 0.24 g/kg) for 28 weeks were protected against osteoporosis induced by ovariectomy: the higher dose effectively prevented estrogen-deficient bone loss, as measured by bone mineral density, biomechanical, biochemical, and histopathological parameters (1). In another study, 36 ovariectomized (OVX) rats divided into groups treated with black, red, or yellow maca (or vehicle/estradiol) for four weeks showed that red and black maca reversed OVX-induced deterioration in femoral and lumbar vertebra bone structure, increasing trabecular bone area without increasing uterine weight (in contrast to estradiol) (2). These data support that red and black maca phenotypes confer protective effects on bone architecture in estrogen-deficient rodents while avoiding uterotrophic (uterus-stimulating) effects.

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Beyond rats, maca has been evaluated in aging birds. In aged Japanese quails, dietary maca powder (1 g/kg, no color or phenotype was specified) improved several bone traits (e.g., tibial characteristics) and eggshell quality that typically deteriorate with age, without compromising performance indices. Higher doses (2 g/kg) also favorably altered lipids (3). Although avian physiology differs from human bone biology, these data align with rodent findings in suggesting that maca can influence bone and mineral traits under aging-associated stressors.

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Mechanistic, in vitro, and in silico studies are beginning to clarify how maca may exert osteoprotective effects. A key study used virtual screening against estrogen receptors (ERα/ERβ) followed by osteoblast cell assays to identify the macamide, N-benzyl-palmitamide, as an active constituent. This compound stimulated osteoblast proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization; upregulated osteogenesis-related genes (BMP-2, Runx2 (Cbfa1), type I collagen, alkaline phosphatase); and increased expression of ERα and ERβ, supporting an ER-mediated mechanism (4).

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Human clinical data, while limited, provide initial translational support. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial of early postmenopausal women (49-58 years old) taking a proprietary, pre-gelatinized maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacon) preparation (Maca-GO®) at 1 g twice daily over four months, participants experienced significant increases in forearm (peripheral) bone density compared with their baseline. In contrast, during the placebo phase, forearm BMD declined. These changes occurred alongside endocrine effects — increased estradiol, reduced FSH, paralleling the hormonal modulation seen in OVX rat studies (5). Other clinical trials of maca in peri- and postmenopausal populations have primarily targeted menopause symptoms, mood, or sexual function, and did not include bone-specific endpoints (6).

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Overall, published scientific literature of different types consistently highlights bone health as an emerging indication for maca. A 2024 comprehensive review of maca’s pharmacology argued that osteoporosis prevention is among the most promising emerging therapeutic uses, citing both preclinical bone data and mechanistic studies on macamides (7). Another review focusing on differences among maca phenotypes underscores that red and black maca appear most bone-active in animal models and emphasizes the need for phenotype-standardized preparations in clinical research (6).

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Maca demonstrates strong biological plausibility and consistent preclinical efficacy for supporting bone health in estrogen-deficient contexts. Mechanistic data support involvement of estrogen-receptor–mediated osteoblast activation as well as potential antioxidant/anti-inflammatory pathways. Human clinical findings in a postmenopausal population given specific maca phenotypes indicated increased peripheral BMD and favorable endocrine shifts, thus pointing in the same direction. Yet, there is a need for well-powered, long-duration randomized controlled trials in peri- and postmenopausal women assessing clinically relevant skeletal endpoints (axial BMD, bone turnover markers, fracture risk), using phenotype-standardized and well-characterized maca preparations, with dose–response evaluations and long-term safety monitoring.

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Written by Deanna Minich, PhD

Reviewed by Kim Ross, DCN

Last Updated: December 3, 2025

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References

1. Zhang Y, Yu L, Ao M, Jin W. Effect of ethanol extract of Lepidium meyenii Walp. on osteoporosis in ovariectomized rat. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;105(1-2):274-279. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2005.12.013.

2. Gonzales C, Cárdenas-Valencia I, Leiva-Revilla J, Anza-Ramirez C, Rubio J, Gonzales GF. Effects of different varieties of Maca (Lepidium meyenii) on bone structure in ovariectomized rats. Forsch Komplementmed. 2010;17(3):137-143. doi:10.1159/000315214.

3. Gül ET, Olgun O, Yıldız A, Tüzün AE, Sarmiento-García A. Use of Maca Powder (Lepidium meyenii) as Feed Additive in Diets of Laying Quails at Different Ages: Its Effect on Performance, Eggshell Quality, Serum, Ileum, and Bone Properties. Veterinary Sciences. 2022; 9(8):418. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9080418.

4. Liu H, Jin W, Fu C, Dai P, Yu Y, Huo Q, Yu L. Discovering anti-osteoporosis constituents of maca (Lepidium meyenii) by combined virtual screening and activity verification. Food Res Int. 2015;77(Pt 2):215-220. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2015.06.028

5. Meissner HO, Mscisz A, Reich-Bilinska H, et al. Hormone-Balancing Effect of Pre-Gelatinized Organic Maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacon): (III) Clinical responses of early-postmenopausal women to Maca in double blind, randomized, Placebo-controlled, crossover configuration, outpatient study. Int J Biomed Sci. 2006;2(4):375-394.

6. Minich, D.M.; Ross, K.; Frame, J.; Fahoum, M.; Warner, W.; Meissner, H.O. Not All Maca Is Created Equal: A Review of Colors, Nutrition, Phytochemicals, and Clinical Uses. Nutrients 2024, 16, 530. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16040530

7. Ulloa Del Carpio N, Alvarado-Corella D, Quiñones-Laveriano DM, et al. Exploring the chemical and pharmacological variability of Lepidium meyenii: a comprehensive review of the effects of maca. Front Pharmacol. 2024;15:1360422. Published 2024 Feb 19. doi:10.3389/fphar.2024.1360422