Ingredient
Maca Root Extract: The Biggest Share of the Blend
Maca root extract is a powder or extract from the root of Lepidium meyenii, a plant grown in the Peruvian Andes. It is first in Payarmin's 200 mg blend, so it is the largest line by weight. Only a few small human trials exist, and none tested maca for blood sugar.
Written by the Payarmin label deskUpdated
The ingredient01
What is maca root extract?
Maca root extract comes from the root of Lepidium meyenii, a plant from the Peruvian Andes. The label spells the Latin name "mevenii", a typo.
The root has long been eaten as food. Today it is sold as a powder, capsule or extract for stamina, fertility, libido and menopause symptoms (MSKCC, Maca). Memorial Sloan Kettering lists those as purported uses, not proven ones.
On the Payarmin label it is the first ingredient in the proprietary blend. The table sets the label beside the research.
| Name on the label | Maca (Lepidium mevenii) Root Extract |
|---|---|
| What it is | Lepidium meyenii root |
| Place on the label | 1 of 22 in the 200 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per 1 mL serving | Not listed; #1 of 22 in the 200 mg blend, so at most 200 mg per 1 mL, and 9 mg if all lines were equal |
| Amount used in research | No dose checked |
| Strength of evidence | Few small trials, none on blood sugar |
| Marketed or traditional use | Andean root used for stamina and fertility |
| Main caution | Interferes with testosterone tests; insomnia and cycle changes reported. |
Photo from the brand's image set; not a photo of the product.
Label order02
Why is maca first in the blend, and how much is in a serving?
Maca is first because the law lists blend ingredients from most to least by weight (eCFR, 21 CFR 101.36). The amount is not printed, but it can be at most 200 mg per 1 mL.
That 200 mg is the whole blend, so maca cannot hold all of it. Twenty-one other lines share the weight. If all 22 were equal, each would hold about 9 mg. Maca holds more than that, but the label does not say how much more. These are ceilings from label order, not lab results.
We found no source that sets a dose for the extract in this blend. So the research and the label cannot be matched.
Line 12, Panax ginseng aerial extract, can hold at most 16.7 mg of the 200 mg. An even split would be 9.1 mg.
Gold: the most that line can hold. Red: what is left for the other lines. The label gives only the 200 mg total and the order (eCFR, 21 CFR 101.36); the rule is that a line cannot weigh more than the lines listed before it, so line k holds at most 200 divided by k. It is arithmetic on the label, not a lab result.
Energy03
Does maca give you energy?
Not that science has shown. Maca is sold for stamina, but Memorial Sloan Kettering says only a few small human trials have been done (MSKCC, Maca).
The same source does not describe energy as an established benefit. It says evidence for sexual dysfunction and menopause symptoms is limited, and that one review found maca is not an effective agent against aging (MSKCC, Maca).
Payarmin's front label says "Helps Convert Nutrients Into Usable Energy*". That is a structure/function phrase about the whole product. The FDA does not check such claims before sale (FDA, Structure/function claims). No trial links maca, or Payarmin, to felt energy.
Maca is traditional food and a popular supplement. The research on it is small, and none of the sources we read tested it as part of this blend.
Blood sugar04
Does maca affect blood sugar?
No source we read shows that maca lowers or steadies blood sugar. The summary we used does not discuss blood sugar or insulin at all (MSKCC, Maca).
That matters, because Payarmin is sold for blood sugar support. Maca is the largest line in the blend, yet it is the one with the least blood sugar research behind it. NCCIH says that for most supplements there is not enough evidence of a benefit on diabetes (NCCIH, Diabetes and supplements).
Do not stop or change a diabetes medicine because of maca or any supplement. A reading under 70 mg/dL needs prompt care (NIDDK, Low blood glucose). A faint or confused person needs 911. High readings or new thirst need a clinician.
Terms05
Is maca an adaptogen, and is gelatinized maca different from raw?
"Adaptogen" is a marketing and traditional term. It is not a regulatory class, and the Memorial Sloan Kettering summary does not use it.
Sellers use the word for plants said to help the body handle stress. We found no outcome studies that define or confirm that effect for maca.
Gelatinized maca is processed with heat to remove starch. Raw maca is not. We found no source comparing them for safety or effect, so we make no claim about which is better. The Payarmin label says "extract" and gives no processing detail.
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See packsCautions06
Who should be careful with maca, and does it change hormone levels?
People with breast or uterine cancer should ask a provider first. Maca may also be unsafe in pregnancy and breastfeeding (MSKCC, Maca).
It may change hormone-related results. Memorial Sloan Kettering says maca may interfere with testosterone immunoassays. One case report describes prolonged bleeding between periods and raised testosterone in a woman taking one teaspoon of powder daily (MSKCC, Maca). Other reports include changed menstrual cycles, moodiness, cramps, stomach irritation and insomnia.
| Concern | What the source says |
|---|---|
| Hormone tests | May interfere with testosterone immunoassays (MSKCC, Maca) |
| Hormone-sensitive cancers | Breast or uterine cancer: consult a provider (MSKCC, Maca) |
| Pregnancy and nursing | May not be safe (MSKCC, Maca) |
| Blood pressure medicine | Enhanced losartan's effect in rats; human relevance not determined (MSKCC, Maca) |
| Everyday effects | Subjective reports of cycle changes, cramps, insomnia (MSKCC, Maca) |
In context07
How does maca fit with the rest of Payarmin?
Maca is one of 22 blend lines, next to guarana, green tea, ginseng and a licorice compound. Each has its own cautions.
The drops also carry 0.7 mcg of chromium. The label says anyone pregnant, nursing, under 18 or with a known medical condition should ask a physician first. The sales page names only six ingredients, so a reader checking interactions from it would miss most of the list. The ingredients page shows all 23 lines.
The sales page lists maca among six named ingredients and gives no amount (Payarmin sales page). Compare that with the label on the supplement facts page.
FAQ09
Maca root extract questions
What is maca root?
Maca root is the root of Lepidium meyenii, a plant from the Peruvian Andes. It is eaten as food and sold as a powder or extract for stamina and fertility. Memorial Sloan Kettering says only a few small human trials exist (MSKCC, Maca).
Is maca an adaptogen?
Adaptogen is a marketing and traditional label, not a regulatory class. The Memorial Sloan Kettering summary we used does not use the word (MSKCC, Maca). We found no trial that defines or confirms an adaptogen effect for maca.
Does maca give you energy?
Not as far as the sources show. Maca is sold for stamina, but only a few small human trials exist, and they do not establish an energy benefit (MSKCC, Maca). Payarmin has no trial of its own.
Does maca affect blood sugar?
No source we read shows that it does. The Memorial Sloan Kettering summary does not discuss blood sugar or insulin (MSKCC, Maca). Do not use maca in place of diabetes medicine, and keep taking what your clinician prescribed.
Who should be careful with maca?
People with breast or uterine cancer should ask a provider first, and maca may not be safe in pregnancy or breastfeeding (MSKCC, Maca). Anyone on blood pressure medicine should also ask a pharmacist.
Does maca change hormone levels?
It may affect hormone test results. Memorial Sloan Kettering says maca may interfere with testosterone immunoassays, and one case report links daily powder to raised testosterone and prolonged bleeding in a woman (MSKCC, Maca). Tell your doctor you take it.
How much maca is in Payarmin?
The label does not say. Maca is first in the 200 mg blend, so it holds the most, up to 200 mg per 1 mL as a ceiling (eCFR, 21 CFR 101.36). Because 21 other lines share that weight, the real amount is lower and unknown.
Who wrote this10
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by Gopayarmin, a Payarmin U.S. shop, not by the manufacturer or the distributor. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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