Maca and Desire: The Finding That It Works Without Changing Testosterone

Maca's trials on sexual desire are unusual: they show an effect while hormone levels stay flat. Here is what that means, the doses used, the black-red-yellow colour question and the honest limits.

The Peruvian Root

Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a cruciferous root grown above 4,000 m in the Peruvian Andes and eaten as a staple food for centuries. It is sold dried, gelatinised or as an extract, and in three main colour types. Its reputation for energy and fertility predates modern research by a long way.

The Desire Trials

A 2002 twelve-week randomised trial in healthy men gave 1.5 or 3 g a day of maca or placebo and found improved self-reported sexual desire from week eight, with no change in testosterone, oestradiol or other hormones. A 2010 systematic review pooled four small trials and found limited evidence for improved desire; a later trial in men with mild erectile difficulty reported improved function scores. Effects on fertility markers, such as sperm count and motility, have been reported in small studies.

Why 'Independent of Testosterone' Matters

Because maca does not act as a hormone, it avoids the problems of hormonal products and is reasonable for men whose testosterone is normal. The mechanism is unclear; proposed routes include effects on mood, energy and possibly nervous-system signalling. It also means maca is not a substitute for medical treatment in men with genuinely low testosterone.

Doses and Colours

Trials used 1.5–3 g a day of dried root or equivalent extract for at least eight weeks. Black maca has the most animal data for spermatogenesis and endurance, red for prostate markers; human colour comparisons are few. A gummy or capsule carries far less than 1.5 g, so maca there is supportive rather than trial-dose.

Where Soda Boost Fits

Soda Boost includes maca root extract for drive and energy. Our review page quotes the 1.5–3 g trial doses and the no-hormone-change finding, and states that the gummy's maca amount is not printed. Read the full breakdown on the Soda Boost official website, including ingredients, customer reviews and current pricing.

Key Takeaways

• Maca improved desire in a 12-week RCT without changing hormones.
• Trial doses were 1.5–3 g a day for 8+ weeks.
• Not a hormone, so not a treatment for low testosterone.
• Gummy and capsule amounts are well below trial doses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does maca raise testosterone?

No; trials show desire effects with hormones unchanged.

Which maca colour is best?

Black has the most animal data for endurance and fertility; human comparisons are limited.

How much maca is in Soda Boost?

Not printed; our page says so.

Sources

• Gonzales et al. 2002, maca and sexual desire (PubMed)
• Shin et al. 2010 systematic review (PMC)