Maca facts
Maca Root for Men: What the 12-Week Trial Showed
Maca root for men has one clear trial behind it. In 12 weeks, men taking 1,500 or 3,000 mg a day rated their sexual desire higher, while testosterone did not change (Gonzales 2002, Maca, desire and testosterone). The HoneyBoost label prints 10 mg of maca extract per gummy, a 100 mg root equivalent, 15 to 30 times less.
- Label serving1 gummy (4.2 g)
- Per bottle30 gummies
- Guarantee60 days (offer page)
Written by the HoneyBoost label deskUpdated · 4 min read
The trial
What does research say about maca root for men?
The best-known trial ran 12 weeks in men aged 21 to 56. They took 1,500 mg or 3,000 mg of gelatinized maca a day, or a placebo (Gonzales 2002, Maca, desire and testosterone).
Self-rated sexual desire was better from week 8. Serum testosterone and estradiol did not differ from placebo, and mood or hormones did not explain the effect. So desire scores moved while the hormone did not.
A 2010 review found only four small placebo-controlled trials, and called the evidence limited (Shin 2010, Maca and sexual function (review)). Memorial Sloan Kettering agrees that findings are preliminary and that maca did not change testosterone, LH or FSH in men.
Desire was scored by the men themselves. It is a report of how they felt, not an erection test.
On the label
How much maca root is in HoneyBoost?
Each gummy prints 10 mg of maca root extract at 10:1. That stands for 100 mg of root, but the gummy holds only the 10 mg of extract.
The trial doses were 1,500 and 3,000 mg of maca. Divide by the 100 mg root equivalent and you get 15 and 30 times. Against the 10 mg of extract itself the gap is wider still. No source we read tests a dose this small.
| Item | Amount a day | Times the label's 100 mg root |
|---|---|---|
| HoneyBoost, 1 gummy | 10 mg extract (100 mg root) | 1 |
| 12-week trial, low dose | 1,500 mg | 15 |
| 12-week trial, high dose | 3,000 mg | 30 |
7 linesone gummy a day, 30 a bottle; every amount printed, no proprietary blend
- Tongkat ali (extract)25 mg · ref 200
- Maca (root equivalent)100 mg · ref 1,500
- L-arginine10 mg · ref 1,500
- Zinc2.5 mg · ref 11
Per gummy on the labelAmount a study or an authority used or set (low end)
Log scale: each step to the right is ten times more. A marker far to the right of the bar means the label holds much less than that reference. (Tambi 2012, Tongkat Ali 200 mg and late-onset hypogonadism) (Gonzales 2002, Maca, desire and testosterone) (Rhim 2019, Arginine for ED (meta-analysis)) (NIH ODS, Zinc)
Hormones
Does maca root change testosterone in men?
In the 12-week trial it did not. Serum testosterone matched placebo (Gonzales 2002, Maca, desire and testosterone), and MSK says the same about LH, FSH, prolactin and estradiol (MSK, Maca).
If your worry is low testosterone, a blood test is the way to learn. A doctor can then look for causes. Our ingredients page and dose gap page show how each label line compares with studies.
- Found in the trial: higher self-rated desire from week 8.
- Not found: a change in testosterone.
- Not tested: a 10 mg extract dose.
HoneyBoost: 2, 3 or 6 bottles30 gummies a bottle · 30 days at 1 a day · 60-day money-back guarantee
See packsBefore you try
Who should ask a doctor before taking maca?
Anyone with a medical condition or daily medicine, and anyone with a hormone-sensitive cancer. Maca may affect those cancers and may interfere with testosterone lab tests (MSK, Maca).
Keep taking prescribed medicine. Erection trouble deserves a visit, since causes such as diabetes and heart disease are often treatable. Chest pain means call 911.
A bottle is 30 gummies. Packs cover 60, 90 and 180 days, and the live checkout is final.
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3 bottles: 90 days
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6 bottles: 180 days
$294180 gummies · 1 a day
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Order 6 bottlesA 2-bottle pack is also sold. Prices are the ones on the seller sales page; the live checkout is final. Check your medicines with your doctor or pharmacist before you order.
FAQ
HoneyBoost questions people ask
How long does maca take to work?
In the one trial we found, desire scores were better from week 8 of a 12-week course at 1,500 to 3,000 mg. No timeline exists for the 10 mg of extract on the HoneyBoost label.
What is gelatinized maca?
Gelatinized maca is maca root that was heated to remove starch. The 12-week trial used it at 1,500 or 3,000 mg. The HoneyBoost label says 10:1 root extract and does not say it is gelatinized.
Is maca a hormone?
No. Maca is a root, and in the 12-week trial it did not change serum testosterone or estradiol. MSK lists possible hormone-related cautions, so ask a doctor if you have a hormone-sensitive condition.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the brand panels and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is the information site for a USA Authorized HoneyBoost Retailer. It is not the manufacturer or the distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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