**Author details**

## Serol Korkmaz

Stress and inflammation affect human health score in the worst way, and interleukin-6 as a marker of inflammation increases in serum. People consuming regular maca have a lower interleukin-6 level and higher health scores than those not consume it [1]. Although macamides content is higher in black maca, red one enhanced the health score of human suffered from chronic mountain illness [55]. It has been shown in women that postmenopausal symptoms such as anxiety, depression and sexual dysfunction are reduced without being dependent on reproductive hormones [56, 57]. Similar effects were also observed in men. When consumed 1.5 and 3 g/day of maca powder, men's sexual desire increases and anxiety and depression are inhibited and sperm production and quality are improved (**Table 6**) [58, 59]. These reproductive effects of maca appeared independently of the hormones [28, 60]. In addition to sexual activity, when athletes got 2 g /day, performance improved and running time was reduced [61]. By scavenging DPPH and peroxyl radicals, polysaccharides isolated from maca have protected human erythrocyte against hydrogen peroxide and inhibited the hemolysis [62]. Some studies suggested that maca consumption is well tolerated and has no adverse effect [55]. On the contrary, some studies have reported negative effects on blood pressure [57, 63, 64].

**(day)**

Powder 3.5 42 Decreasing sexual dysfunction

Powder 1.5–3 84 Improving sexual activities,

Powder 3.3 42 Decreasing depression,

Women and men Spray-dried 3 84 Increasing health score [55]

Men Powder 1.5–3 84–120 Increasing spermatogenesis [28, 58, 60]

Women and men Powder 0.6 90 Decreasing metabolic

Nonconsume

**Effect Reference**

[56]

[64]

[61]

[63]

[57]

[65, 66]

and depression

and depression

— Increasing interleukin-6 and health score

anxiety and health status

2 98 Increasing sexual and sportive

activities

syndrome symptoms

Decreasing sexual dysfunction

**Species Form Dose (g/d) Duration**

Phenols, glucosinolates, alkamides and polysaccharides, which are important antioxidant source of many plants, were above mentioned. Many scientific researchers are attempting to reveal the effects of these compounds on antioxidant metabolism. While some of these compounds are peculiar to maca, others are common in tuberous plants. The variety and proportion of the bioactive compounds in maca depend on lots of different factors, specially

**6. Conclusion**

Post menopausal women

Depressed women and men

Post menopausal women

Sportsmen Aqueous

148 Antioxidants in Foods and Its Applications

extract

Women and men Dry hypocotyl Consume and

**Table 6.** Effects of maca as a food supplement in human nutrition.

Address all correspondence to: serolkorkmaz@yahoo.com

Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Istanbul, Turkey
