Maca for Fatigue
Verdict: Published with Warning
Across 5 PubMed studies, the evidence for Maca in Fatigue grades Tier C — weak evidence. Effective, but with safety or population caveats.
C 🟠 C Weak Evidence Published with Warning
Why this grade7-layer evidence engine
⚖️
Scoring transparency
All scores computed by a 7-layer evidence engine — fully auditableRaw score 0.59
D
C
B
A
S
← counter-evidence / ineffectiveeffective / strong evidence →
Final grade
C · Published with Warning
Confidence
55%
Conflicting evidence
Evidence level
E3
Single high-quality meta-analysis
▸View the full decision path (audit trail)
- compute_raw_score — 加權公式: L2×0.30 + L3×0.25 + L5×0.25 + L11×0.10 + L1×0.10 = 0.593
- tier_from_score — 依分數區間映射至 tier letter
- apply_hec_rules — 無高階證據可裁決
- tier_strict_requirement_check — Tier 條件達標，未降階
- detect_disputes — 偵測到 0 個 hard + 1 個 soft dispute
- decide_status — 依 tier + dispute 結果決定 status
PubMed studies (5)L2 · primary research & systematic reviews
Acceptability, Safety, and Efficacy of Oral Administration of Extracts of Black or Red Maca in Adult Human Subjects: A RCT
Finding: Red maca showed significant energy improvement vs placebo across all time points (p=0.0001); mood improvement at week 12 (p=0.01); HRQL improved in both maca groups by week 12 (p<0.01).
View on PubMed Beneficial effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on psychological symptoms and measures of sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women
Finding: Significant reduction in psychological symptom scores vs placebo (p<0.05); effects independent of estrogenic/androgenic activity.
View on PubMed Maca reduces blood pressure and depression, in a pilot study in postmenopausal women
Finding: Significant decreases in diastolic blood pressure and depression scores after maca treatment; no effect on hormonal or immune markers.
View on PubMed The Impact of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) Supplementation on Basketball-related Performance and Antifatigue Ability: A Double-blind Crossover Study
Finding: No significant differences between maca and placebo for fatigue index (p=0.266) or blood lactate clearance rate (p=0.258).
View on PubMed Effects of Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) on Physical Performance in Animals and Humans: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Finding: Large pooled SMDs for anti-fatigue/performance outcomes (FST SMD=2.26, BLA SMD=-1.70), but animal and human data not disaggregated; human-specific effect sizes not reported separately.
View on PubMed Regulatory & authoritative positionsL4/L5 · FDA / EMA / NIH ODS / Cochrane / Mayo …
L4a US FDA
Cautious
FDA advised consumers not to purchase or use Peru Maca. FDA laboratory analysis confirmed that Peru Maca contains sildenafil, the active ingredient in the FDA-approved prescription drug Viagra, used to treat erectile dysfunction. source↗
L4b EU EFSA
Cautious
L4d TW TFDA / 衛福部
Cautious
「Maca猛戈膠囊」（紳○實業有限公司製造）含有西地那非（Sildenafil citrate，即威而鋼成分）及他達拉非（Tadalafil，即犀利士成分），副作用包括降低血壓、頭痛、嘔吐、頭暈及暫時性視力模糊，並可能和某些藥物產生交互作用，衛生署呼籲消費者不要購買及服用誇大療效之產品。 source↗