Lepidium meyenii (Maca) improved semen parameters in adult men.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was designed to determine the effect of a 4-month oral treatment with tablets of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on seminal analysis in nine adult normal men aged 24-44 years old.


METHODS
Nine men received tablets of Maca (1500 or 3000 mg/day) for 4 months. Seminal analysis was performed according to guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO). Serum luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (PRL), testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) were measured before and after treatment.


RESULTS
Treatment with Maca resulted in increased seminal volume, sperm count per ejaculum, motile sperm count, and sperm motility. Serum hormone levels were not modified with Maca treatment. Increase of sperm count was not related to dose of Maca.


CONCLUSIONS
Maca improved sperm production and sperm motility by mechanisms not related to LH, FSH, PRL, T and E2.
Gonzales
G F
GF
Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Philosophy and Instituto de Investigaciones de la Altura, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru. iiad@upch.edu.pe
Cordova
A
A
Gonzales
C
C
Chung
A
A
Vega
K
K
Villena
A
A
D000328:Adult; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D029686:Lepidium; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D028321:Plant Preparations; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone