[Assesing the effect of Lepidium meyenii "Maca" on the gastric mucosa in patients with functional dyspepsia].
OBJECTIVE
The present study was designed to determine the histological effect of Lepidium meyenii "Maca" on the gastric mucosa in patients with functional dyspepsia.


METHODS
This study consists of a clinical case series, in which the effect of Maca on the gastric histopathology of 29 Peruvian patients diagnosed with functional dyspepsia was examined. The presence of H. pylori, as well as the degree and depth of the gastric mucosa inflammation was evaluated from biopsies obtained before and after the treatment based solely of Maca 3 grams per day for four weeks.


RESULTS
Average values of the degree and depth of mucosal inflammation before and after the treatment were compared showing no statistical difference among the samples. Sixteen patients were infected with H. pylori, and they remained infected after the treatment with Maca.


CONCLUSIONS
A four week long treatment with Maca does not produce significant changes on gastric mucosa of patients with functional dyspepsia, neither on H. pylori eradication.
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Lima, Perú.
Harold Eduardo
HE
Benites Goñi
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Lima, Perú; Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia. Lima, Perú.
Jaime
J
Cok García
Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Lima, Perú.
Alejandra
A
Bussalleu Cavero
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Lima, Perú.
Katherine Yelenia
KY
Bustamente Robles
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Lima, Perú; Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia. Lima, Perú.
Arturo
A
Zegarra Chang
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Lima, Perú; Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia. Lima, Perú.
Eduar
E
Bravo
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Lima, Perú; Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia. Lima, Perú.
Alejandro
A
Bussalleu Rivera
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D029686:Lepidium; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055815:Young Adult
D028321:Plant Preparations