Take 1-2 tsp per day of Concentrated Red Maca with breakfast or lunch. It can be dissolved into water, teas, juices, smoothies or other drinks. Minimum suggested treatment time is 6-12 weeks.

The prostate is a gland found directly beneath the bladder in men that has essential functions in the male reproductive system. The prostate secretes fluids that contain proteins and other factors needed for sperm survival, while simultaneously serving as a vehicle for sperm to travel through the female reproductive tract^1,2. The three most common forms of prostate disease are prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate), prostate cancer, and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)³. BPH is a prevalent condition in aging men, with 50-75% of men over 50 years old thought to be affected and upwards of 80% of men over the age of 70 affected^4-7. BPH is the non-cancerous, progressive enlargement of the prostate, which in turn can result in a number of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) that negatively impact quality of life^4,8.

Symptoms of BPH include^4,8,9.

• Increased frequency of urination
• Increased urgency to urinate
• Nocturia (getting up frequently at night to urinate)
• Weak urinary stream
• Urine stream stops and starts
• Incomplete bladder emptying
• Difficulty starting urination or straining to urinate
• Sexual dysfunction (Read more here)

The above symptoms can further lead to complications that significantly reduce the quality of life in affected men, including^10,11:

• Urinary tract infections
• Blood in the urine
• Bladder stones
• Inability to urinate
• Bladder and kidney damage
• Erectile Dysfunction (Read more here)

A balance between dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and its precursor testosterone maintains prostate health in normal development. However, as men age, it is hypothesized that this balance becomes disrupted, and this leads to BPH disease12. Beyond this, known risk factors for the development of BPH include^4,5,15:

• Age
• Family history
• Obesity/sedentary lifestyle
• Diabetes
• Heart disease

Current treatment options for BPH include medications and surgical intervention, both of which can be costly and have negative side effects.

Along with healthy lifestyle changes, some may prefer to find alternative treatment options to avoid the adverse side effects associated with the current medications used to treat BPH. Maca is a cruciferous root vegetable that has been used as a traditional medicine for centuries to treat a wide variety of ailments. Traditionally, in Peru, where it grows, older men have ingested red maca daily in the form of tea or tonic (macerated with alcohol) to support healthy prostate function and bone health as they age. They believe it nourishes the internal organs, while promoting a healthy libido and sex-drive, which often declines with age.

Clinically red maca can successfully reduce prostate size in studies of both rats and mice^16-19. These studies compared the efficacy of red maca to finasteride, a medication currently used to treat BPH, in the context of reducing prostate size. Finasteride works by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to DHT, and it was shown to decrease the weight of both prostate and seminal vesicles in rats¹⁹. The effect of red maca treatment was specific to the prostate as it did not impact the weight of any other organs, different to finasteride. Most importantly, red maca treatment resulted in a significantly higher reduction of prostate size compared to finasteride treatment^16,18,19. Notably, one of these studies specifically tested the efficacy of the hydroalcoholic extracts of red maca and found this extract also significantly reduced prostate size¹⁹. Furthermore, finasteride treatment is generally associated with several side effects, such as decreased sex drive and reduction in sexual function²⁰. Conversely, maca has been used to enhance libido and sexual function in men. This observation suggests that the adverse side effects experienced with finasteride treatment will not be experienced with red maca treatment.

Studies show elevated prostate zinc levels in the BPH disease state as compared to the healthy prostate^21,22. In an experimental model of BPH in rats, both red maca and finasteride were able to decrease prostate zinc levels²³. Although, notably, red maca had a more substantial impact on zinc levels than finasteride²³. These studies suggest that red maca and finasteride likely have different mechanisms of action when it comes to reducing prostate size. Overall, the data suggests that red maca is beneficial as a 100% natural alternative or supplemental treatment option for BPH, and daily atomised red maca may reduce prostate size, whilst simultaneously improving sexual function and libido.