How to treat osteoporosis with maca
Take 1 tsp per day of Concentrated Red Maca with breakfast or lunch. Dissolve the powder into water, teas, juices, smoothies or other drinks. Minimum suggested treatment time is 6-12 weeks.
1 tsp daily
Treating osteoporosis with maca
Osteoporosis is a disease where the bone becomes weak and fragile. Bones are living tissue, meaning that bone is continuously growing and reshaping.
When you are younger, bones grow at a faster rate than they are broken down. However, as you get older, bone growth slows as your bone remodels1,2. When older bones are broken down faster than new bone is added, this leads to osteoporosis3,4. Osteoporosis is characterised by:
- Low bone mass
- Deterioration of bone tissue
- Disrupted bone architecture
- Decreased bone strength
- Increased fracture risk
Osteoporosis is also known as a silent disease because bone loss can occur without obvious symptoms. However, many risk factors that determine the likelihood that you will develop osteoporosis3,5-7.
Risk factors for osteoporosis:
- Age: the older you are, the more likely you are to develop osteoporosis
- Sex: women and men both develop osteoporosis. However, more women than men develop osteoporosis.
- Hormone levels: menopause leads to a decrease in the hormone estrogen and increases the likelihood of developing osteoporosis
- Race: people from white or Asian descent are more likely to develop osteoporosis
- Lifestyle: sedentary lifestyle or lack of exercise increase the risk of osteoporosis
One of the most devastating effects of osteoporosis is a bone fracture. One in three women and one in five men over the age of 50 will experience a bone fracture due to osteoporosis8,9. Hip fractures are among the most common fractures and lead to devastating consequences such as chronic pain, reduced mobility, and decreased independence10. While there are multiple treatments available to treat osteoporosis, such as estrogen treatment and bisphosphonates, these treatments also cause undesirable side effects4,11. New treatments and prevention strategies are required to decrease the incidence and adverse effects of osteoporosis.
Multiple studies investigate the impact of the Peruvian plant Lepidium meyenni (maca) on the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis 12-14. Maca grows in the Andes above 4000m and has been used for centuries as a natural remedy to increase fertility and improve health15-18. However, recent studies found that maca may improve bone health and may be useful to both prevent and treat osteoporosis19. In rodent models of postmenopausal osteoporosis, maca treatment prevented bone loss20. Maca may also act as a potential therapeutic as both black and red maca promote bone growth12.
Furthermore, one of the specific compounds isolated from maca, N‐(3‐methoxybenzyl)‐(9Z,12Z,15Z)‐octadecatrienamide (MBOC), has also been shown to promote bone formation through the Wnt/B-catenin pathway14. This molecular pathway regulates bone remodelling, initiates and maintains bone mineralisation, and calcium homeostasis, amongst other positive roles in bone formation and maintenance.
Altogether, these data indicate maca plays an important role in bone growth21. These studies also indicate that this natural remedy may provide a useful tool in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
Note: There is no upper limit with maca and everybody is different, so it is important to find your ideal dose that is right for your body, for some this may be less than the recommended for others it may be more. If you experience positive health benefits then we suggest you continue treatment at that ideal dosage. The material provided on this website is for information purposes only. It is not intended to replace medical advice or be a treatment for any medical condition. Users should consult a health professional if you have any concerns about your health, are starting any health or nutritional related treatment, or for any questions you may have regarding your own or any other party’s medical condition. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Bibliography
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12. Gonzales C, Cárdenas-Valencia I, Leiva-Revilla J, Anza-Ramirez C, Rubio J, Gonzales GF. Effects of different varieties of Maca (Lepidium meyenii) on bone structure in ovariectomized rats. Forsch Komplementmed. 2010;17(3):137-143. doi:10.1159/000315214. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20616517
13. Zhang Y, Yu L, Ao M, Jin W. Effect of ethanol extract of Lepidium meyenii Walp. on osteoporosis in ovariectomized rat. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;105(1-2):274-279. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2005.12.013. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16466876
14. Wang Z, Yang J, Wang G, Bian L. Influence of Lepidium meyemii walp on lipid and bone mass in ovariectomized rats. Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 2009;38(4):420–2–425. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19689071
15. Gonzales GF, Nieto J, Rubio J, Gasco M. Effect of Black maca (Lepidium meyenii) on one spermatogenic cycle in rats. Andrologia. 2006;38(5):166-172. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0272.2006.00733.x. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16961569
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18. Del Prete C, Tafuri S, Ciani F, et al. Influences of dietary supplementation with Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on stallion sperm production and on preservation of sperm quality during storage at 5 °C. Andrology. 2018;6(2):351-361. doi:10.1111/andr.12463. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29359412
19. Yi F, Tan X-L, Yan X, Liu H-B. In silico profiling for secondary metabolites from Lepidium meyenii (maca) by the pharmacophore and ligand-shape-based joint approach. Chin Med. 2016;11(1):42–17. doi:10.1186/s13020-016-0112-y. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27708692
20. Zhang Y, Yu L, Ao M, Jin W. Effect of ethanol extract of Lepidium meyenii Walp. on osteoporosis in ovariectomized rat. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;105(1-2):274-279. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2005.12.013. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16466876
21. Duan, P., & Bonewald, L. F. (2016). The role of the wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in formation and maintenance of bone and teeth. The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology, 77, 23-29. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4958569/
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