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# Maca root powder helps antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/maca-root-powder-helps-antidepressant-induced-sexual-dysfunction/
- Published: 2015-06-29T13:18:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:47:24.000Z
- Description: In a 12-week trial of 45 women whose depression had remitted but who still had antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction, 3 grams of maca root powder a day improved scores on two sexual function scales. The effect was stronger in postmenopausal than premenopausal women.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Supplements, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

Monday June 29, 2015 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study published recently in [Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine](http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2015/949036/abs/?ref=foodconsumer.org) suggests that maca root powder may help women with anti-depressant induced sexual dysfunction. 

The double-blind, placebo-controlled trial led by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA and Emory University in Atlanta, George showed that taking three grams of maca root powder per day, women improved antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction (AISD) on the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale and also as indicated in the Massachusetts General Hospital Sexual Function Questionnaire.

Enrolled in the trial were 45 premenopausal or postmenopausal women at the mean age of 41.5 years with antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction whose depression remitted. Participants randomly were treated with maca root powder or placebo for a period of 12 weeks.

Maca root powder did not render the same efficacy in all participants. The sexual dysfunction was more significantly improved in postmenopausal women than premenopausal women. 

The study concluded "Maca root may alleviate SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women. 

Sexual dysfunction of women in the trial was induced by either serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). These antidepresants are known to induce sexual dysfunction. 

SSRI [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective\_serotonin\_reuptake\_inhibitor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective%5Fserotonin%5Freuptake%5Finhibitor?ref=foodconsumer.org)

SNRI [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin%E2%80%93norepinephrine\_reuptake\_inhibitor#Side-effects](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin%E2%80%93norepinephrine%5Freuptake%5Finhibitor?ref=foodconsumer.org#Side-effects)

Maca root powder or [Peruvian ginseng](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lepidium%5Fmeyenii?ref=foodconsumer.org) as a dietary supplement has been promoted to treat male sexual dysfunction or boost their sexual function.

Christina M. Dording, Pamela J. Schettler, Elizabeth D. Dalton, Susannah R. Parkin, Rosemary S. W. Walker, Kara B. Fehling, Maurizio Fava, and David Mischoulon , A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial of Maca Root as Treatment for Antidepressant-Induced Sexual Dysfunction in Women, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Volume 2015 (2015), Article ID 949036, 9 pages

Photo credit: wikipedia