Can Maca Root Cause Weight Gain? What the Research Actually Shows

Maca is one of those supplements that seems to attract opposite claims online: some say it helps you lose weight, others say it adds curves or makes you gain. If you have started taking it, or are thinking about it, it is fair to wonder whether it could move the number on the scale. Here is what the published research actually says, and what is more likely to be behind a change in weight.

What maca root is

Maca (Lepidium meyenii, also called Lepidium peruvianum) is a root vegetable in the cabbage and mustard family that grows high in the Peruvian Andes, at roughly 3,500 to 5,000 meters. A 2024 review in Nutrients explains that it has traditionally been eaten as a nutrient-dense food and used for energy and fertility. Researchers have identified up to seventeen color types, with black, red and yellow the most common, and color, growing location and processing can change its nutrition and plant compounds. The same review notes that research comparing the colors remains limited. For a broader overview, see our guide to what maca root can and cannot do, or visit our hormones and menopause hub.

Can maca root cause weight gain?

Based on the evidence available, there is no clear reason to think so. Maca has mostly been studied for menopausal symptoms, mood, energy and sexual function, not body weight, and weight gain does not show up as a reported effect in the trials we reviewed.

One of the larger trials, published in the International Journal of Biomedical Science in 2006, enrolled 168 early-postmenopausal women who took 2 grams of pre-gelatinized maca or a placebo each day for three or four months. Researchers measured hormones, cholesterol, triglycerides and menopausal symptoms; 124 women completed the study. Weight gain is not among the findings the authors report.

That said, the overall evidence base is small. A 2011 systematic review in Maturitas found only four randomized controlled trials of maca for menopausal symptoms and concluded that the number of trials, their size and their quality were too limited to draw firm conclusions. The reviewers also stated that maca’s safety had not yet been proven and called for larger studies. So the honest answer is: there is no evidence that maca causes weight gain, but there is also not a large body of long-term research on maca at all.

Why some people think maca makes you gain weight

• Marketing. Maca is sometimes promoted online for adding curves or bulk. These claims are not backed by the clinical research.
• The smoothie effect. Maca powder is often stirred into smoothies, lattes or energy balls. The calories usually come from what it is mixed into, not the maca.
• Timing. Many women start maca in their 40s or 50s, the same years when sleep, stress, activity and hormones are all changing. It is easy to blame the newest thing in the cupboard.

What is more likely to be behind weight changes

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) lists several factors that affect weight. If you have noticed a change, these are worth reviewing before you blame a supplement.

Sleep deserves special attention in midlife. Our article on why rest matters for hormonal balance explains why, and our guide to perimenopause covers the other changes these years can bring.

Maca powder vs. capsules

Maca powder is eaten like a food, often by the teaspoon or tablespoon, so it adds a small amount of calories and carbohydrate. Capsules contain far less: a 1,000 mg capsule serving is one gram of dried root. Either way, the amount of food involved is small compared with an ordinary meal or snack.

Who should be cautious with maca

Because the 2011 review concluded that maca’s safety has not been established in large studies, talk to your healthcare provider before taking it if you are pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding, if you have a hormone-sensitive condition, if you have thyroid problems, or if you take prescription medicines.

When to see a doctor

See your clinician if you gain or lose weight without a clear reason, notice swelling in your legs or face, feel unusually tired or cold, have changes in your periods that worry you, or have any new symptom after starting a supplement. Stop the supplement and get medical advice if you notice a reaction. Unexplained weight change can have medical causes that are worth ruling out.

Where Quixao Maca Root fits

Quixao Maca Root contains 1000mg of Peruvian black maca per serving in a gelatin capsule, so it is not suitable for vegans. It is a dietary supplement for people who want to include maca in their routine. It is not a weight-loss or weight-gain product and it is not a treatment for menopause symptoms or any condition. If you have symptoms, see your healthcare provider.

The bottom line

There is no good evidence that maca root causes weight gain, and a capsule serving is a very small amount of food. The research on maca overall is still small, so it is sensible to talk to your clinician before starting, especially if you are pregnant, have a hormone-sensitive condition or take medicines. If your weight is changing, start with sleep, stress, activity, medicines and a check-up.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This article is for general education and is not a substitute for advice from your healthcare provider.

More on this topic: Nutrients & Supplement Labels — 18 articles, each sourced.