Maca Root and Hair: What the Evidence Shows, and How Much to Take
"Does maca help with hair?" is one of the questions we're asked most often. Here's what maca is, where the hair interest comes from, which nutrient has a recognised role in normal hair, and how much maca people take.
What maca is
Maca is a root vegetable that grows high in the Peruvian Andes, related to radishes and turnips. It has been eaten as a nourishing traditional food there for centuries, usually dried and then cooked or ground into a powder. Today it's one of the most popular botanicals among women in midlife, taken as a root powder or extract, on its own or blended with other botanicals.
Where the hair interest comes from
Maca has attracted attention in hair and scalp research, including studies of maca extracts used in hair and scalp products. It's a growing area of interest, which is why so many women search for it.
Maca itself is a food ingredient rather than something with an official health claim, so we describe it as an ingredient and let the nutrients alongside it carry the benefit statements.
The nutrient with a recognised role in normal hair
Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal hair, as well as normal skin and nails. That's an officially authorised claim, and it's why zinc appears across several of our formulas.
Our Maca Vitality Complex pairs maca with zinc for exactly that reason, so you get the traditional root alongside a nutrient with a recognised role in hair, skin and nails.
How much maca root per day?
There's no official recommended intake for maca, because it's a food rather than a nutrient with a set daily requirement. Supplements vary enormously, from a few hundred milligrams up to several grams.
Maca Vitality Complex is one of the stronger options, providing 3,000mg of maca root. The guidance is one capsule, one to three times a day, or as required. As with most supplements, taking it consistently matters more than chasing a bigger number.
What's in the complex
Alongside the maca sit ginkgo biloba, Panax ginseng, ginger root, L-arginine, damiana leaf and organic black pepper, with zinc completing the formula. As well as its role in normal hair, skin and nails, zinc contributes to normal fertility and reproduction, and to normal cognitive function.
It's vegan, halal and kosher suitable, made in the UK, and free from artificial fillers.
Before you start
Maca is generally well tolerated as a food. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, taking any medication, or under the care of a doctor, check with your GP or pharmacist before starting anything new. If you have concerns about hair loss, your GP or pharmacist is the best first stop.
Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Manufactured in the UK to GMP and ISO 9001 standards.
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