Can Maca Root Increase Liver Enzymes?
Based on available evidence, maca root does not increase liver enzymes and may actually have hepatoprotective effects that reduce liver enzyme elevations in certain contexts.
Evidence from Research Studies
The available research consistently demonstrates that maca (Lepidium meyenii) has beneficial rather than harmful effects on liver function:
Hepatoprotective Effects
Maca polysaccharides significantly reduced liver enzyme elevations in animal models of liver injury, including decreasing aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase levels in alcohol-induced liver damage 1.
In metabolic syndrome models, maca root extract remarkably improved liver function and decreased elevated blood glucose and lipids after one month of supplementation 2.
Maca extract demonstrated significant suppression of aminotransferase production in ConA-induced acute hepatitis, while also reducing inflammatory cytokines and moderating acute liver injury 3.
Mechanisms of Liver Protection
The hepatoprotective mechanisms of maca include:
Activation of antioxidant pathways (NRF-2/GPX/SOD system) that protect against oxidative liver damage 4, 1.
Reduction of hepatic inflammation through suppression of NF-κB activation and inflammatory cytokine secretion (IL-6, TNF-α) 3, 4.
Improvement of lipid metabolism, with significant decreases in VLDL, LDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides in both plasma and liver tissue 5.
Enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, including increased superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione levels in liver tissue 5, 1.
Safety Profile
A 28-day sub-acute administration study demonstrated that maca polysaccharides were safe at doses of 0.2-1.2 g/kg body weight/day in mice, with no toxicity observed 4.
In cell culture studies, no toxicity was observed in human PC12 cells treated with maca polysaccharides at concentrations of 25-100 μg/mL 4.
Clinical Context
While the provided guidelines focus on other hepatotoxic substances (CBD, occupational chemicals, drugs), none identify maca as a hepatotoxic agent. The contrast is notable: CBD has documented hepatotoxicity with a nearly 6-fold increase in liver enzyme elevation 6, whereas maca consistently shows the opposite effect in research models.
Important caveat: All available evidence comes from animal studies and in vitro research. No human clinical trials specifically examining maca's effects on liver enzymes were identified in the provided evidence. However, the consistent hepatoprotective findings across multiple independent studies using different liver injury models strongly suggest safety regarding liver enzyme elevation.