The Effect Of Maca On The Antioxidant Capacity,Immune Function And Lipid Metabolism Of Human Body

Objective: This study was designed as a double-blind and crossover trail to find out the influence of Maca on the antioxidant capacity, immune function and the lipid metabolism of human. Thus, the research foundation can be laid for the market promotion of Maca in the future.Methods: 30 National-level Chinese athletes who were 19-22 years old were observed in this study. After the first test,the athletes were divided into three groups which were Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3 by their fat free mass. Every index had no significant difference between groups. The study was consisted of 3 peroid. Group 1 took tonic according to the order of high-dose, placebo, low-dose; Group 2 took tonic according to the order of low-dose, high-dose, placebo; Group 3 took tonic according to the order of placebo, low-dose, high-dose. The athletes of high-dose group and placebo group took 26mg/kg BW Maca or placebo every day; the athletes of low-dose group took 13mg/kg BW Maca every day. Athletes took tonic for 3 weeks every period. 2 weeks of washout were arranged between every 2 periods. Venous blood was taken before and after every period to do the physiological indexes test including SOD, MDA, GSH-Px which are the antioxidant indexes, Ig G Ig A, Ig M, C3, C4 which are the immune indexes and CHOL, TG, HDL, LDL which are the lipid metabolism indexes.Results: 1)The MDA level in the serum of athletes after taking placebo, low dose Maca and high dose Maca have no significant difference with that before they taking; The SOD activity in serum of high-dose group showed an increasing trend compared with that of the placebo group; Both high dose and low dose Maca can increase the GSH-Px activity in serum,and the high dose group has an higher increase rate. 2) Both high dose and low dose Maca can significantly increase the IGA、IGG、IGM level in serum and the increasing rates have no relevance with the dose; Both high dose and low dose group have an significantly increase of the C4 level in serum and an increasing trend of C3 level, but the increasing rates have no relevance with the dose. 3) There is no significant difference of CHOL、TG、LDL levels in serum after they taking Maca in high-dose and low-dose group; High-dose and low-dose group both showed an significant increase of HDL levels in serum, but there is no significant difference of the increase rate compared with the placebo group.Conclusions:1) Maca can improve the antioxidant capacity by increasing the activity of GSH-Px of human, and the increasing rate is positively correlated with the dose.2) Maca can improve the body’s immune function, and the effect has no relevance with dose.3) Maca has no effect on the body’s lipid metabolism.