Effect of Maca versus compound Maca on women with menopause syndrome

Objective To observe the effect of Maca or compound Maca on symptoms of menopause syndrome (as well as fatigue, depression and anxiety, hormone levels and antioxidant indexes). Methods This was a randomized controlled double-blind trial. Eighty subjects with menopausal syndrome were recruited and randomly assigned into compound Maca group (compound Maca, 6 tablets/day, n=40) and Maca group (Maca, 7 tablets/day, n=40). The intervention lasted for 3 months, and then the changes of Kupperman score, FS-14 score, PHQ-9 score and GAD-7 score, serum estrogen level and antioxidant index between two groups and self-contrast were compared. Results Seven subjects were lost to follow-up (8.75%), and the rest of subjects (compound Maca group, n=37; Maca group, n=36) were included in analysis. Comparison between pre-intervention and post-intervention revealed that Maca and compound Maca were both able to enhance memory, improve insomnia, alleviate symptoms of urinary system and reduce serum malondialdehyde (MDA) level (P＜ 0.05 respectively); Compared with Maca group in post-intervention, compound Maca could improve memory and insomnia more significantly (P＜ 0.05, respectively). Conclusion Oral supplement of Maca or compound Maca can improve memory and insomnia, alleviate symptoms of urinary system, and enhance the ability antioxidation in the menopausal women, and the effect of compand Maca in improving memory function is more significant.