Merchient’s ingredient library

What can you say about maca in your ads and on your site?

The library supports 3 wordings for maca; the strongest is “Helps support the emotional aspects of sexual health” (moderate, 3-3.5 g dried root a day). Avoid wording that names or implies a disease, a drug or a treatment, such as “Treats erectile dysfunction”.

Also called: Lepidium meyenii

Reviewed

Not legal advice. This guide shows the wording that published evidence supports at a daily dose, from the sources linked below; it is not a ruling on any claim. Your own product, its form and dose, and your own evidence still need to match the wording you use.

Supported wordings

What you can say.

Limited evidenceWording 1

Claims Facts

“A source of antioxidants that help protect cells against damage from free radicals.”

Daily doseup to 3 g dried root a day
SupportHealth Canada sets a maximum dose only; no other listed source covers it.
Dose detailsAdults 18 and older, up to 3 g a day.
FormDried root or hypocotyl
SourceHealth Canada monograph: Maca - Lepidium meyenii

Moderate evidenceWording 2

Claims Facts

“Helps support the emotional aspects of sexual health.”

Daily dose3-3.5 g dried root a day
SupportHealth Canada lists it at 3-3.5 g a day; no other listed source covers it.
Dose detailsAdults 18 and older; ask a practitioner for use beyond 6 weeks at more than 3 g a day.
FormDried root or hypocotyl
SourceHealth Canada monograph: Maca - Lepidium meyenii

Moderate evidenceWording 3

Claims Facts

“Helps support a healthy mood balance during menopause.”

Daily dose2-3.5 g dried root a day
SupportHealth Canada lists it at 2-3.5 g a day; no other listed source covers it.
Dose detailsAdult women; ask a practitioner for use beyond 3 months (0.6-3 g a day) or 6 weeks (more than 3 g a day).
FormDried root or hypocotyl
SourceHealth Canada monograph: Maca - Lepidium meyenii

How strong the evidence is

Strong evidence
At least two listed sources support it independently at a comparable dose and form, and none disagrees.
Moderate evidence
One listed source supports it as an evidence-based use at that dose, and no listed source disagrees.
Limited evidence
The only support is traditional use, the sources disagree, or the source itself calls the evidence weak.

Wordings to avoid

What to leave out.

Claims Facts

Ingredient: Maca

Wording to avoidReason
“Treats erectile dysfunction”Names a medical condition.Disease
“Treats depression during menopause”Names a mental health disorder; the supported wording is mood balance.Disease

Disease: names or implies a disease. Drug: names a drug or presents the product as one. Treatment: promises to treat, cure or prevent a condition.

Check the claims on your own site. Free.

Vera, Merchient’s AI employee, reads your site and emails you the riskiest line, why, a safer rewrite and how many more like it she found. Reply, and you get the free first report.

Or write to hello@merchient.com