1. Specific Phenotypes: Many people are not aware that within the species Lepidium Peruvianum (maca) there are 13 different phenotypes or colors (phenotype: influenced by genotype and environment). Even the Peruvians, who have used maca for thousands of years, never investigated the different phenotypes (colors) to see if they worked differently within the body. Instead, they simply combined all the different phenotypes of maca together, in the natural ratios they grow, made them into a powder and said “this is maca”. While these standard maca powders, with the traditional ratios of phenotypes, are known to benefit energy levels, adrenal health and fertility in men, we now know, through research over the last twelve years, that there are many other potential benefits to be gained from using different ratios of maca or even from using just one maca phenotype alone. Dr. Gustavo F. Gonzales, Ph.D from the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru and world renowned biochemist Dr. Henry Meissner, Ph.D, Director of Research and Development at Symphony Natural Health, San Francisco CA, have published more than 25 papers proving that the various maca phenotypes are not just different colors – they have different DNA, contain different active ingredient profiles and elicit different physiological responses in the body. As an example, research has shown that while red maca will reduce the size of a prostate, no other phenotypes exhibit this effect, and one may even increase prostate size.

Red maca has also been shown to have the strongest impact on bone health.

Black maca is considered to have the strongest energy-promoting properties, is most beneficial in supporting sperm count and motility and also exhibits the cognitive benefits of enhancing learning ability and memory. Additionally, Dr. Meissner’s studies on the specific phenotype combinations for post-menopausal women (Maca-GO® or commercially known as FemmenessencePRO) has demonstrated improvements in estrogen, progesterone, thyroid and adrenal hormones while reducing FSH and cortisol. Most importantly, FemmenessencePRO is the only maca-based product, with published clinical evidence, that statistically significant effects on hormone levels in peri- and post-menopausal women. These improvements in hormone levels from FemmenessencePRO were further exemplified by supporting bone density, cholesterol, triglycerides and a healthy body weight. Interestingly, while many marketing claims have been made, no other study involving normal maca or gelatinized maca powders and menopausal women has been able to demonstrate these positive effects on hormones. Symphony Natural Health’s maca phenotype combination product for men, commercially known as Revolution Macalibrium supports the body’s own production of hormones such as testosterone, impacting energy, cardiovascular and sexual health.

2. Highest Concentration (Up to 10 times raw maca): Efficacy is critical when using herbs to support health, and maca is no different. Nearly all maca products are either food powders with low efficacy, or extracts that only contain concentrated levels of some active ingredients. RevolutionPRO and FemmenessencePRO have concentrated levels of the full spectrum of active ingredients as demonstrated below in this analysis of amino acids and glucosinolates. Compared to the highest concentrated maca extracts on the market in the US and Europe, FemmenessencePRO not only has higher levels of those particular active ingredients but contains the full spectrum of active ingredients.

3. Stability: Analysis has shown that the active ingredients in gelatinized maca when stored as a powder in bags can degenerate by over 50% within six months due to oxygen and moisture. FemmenessencePRO is packaged in capsules and oxygen barrier blister packs, maintains efficacy for years.

4. Maximized Bioavailability: Maca is a tuber and is difficult to digest raw. For that reason, the native Peruvians traditionally cooked maca the same way we would cook a potato. Since then a process called gelatinization has been developed to remove the starches and fiber. However, with so many variables around temperature, water and pressure many companies have different processes. Dr. Meissner has perfected the gelatinization process to such a degree that the water solubility increases from 68% in normal raw maca to 99% in FemmenessencePRO, making it the highest bio available form of gelatinized maca available.

5. Investment in Clinical Research: Symphony Natural Health invested over $5 million and has spent 18 years researching maca and investigating new and more effective ways in supporting men and particularly women’s health. Our purpose is to advance integrative function medicine in providing doctors and customers with the best solutions to balance hormones and support optimal health.

6. Unparalleled Purity, Quality and Support for the Local Community: FemmenessencePRO and RevolutionPRO are GMP, Kosher and USDA, European Union and Japanese Organic Certified. They contain no magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide, fillers, chemicals, excipients or additives. All are in vegan capsules, packed in recycled boxes and printed with vegetable-based inks. Through our manufacturing joint venture in Peru, we have created industry with year round employment and have invested over 5 times more money into Peru’s economy than the export of the same amount of a standard raw maca powder.

*Generally herbal combinations have little or no evidence of synergistic effects and rarely are they studied in this fashion.
** For a complete review of Maca-GO, visit http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed and use the search term “Maca-GO” *** trials in peri- and post-menopausal women

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