Maca and adaptogens
Maca Root in Sugar Defender, Plus Eleuthero and Astragalus: What 1 mL Can Hold
Maca root in Sugar Defender is the first of 22 ingredients in the 200 mg blend, so it may be the largest share, though no amount is printed. Eleuthero (5th, at most 40 mg per mL) and astragalus (6th, at most about 33 mg) follow. None of the three has solid blood sugar evidence in people, and no trial has tested the drops.
Written by the Sugar Defender label deskUpdated
First on the list01
Why is maca root listed first in Sugar Defender?
Maca root is listed first in Sugar Defender because it weighs the most of the 22 blend ingredients. It may tie for the most. Its exact weight is hidden.
A proprietary blend lists its parts from most to least by weight (21 CFR 101.36 (eCFR)).
First place has a floor as well as a ceiling. The top line must weigh at least the even split, about 9 mg.
| Name on the label | Maca (Lepidium meyenii) Root Extract |
|---|---|
| What it is | Lepidium meyenii, Andean root |
| Place on the label | 1 of 22 in the 200 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per mL (1 dropper) | Not listed; #1 of 22 in the 200 mg blend, so at most 200 mg per mL |
| Amount used in research | Studied for other uses, not blood sugar |
| Strength of evidence | No blood sugar trials |
| Marketed or traditional use | Traditional Andean food and tonic |
| Main caution | May not be safe in pregnancy or breastfeeding. |
| Name on the label | Eleutherococcus Senticosus Root Extract |
|---|---|
| What it is | Siberian ginseng root |
| Place on the label | 5 of 22 in the 200 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per mL (1 dropper) | Not listed; #5 of 22 in the 200 mg blend, so at most 40 mg per mL |
| Amount used in research | 800 mg a day in one trial |
| Strength of evidence | No effect in rigorous studies |
| Marketed or traditional use | Traditional tonic |
| Main caution | Can raise digoxin levels. |
| Name on the label | Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract |
|---|---|
| What it is | Astragalus membranaceus root |
| Place on the label | 6 of 22 in the 200 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per mL (1 dropper) | Not listed; #6 of 22 in the 200 mg blend, so at most 33 mg per mL |
| Amount used in research | No blood sugar dose established |
| Strength of evidence | Not established |
| Marketed or traditional use | Traditional Chinese herb |
| Main caution | Avoid with autoimmune disease or immune-suppressing drugs. |
Blend math02
How much maca, eleuthero and astragalus fit in 1 mL of Sugar Defender?
One mL of Sugar Defender holds at least about 9 mg of maca, at most 40 mg of eleuthero and at most about 33 mg of astragalus.
The ceiling for place k is 200 divided by k: 200 / 5 is 40, and 200 / 6 is about 33.
Eleuthero is the only one of the three with a studied daily dose, 800 mg in one trial.
| Ingredient | Place | Per mL | Studied dose | Share of studied dose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maca root | 1st of 22 | At least about 9 mg; under 200 mg | No blood sugar dose | No comparison possible |
| Eleuthero root | 5th of 22 | At most 40 mg | 800 mg a day, one trial | 5% at the ceiling |
| Astragalus root | 6th of 22 | At most about 33 mg | No blood sugar dose | No comparison possible |
Eleuthero at its very highest share would be 40 mg out of 800 mg, one twentieth of the amount studied. The label math for every line is on the ingredients page.
Energy claims03
Do maca and eleuthero in Sugar Defender raise your energy?
No study shows that the maca or eleuthero in Sugar Defender raises energy. The sales page says maca "Boosts Your Energy" and eleuthero "Increases Energy & Reduces Fatigue" (Sugar Defender sales page).
Small studies of eleuthero found little or no benefit for exercise performance (NIH ODS, Exercise & Athletic Performance).
Maca trials looked mostly at sexual function and menopause, not energy (MSKCC, Maca).
Maca
Sales line: "Boosts Your Energy". Evidence: a few small trials on other topics, rated limited by reviewers (MSKCC, Maca).
Claim outruns evidenceEleuthero
Sales line: "Increases Energy & Reduces Fatigue". Evidence: little or no benefit in small studies; short-term use looks safe (NIH ODS, Exercise & Athletic Performance).
Claim outruns evidenceIf the drops feel like a lift, guarana and green tea add caffeine. Read the full claim check on claims vs evidence.
Maca04
What is maca root, and who should skip it?
Maca is an Andean root eaten as food and used as a tonic. In Sugar Defender it leads the blend, but research gives it no blood sugar role (MSKCC, Maca).
Memorial Sloan Kettering does not describe any blood sugar benefit for maca.
Maca may not be safe in pregnancy or breastfeeding (MSKCC, Maca). People with hormone-sensitive cancers should talk to a provider.
"Consult with your physician prior to use if you are pregnant or nursing." Maca is one more reason to take that line seriously.
Sugar Defender: from $49 a bottle60 mL · 1 mL a day · 2, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 3 or 6 · 60-day guarantee
See packsEleuthero05
What is eleuthero, and why does digoxin matter?
Eleuthero is the root of Eleutherococcus senticosus, sold as Siberian ginseng. In Sugar Defender it is 5th of 22, and it can affect digoxin, a heart drug (MSKCC, Siberian Ginseng (Eleuthero)).
A case report found eleuthero raised blood digoxin levels. It may also make digoxin tests read falsely high.
Its blood sugar findings come only from animal studies.
The label lists eleuthero apart from Panax ginseng, which sits 12th. On digoxin? Ask your prescriber before you start. Mention the drops before any blood test.
Astragalus06
Is astragalus in Sugar Defender safe for everyone?
No. People with autoimmune diseases should avoid the astragalus in Sugar Defender. It may also interact with immune-suppressing drugs (NCCIH, Astragalus).
NCCIH finds no reliable evidence that astragalus helps any health condition.
A 2024 review of mostly low-quality studies hinted at extra glucose lowering when used with metformin (NCCIH, Astragalus).
Never stop or change a prescribed medicine because you started a supplement. On metformin, insulin or another diabetes drug, tell your doctor first. See supplements and diabetes medicines.
The rest of the blend07
Where do maca and the adaptogens sit among the other Sugar Defender ingredients?
Maca, eleuthero and astragalus hold places 1, 5 and 6 of the 22 lines in the Sugar Defender blend.
Grape seed, guarana and African mango fill places 2 to 4 between them.
Check who should not take the drops before a first bottle.
FAQ08
What do people ask about maca and adaptogens?
People most often ask: What is maca root good for? The short answer, and 5 more, open below.
Each answer starts with the direct reply, then the reason, with a source where one exists.
What is maca root good for?
Maca root has only a few small human trials, mostly on sexual function and menopause symptoms, and reviews call the evidence limited (MSKCC, Maca). It has no blood sugar trials. In the drops it is the first of 22 blend lines, with no amount printed.
What is eleuthero (Siberian ginseng)?
Eleuthero is the root of Eleutherococcus senticosus, often called Siberian ginseng and used as a traditional tonic. Human studies are limited, and its blood sugar findings come only from animals (MSKCC, Siberian Ginseng (Eleuthero)). The drops hold at most 40 mg per mL.
Does Sugar Defender give you energy?
Not in any way a study has shown. The sales page says maca "Boosts Your Energy", but studies of eleuthero found little or no benefit (NIH ODS, Exercise & Athletic Performance). Any lift you notice may come from the caffeine in guarana and green tea.
What is astragalus?
Astragalus is a root used in traditional Chinese medicine. NCCIH finds no reliable evidence that it helps any health condition (NCCIH, Astragalus). In the drops it is 6th of 22, so 1 mL holds at most about 33 mg.
Is maca safe in pregnancy?
Maca may not be safe in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, according to Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSKCC, Maca). The label also asks pregnant or nursing women to consult a physician before use, so ask first and bring the bottle.
Does eleuthero interact with digoxin?
It can. In a case report, eleuthero raised blood digoxin levels, and it may make digoxin tests read falsely high (MSKCC, Siberian Ginseng (Eleuthero)). Anyone taking digoxin should ask the prescriber first, before using any drops that contain eleuthero.
Who wrote this09
Who wrote and reviewed this Sugar Defender guide?
The Sugar Defender label desk wrote it from the label, the sales page and linked public sources.
A medical reviewer's name goes in the box below once a review is on file.
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . See our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. authorized Sugar Defender merchant, not by the manufacturer or the label distributor. We are paid when you buy through our order links.
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What should you read next about Sugar Defender?
Read claims vs evidence, who it's for, supplements and medicines next: they pick up where this one stops.
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