Ingredient file 6 of 8
Maca, Grape Seed and Astragalus in Olivaro: Three Plants, No Proven Blood Sugar Role
Maca root, grape seed and astragalus root are three plant extracts in Olivaro's 200 mg blend, listed 1st, 2nd and 6th. None has a proven blood sugar role. Maca, in first place, is the largest share, at least about 9 mg per mL. Maca may not be safe in pregnancy (MSKCC, Maca), and astragalus is not advised with autoimmune disease (NCCIH, Astragalus).
Written by the Olivaro research deskUpdated
At a glance
Maca, grape seed, astragalus: what does each one do in Olivaro?
The honest answer: nobody has shown that any of the three helps blood sugar. Each was studied for something else, in small trials.
| Plant | Place in blend | Studied for | Blood sugar evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maca root | 1st of 22 | Sexual function, menopause symptoms (MSKCC, Maca) | None described |
| Grape seed | 2nd of 22 | Cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure (NCCIH, Grape Seed Extract) | Not established |
| Astragalus root | 6th of 22 | Many uses; none well supported (NCCIH, Astragalus) | Low-quality hints, only alongside metformin |
The Olivaro sales page speaks of "nutritional support for glucose metabolism, metabolic health, and weight management". These three plants add no tested link to that claim.
Label math
How much maca is in one dropper?
At least about 9 mg per mL, and likely more. A proprietary blend lists ingredients from heaviest to lightest (21 CFR 101.36 (eCFR)). Maca comes first, so it is the largest single share of the 200 mg.
The largest share can never be smaller than the average. The average share is 200 / 22, or about 9 mg. So maca holds at least that much per mL, and at least about 18 mg per day at 2 droppers.
| Plant | Lowest possible | Highest possible |
|---|---|---|
| Maca (1st) | about 9 mg | just under 200 mg |
| Grape seed (2nd) | a trace | 100 mg (200 / 2) |
| Astragalus (6th) | a trace | about 33 mg (200 / 6) |
Only the order is printed. The exact split is known to the maker alone. Our guide to reading supplement labels shows the same math for any blend.
Plant 1
What is maca root, and what do studies show?
Maca is a root grown high in the Andes of Peru. People there eat it as food. In the U.S. it is sold as a powder or extract, mostly for energy and libido.
Memorial Sloan Kettering counts only a few small human trials. Most looked at sexual function or menopause symptoms, and reviews rate the evidence as limited (MSKCC, Maca). The MSK file does not describe any blood sugar benefit.
- Evidence: limited, small trials, other uses.
- Blood sugar trials: none in our sources.
- Share in Olivaro: the largest, at least about 9 mg per mL.
Plant 2
What is grape seed extract, and is it safe?
Grape seed extract is made from the seeds of wine grapes. It is rich in plant polyphenols. NCCIH calls it generally well tolerated (NCCIH, Grape Seed Extract).
Reviews of small studies point to possible modest drops in LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and the lower blood pressure number. NCCIH says those findings are not definitive (NCCIH, Grape Seed Extract). Blood sugar is not among them.
Little is known about grape seed extract in pregnancy or while nursing (NCCIH, Grape Seed Extract). That gap is one more reason the label asks pregnant or nursing mothers to see a physician first.
Plant 3
What is astragalus, and does it help blood sugar?
Not on current evidence. NCCIH finds no sufficient, reliable proof that astragalus helps any health condition (NCCIH, Astragalus).
Astragalus is a root used in traditional Chinese medicine. A 2024 review, built mostly on low-quality studies, hinted at extra glucose lowering when astragalus was added to metformin (NCCIH, Astragalus). That is not the same as working alone. It also means an added effect is possible if you already take metformin.
Astragalus sits 6th in Olivaro. Its share is capped near 33 mg per mL by label order, and the real figure is unknown.
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Who should skip or ask first?
Three groups stand out. Each flag comes from a federal or cancer-center fact sheet, not from a study of Olivaro.
Pregnant or nursing
Maca may not be safe in pregnancy or breastfeeding (MSKCC, Maca). The Olivaro label also asks you to consult a physician.
Hormone-sensitive cancer
MSK advises people with hormone-sensitive cancers to talk to a provider before using maca (MSKCC, Maca).
Autoimmune disease or immune drugs
NCCIH says people with autoimmune diseases should avoid astragalus. It may interact with immune-suppressing medicines (NCCIH, Astragalus).
If you take metformin or another diabetes drug, share the full list with your care team. Talk to your doctor before you change any diabetes medicine. Our who should not take Olivaro page covers every group in one place.
Bottom line
Do these three plants make Olivaro work better?
There is no evidence that they do, for blood sugar. They take up a large part of the blend, since two of them lead the list.
In their favor
- Maca is a common food root.
- Grape seed is generally well tolerated (NCCIH, Grape Seed Extract).
- All three names are printed in full.
Against
- No blood sugar trials for maca or grape seed.
- Astragalus evidence is weak and tied to metformin use.
- No amounts printed, and no study of Olivaro itself.
Profiles
Maca, grape seed and astragalus: profile tables
Label lines next to research for each plant. All 23 ingredients are on the Olivaro ingredients overview.
| Label name | Maca (Lepidium meyenii) Root Extract |
|---|---|
| What it is | Lepidium meyenii, Andean root |
| Position on the label | 1 of 22 in the blend (listed from most to least by weight) |
| Amount per dropper | Not disclosed. Part of the 200 mg proprietary blend. |
| 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. |
| Label name | Grape (Vitis vinifera) Seed Extract |
|---|---|
| What it is | Vitis vinifera seed |
| Position on the label | 2 of 22 in the blend (listed from most to least by weight) |
| Amount per dropper | Not disclosed. Part of the 200 mg proprietary blend. |
| Amount used in research | Studied for other uses |
| Strength of evidence | Not established for blood sugar |
| Marketed or traditional use | Plant polyphenols |
| Main caution | Generally well tolerated. |
| Label name | Astragalus Root Extract |
|---|---|
| What it is | Astragalus membranaceus root |
| Position on the label | 6 of 22 in the blend (listed from most to least by weight) |
| Amount per dropper | Not disclosed. Part of the 200 mg proprietary blend. |
| 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. |
FAQ
Maca, grape seed and astragalus in Olivaro: common questions
Is maca good for blood sugar?
No study in our sources shows a blood sugar benefit for maca. Its few small human trials looked mostly at sexual function and menopause symptoms, and reviews rate that evidence as limited. Maca is the first and largest ingredient in the Olivaro blend, yet it has no tested blood sugar role.
Can you take maca while pregnant?
Maca may not be safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding, according to Memorial Sloan Kettering. The Olivaro label also asks pregnant or nursing mothers to consult a physician before use. Bring the bottle to your prenatal visit and let your provider decide.
What is grape seed extract good for?
Small studies suggest grape seed extract may modestly lower LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and the lower blood pressure number, but NCCIH says the findings are not definitive. It is generally well tolerated. It is not a proven blood sugar ingredient, and Olivaro does not print its amount.
Who should not take astragalus?
People with autoimmune diseases should avoid astragalus, NCCIH says, and it may interact with immune-suppressing medicines. If either applies to you, ask your doctor before using Olivaro, and bring the bottle so the full list is in view.
Does astragalus lower blood sugar?
There is not enough reliable evidence to say so. A 2024 review of mostly low-quality studies hinted at extra glucose lowering only when astragalus was added to metformin. If you take metformin, mention the astragalus in Olivaro to your doctor or pharmacist.
How much maca does Olivaro contain?
The label does not print it. Maca is listed first in the 200 mg blend, so it is the largest share, which means at least about 9 mg per 1 mL dropper, or about 18 mg a day at 2 droppers. The upper amount is unknown.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
We start from the bottle label, then check every claim against government and peer-reviewed sources linked on the page.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by an authorized U.S. retailer, not by the manufacturer. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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