Introducing PQQ: The Ultimate Energy Booster for Mind and Body

Introducing PQQ: The Ultimate Energy Booster for Mind and Body

Pyrroloquinoline quinone, referred to as PQQ, is a new prosthetic group with similar physiological functions to vitamins. It is widely found in prokaryotes, plants and mammals, such as fermented soybeans or natto, green peppers, kiwi fruits, Parsley, tea, papaya, spinach, celery, breast milk, etc.

In recent years, PQQ has become one of the "star" nutrients that have attracted widespread attention. In 2022 and 2023, my country approved PQQ produced by synthesis and fermentation as new food raw materials.

The biological functions of PQQ are mainly concentrated in two aspects. First, it can support the growth and development of mitochondria and stimulate the rapid growth of human cells; second, it has good antioxidant properties, which can help remove free radicals and reduce cell damage. These two functions make it play a powerful role in brain health, cardiovascular health, metabolic health and other aspects. Because the human body cannot synthesize PQQ on its own, it needs to be supplemented through dietary supplements.

01.PQQ’s role in improving cognition is particularly valued

In February 2023, Japanese researchers published a research paper titled "Pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt improves brain function in both younger and older adults" in the magazine "Food & Function", introducing the knowledge of PQQ on young people and older people in Japan. Improved research results.

This study was a double-blind placebo randomized controlled trial that included 62 healthy Japanese men aged 20-65 years, with Mini-Mental State Scale scores ≥ 24, who maintained their original lifestyle during the study period. Female crowd. Research subjects were randomly divided into an intervention group and a placebo control group, and were orally administered PQQ (20 mg/d) or placebo capsules daily for 12 weeks. An online testing system developed by a company was used for identification at weeks 0/8/12. The cognitive test assesses the following 15 brain functions.

The results showed that compared with the placebo control group, after 12 weeks of PQQ intake, the composite memory and verbal memory scores of all groups and the elderly group increased; after 8 weeks of PQQ intake, the young group's cognitive flexibility, processing speed and Execution speed score increased.

02 PQQ can not only improve the brain function of the elderly, but also improve the brain response of young people!

In March 2023, the internationally renowned journal Food & Function published a research paper titled "Pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt improves brain function in both younger and older adults". This study investigated the impact of PQQ on the cognitive function of adults aged 20-65, expanding the study population of PQQ from the elderly to young people. The study proved that PQQ can improve the cognitive function of people of all ages.

Research has found that PQQ, as a functional food, can improve brain function at any age, and is expected to expand the use of PQQ as a functional food from the elderly to people of all ages.

03 PQQ acts as an activator of “cell energy factories” to restore their health

In May 2023, Cell Death Dis published a research paper titled Obesity impairs cardiolipin-dependent mitophagy and therapeutic intercellular mitochondrial transfer ability of mesenchymal stem cells. This study discovered PQQ by examining whether the intercellular mitochondrial donor capacity of obese subjects (people with metabolic disorders) and the therapeutic effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are impaired, and whether mitochondrial-targeted therapy can reverse them. Modulation restores mitochondrial health to mitigate impaired mitophagy.
This study provides the first comprehensive molecular understanding of impaired mitophagy in obesity-derived mesenchymal stem cells and demonstrates that mitochondrial health can be restored through PQQ regulation to mitigate impaired mitophagy.

04 PQQ can improve human metabolic function

In May 2023, a review article titled "Pyrroloquinoline-quinone to reduce fat accumulation and ameliorate obesity progression" was published in the journal Front Mol Biosci, which summarized 5 animal studies and 2 cell studies.
The results show that PQQ can reduce body fat, especially visceral and liver fat accumulation, thereby preventing dietary obesity. From a principle analysis, PQQ mainly inhibits lipogenesis and reduces fat accumulation by improving mitochondrial function and promoting lipid metabolism.

05 PQQ can prevent osteoporosis caused by natural aging

In September 2023, Aging Cell published a research paper titled "Pyrroloquinoline quinone alleviates natural aging‐related osteoporosis via a novel MCM3‐Keap1‐Nrf2 axis‐mediated stress response and Fbn1 upregulation" online. The study, through experiments on mice, found that dietary PQQ supplements can prevent osteoporosis caused by natural aging. The underlying mechanism of PQQ's powerful antioxidant capacity provides an experimental basis for PQQ's use as a dietary supplement for the prevention of age-related osteoporosis.
This study reveals the effective role and new mechanism of PQQ in preventing and treating senile osteoporosis, and proves that PQQ may be used as a safe and effective dietary supplement to prevent and treat senile osteoporosis. At the same time, it was revealed that PQQ activates the MCM3-Keap1-Nrf2 signal in osteoblasts, transcriptionally upregulates the expression of antioxidant genes and Fbn1 genes, inhibits oxidative stress and osteoclast bone resorption, and promotes osteoblast bone formation, thereby preventing aging. role in the occurrence of sexual osteoporosis.

06 Supplementing PQQ can protect retinal ganglion cells and improve eye health!

In September 2023, the journal Acta Neuropathol Commun published a study from relevant ophthalmology experts and scholars from the Eye Hospital of Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, a famous European medical school, as well as the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital in Australia, and the Department of Biology of the University of Pisa in Italy. It is titled "Pyrroloquinoline quinone drives ATP synthesis in vitro and in vivo and provides retinal ganglion cell neuroprotection." Research has proven that PQQ has a protective effect on retinal ganglion cells (RGC) and has great potential as a new neuroprotective agent in resisting retinal ganglion cell apoptosis.
The findings support the potential role of PQQ as a novel visual neuroprotective agent that can improve the resilience of retinal ganglion cells while reducing the risk of possible side effects. At the same time, researchers believe that supplementing PQQ is an effective option for maintaining eye health.

07 Supplementing PQQ can regulate intestinal flora, improve thyroid function, and reduce thyroid damage.

In December 2023, a research team from the Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University School of Medicine published an article titled "The Potential Role of Pyrroloquinoline Quinone to Regulate Thyroid Function and Gut Microbiota Composition of Graves' Disease in Mice" in the journal Pol J Microbiol In this article, researchers used a mouse model to show that supplementing PQQ can regulate intestinal flora, alleviate intestinal damage, and improve thyroid function.
The study found the effects of PQQ supplementation on GD mice and their intestinal flora:

01 After PQQ supplementation, the serum TSHR and T4 of GD mice were reduced, and the size of the thyroid gland was significantly reduced.

02 PQQ reduces inflammation and oxidative stress, and reduces small intestinal epithelial damage.

03 PQQ has a significant effect on restoring the diversity and composition of microbiota.

04 Compared with the GD group, PQQ treatment can reduce the abundance of Lactobacilli in mice (this is a potential target therapy for the GD process).

In summary, PQQ supplementation can regulate thyroid function, reduce thyroid damage, and reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, thereby alleviating small intestinal epithelial damage. And PQQ can also restore the diversity of intestinal flora.

In addition to the above studies proving the key role and unlimited potential of PQQ as a dietary supplement to improve human health, previous studies have also continued to confirm the powerful functions of PQQ.

08 PQQ can improve pulmonary hypertension

In October 2022, a research paper titled "Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) improves pulmonary hypertension by regulating mitochondrial and metabolic functions" was published in the journal Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, aiming to explore the role of PQQ in improving pulmonary hypertension.
The results show that PQQ can alleviate mitochondrial abnormalities and metabolic abnormalities in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells and delay the progression of pulmonary hypertension in rats; therefore, PQQ can be used as a potential therapeutic agent to improve pulmonary hypertension.

09 PQQ can delay cell aging and extend life!

In January 2020, a research paper titled Pyrroloquinoline quinone delays inflammaging induced by TNF-α through the p16/p21 and Jagged1 signaling pathways published in Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol directly verified the anti-aging effect of PQQ in human cells. , the results show that PQQ delays human cell aging and may extend lifespan.

Researchers found that PQQ can delay human cell aging, and further verified this conclusion through the expression results of multiple biomarkers such as p21, p16, and Jagged1. It is suggested that PQQ can improve the overall health of the population and extend life span.

10 PQQ can prevent ovarian aging and maintain fertility

In March 2022, a research paper titled "PQQ Dietary Supplementation Prevents Alkylating Agent-Induced Ovarian Dysfunction in Mice" was published in the journal Front Endocrinol, aiming to study whether PQQ dietary supplements protect against alkylating agent-induced ovarian dysfunction. effect.
The results showed that PQQ supplementation increased the weight and size of the ovaries, partially restored the damaged estrous cycle, and prevented the loss of follicles in mice treated with alkylating agents. Furthermore, PQQ supplementation significantly increased pregnancy rate and litter size per delivery in alkylating agent-treated mice. These results highlight the intervention potential of PQQ supplementation in alkylating agent-induced ovarian dysfunction.

Conclusion
In fact, as a new dietary supplement, PQQ has been recognized for its positive effects on nutrition and health. Because of its powerful functions, high safety and good stability, it has broad development prospects in the field of functional foods.
In recent years, with the deepening of knowledge, PQQ has achieved the most comprehensive efficacy certification and is widely used as a dietary supplement or food in the United States, Europe and other countries and regions. As domestic consumers' awareness continues to deepen, it is believed that PQQ, as a new food ingredient, will create a new world in the domestic market.

References:

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