What is PQQ?
The full name of PQQ is pyrroloquinoline quinone. It is a vitamin-like substance that naturally exists in nature and food. It was first discovered to be a cofactor of bacterial dehydrogenase. Later, it was found that PQQ has important effects on cell metabolism and Energy production is very important.
What foods contain PQQ?
Key points to share PQQ is found in a variety of dietary sources, including fermented soybeans (natto), tea, green peppers, parsley (basil), kiwi fruit, and breast milk. It is currently believed that PQQ in animals and plants is synthesized by microorganisms, while humans obtain it from the diet.
Empirical efficacy of PQQ
PQQ is widely distributed in nature, affects a variety of physiological and biochemical processes, and has the following empirical effects:
1. Antioxidant effect
PQQ is a powerful antioxidant. The reduced form of PQQ is 7.4 times more active in scavenging free radicals than vitamin C. In animal experiments, PQQ has been shown to function as an antioxidant, protecting mitochondria from damage caused by oxidative stress in experimental designs involving cardiovascular or cerebral ischemia.
2. Neuroprotective effect
Nerve cells are easily affected by oxidative stress, which can cause fatal damage, and PQQ can protect cells from damage by scavenging free radicals. A small clinical study on memory also pointed out that daily supplementation of 20 mg of PQQ can help optimize test performance of cognitive function; in the group receiving PQQ (20 mg) plus Coenzyme Q10 (300 mg), the results were even greater Significant, but more evidence is needed to confirm the correlation between PQQ and cognitive function.
3. Improve sleep quality In a small clinical trial of 17 women, the effects of PQQ on stress, fatigue, quality of life, and sleep were evaluated. After the subjects took 20 mg of PQQ for eight weeks, their mood and sleep quality were significantly improved.
4. Has the potential to regulate blood lipids In animal experiments, it was found that supplementing PQQ in the diet can improve metabolic balance, and in diabetic rats, it was found that it can improve blood lipid status by enhancing mitochondrial function. However, there is still a lack of strong evidence in clinical trials. There is only one article that used 29 Japanese adults as subjects and administered it for 6 and 12 consecutive weeks. It was found that there was no change in total serum cholesterol, while low-density lipoprotein cholesterol LDL-chol had a slightly significant effect. decline.
Do we need to supplement PQQ?
Health foods containing PQQ have been commercially manufactured. There are currently no reports of toxicity or adverse reactions, and they are highly safe. However, according to the current research data, most of the research on PQQ is still on the mechanism of action in cell and animal experiments, and clinical trials. The current data is limited, and the number of samples is not high. Before more studies confirm the health benefits it can bring, we recommend not to rush to add more!
