PQQ: benefits, dosage, contraindications

Antioxidant

PQQ is easily reduced to PQQH2. In vitro studies have shown that the reduced form of PQQ (PQQH2) has antioxidant capacity. The antioxidant effect is extremely powerful. Indeed, PQQ is able to catalyze a continuous cycle (that is, able to carry out repeated oxidation and reduction reactions) to a much greater degree than other antioxidants. For example, PQQ can perform 20,000 catalytic conversions compared to only 4 for vitamin C. nnIn humans, PQQ was administered as monotherapy to 10 subjects (5 women, 5 men) aged 21 to 34 years. Multiple measurements of plasma and urinary PQQ levels were taken over a 48-hour period. The results indicated a significant increase in antioxidant potential even after a single dose.nn

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Cognitive function

Research has shown that PQQ protects memory and cognition in aging animals and humans. In animal studies, PQQ protects against cognitive impairments caused by chronic oxidative stress and improves performance on memory tests in animal models. nn

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Neurological

Neurons are susceptible to lethal damage from oxidative stress. This neuronal death is considered a cause of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Research has shown that PQQ protects memory and cognition in aging animals and humans. In animal studies, PQQ has been found to have the following benefits: • protects against cognitive impairment caused by chronic oxidative stress and improves performance on memory tests in animal models. • stimulates the production and release of nerve growth factor. • protects against auto-oxidation of the DJ-1 gene, an early step in the onset of Parkinson's disease. • protects brain cells from oxidative damage. • blocks the formation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), a major source of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) that damage brain cells. • protects against the risk of severe stroke in an experimental animal model of stroke. • protects the brain against neurotoxicity induced by other potent toxins, including mercury, glutamate, and oxydopamine (a potent neurotoxin used by scientists to induce parkinsonism in laboratory animals). • prevents the development of alpha-synuclein, a protein associated with Parkinson's disease. • protects nerve cells from the harmful effects of the beta-amyloid protein associated with Alzheimer's disease.

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Bioenergizing

PQQ has been identified as a novel supplement involved in redox modulation, cellular energy metabolism, mitochondrial biogenesis and functions as a potent antioxidant. PQQ has been shown to activate biomarkers of mitochondrial biogenesis such as CREB, PGC-1α, NRF-1/2 and TFAM in in vitro models.

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Anti-inflammatory

PQQ supplementation leads to a significant reduction in levels of inflammatory markers (plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and IL-6).

Hypoglycemic

It is established that type 2 diabetes can be characterized as a mitochondrial disorder, and that mitochondrial dysfunction in diabetic subjects is closely linked to the degree of hyperglycemia, diet, physical activity, sleep, stress and other lifestyle-related factors. Supplementation with PQQ has been shown to improve mitochondrial function and biogenesis. Furthermore, PQQ deficiency increases plasma glucose levels, reduces hepatic mitochondrial content by 20–30% and increases plasma lipid levels, whereas PQQ supplementation improves mitochondrial alterations, metabolic disturbances and the lipid profile in diabetic rats. On the other hand, PQQ exerts additional mechanisms on insulin signaling and enhances glucose uptake by translocation of glucose transporters. Therefore, PQQ may be useful in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

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Hypolipidemic

PQQ lowers low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, likely by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK).

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