May Help Support Healthy Metabolism, Mitochondria and Neurologic Functions*
What Are the Benefits of PQQ?
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is widespread in adults and children. Early exposure to maternal obesity or Western-style diet (WD) increases steatosis and oxidative stress in fetal liver and is associated with lifetime disease risk in the offspring. Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is a natural antioxidant found in soil, enriched in human breast milk, and essential for development in mammals.
We have demonstrated for the first time, to our knowledge, that subpharmacological supplementation of PQQ, when provided prenatally in obese pregnant mice, protects against disease pathways involved in NAFLD and NASH, decreasing hepatic PPARγ expression in early life. Continued treatment after weaning showed similar trends and results in reduced hepatic TG accumulation, inhibition of proinflammatory programs, and increased oxidative defense. Protection against weight gain was not achieved; however, PQQ altered fuel utilization and increased metabolic flexibility in obese animals and significantly reduced adiposity, resulting in an overall healthier metabolic state in offspring exposed to the WD.
Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) influences energy-related metabolism and neurologic functions in animals. The mechanism of action involves interactions with cell signaling pathways and mitochondrial function.
You probably eat a little PQQ every day. It’s found in small amounts in many foods like spinach, green peppers, kiwifruit, tofu, natto (fermented soybeans), green tea, and human milk.
However, we generally don’t get a lot of PQQ from food — just an estimated 0.1 to 1.0 milligrams (mg) per day. Dark chocolate lovers likely get more. “CocoaTrusted Source is suggested to be, by far, the best source of PQQ,” Know said.
In a small study at the University of California at Davis, scientists gave people in their 20s to early 30s a PQQ supplement based on how much they weighed. (A typical daily dose is 10 to 20 mg.) After just three days of taking the PQQ, tests showed the people had an increase in mitochondria-related functions.
Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine
