PQQ Research
36 peer-reviewed studies · Evidence score: 8/10
Comparison of anti-aging effect of PQQ (Pyrroloquinoline quinone) and NMN/NR (Nicotinamide mononucleotide /Nicotinamide riboside) - possible combination use
Ulpathakumbura S et al. • Ageing research reviews (2026)
All rights reserved.
- Despite supporting preliminary data and patented formulations, strong scientific evidence encouraging the synergistic anti-aging potential of PQQ and NMN/NR remains limited, highlighting the need for robust studies.
- Collectively, PQQ and NMN/NR offer distinct complementary strategies to promote healthy aging and prevent age-related diseases; their combination could offer a more effective approach to enhance healthy aging and longevity.Copyright © 2025 The Authors.
- Published by Elsevier B.V.
Protective effects of pyrroloquinoline quinone in CNS disorders
Aboulhassane S et al. • The Journal of nutritional biochemistry (2026)
All rights reserved.
- This review will address the biochemical properties, mechanism of action, and physiological roles of PQQ with a specific focus on its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects as well as its role in enhancing mitochondrial function.
- The therapeutic implications of these findings will be discussed, emphasizing PQQ's potential as a novel pharmacological approach for the management of neurological disorders, including its emerging role in cerebral folate deficiency.Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Inc.
- All rights reserved.
A role for the antioxidants coenzyme Q10 and pyrroloquinoline quinone in mitigating obesity-associated reproductive dysfunction†
Castillo-Castrejon M et al. • Biology of reproduction (2026)
Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for the Study of Reproduction.
- Together, coenzyme Q10 and pyrroloquinoline quinone offer promising nutraceutical strategies to improve fertility and reproductive health, placental function, pregnancy outcomes, and long-term metabolic consequences in offspring.
- Mechanistic insights gained from the preclinical research may inform future clinical studies to explore the therapeutic potential and synergistic benefits of combined coenzyme Q10 and pyrroloquinoline quinone treatment during human pregnancy complicated by obesity.© The Author(s) 2025.
- Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for the Study of Reproduction.
Current study on Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) therapeutic role in neurodegenerative diseases
Xie T et al. • Molecular biology reports (2025)
The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.
- By improving cellular energy metabolism, reducing oxidative stress, and promoting neuronal survival, PQQ offers a multifaceted approach to counteracting the pathophysiological factors underlying neurodegeneration.
- Our review focusing on current study of PQQ on its enhancing neuroplasticity, and protecting neurons from damage induced by oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation.
- Further we reviewed the significant signaling pathways that involved PQQ neuroprotective mechanisms, positioning it as a novel candidate for future therapeutic strategies targeting these debilitating conditions.© 2025.
The effects of pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt on brain function and physiological processes
Ikemoto K et al. • The journal of medical investigation : JMI (2024)
Invest. 71 : 23-28, February, 2024.
- Overall, PQQ is a food with various functions, including brain health benefits.
- Invest. 71 : 23-28, February, 2024.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Nutraceutical activation of Sirt1: a review
DiNicolantonio JJ et al. • Open heart (2022)
This systematic-review examined the effects of PQQ.
- Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC.
- No commercial re-use.
- See rights and permissions.
Pyrroloquinoline-Quinone Is More Than an Antioxidant: A Vitamin-like Accessory Factor Important in Health and Disease Prevention
Jonscher KR et al. • Biomolecules (2021)
Taken together, current observations suggest vitamin-like PQQ has strong potential as a potent therapeutic nutraceutical.
- Here, we address PQQ's role as an enzymatic cofactor or accessory factor and highlight mechanisms underlying PQQ's actions.
- We review both large scale and targeted datasets demonstrating that a neonatal or perinatal PQQ deficiency reduces mitochondria content and mitochondrial-related gene expression.
- Data are reviewed that suggest PQQ's modulation of lactate acid and perhaps other dehydrogenases enhance NAD+-dependent sirtuin activity, along with the sirtuin targets, such as PGC-1α, NRF-1, NRF-2 and TFAM; thus, mediating mitochondrial functions.
Prolonging healthy aging: Longevity vitamins and proteins
Ames BN • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (2018)
Because nutrient deficiencies are highly prevalent in the United States (and elsewhere), appropriate supplementation and/or an improved diet could reduce much of the consequent risk of chronic disease and premature aging.
- Impairment of the function of longevity proteins results in an insidious acceleration of the risk of diseases associated with aging.
- I also propose that nutrients required for the function of longevity proteins constitute a class of vitamins that are here named "longevity vitamins." I suggest that many such nutrients play a dual role for both survival and longevity.
- Because nutrient deficiencies are highly prevalent in the United States (and elsewhere), appropriate supplementation and/or an improved diet could reduce much of the consequent risk of chronic disease and premature aging.
Mini-review: Functions and Action Mechanisms of PQQ in Osteoporosis and Neuro Injury
Wen H et al. • Current stem cell research & therapy (2020)
It provides new ideas in the study of osteoporosis and neuro injury.Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.
- Owing to the inherent properties of PQQ as an antioxidant and redox modulator in various systems.
- In recent years, the role of PQQ in the field of osteoporosis and neuro injury has become a research hotspot.
- This article mainly discusses the derivatives, distribution of PQQ, in vitro models of osteoporosis and neuro injury, and the research progress of its mechanism of action.
Recent progress in studies on the health benefits of pyrroloquinoline quinone
Akagawa M et al. • Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry (2016)
Additionally, we provide an update of its basic pharmacokinetics and safety information in oral ingestion.
- Although PQQ is not currently classified as a vitamin, PQQ has been implicated as an important nutrient in mammals.
- In recent years, PQQ has been receiving much attention owing to its physiological importance and pharmacological effects.
- In this article, we review the potential health benefits of PQQ with a focus on its growth-promoting activity, anti-diabetic effect, anti-oxidative action, and neuroprotective function.
Pyrroloquinoline-quinone and its versatile roles in biological processes
Misra HS et al. • Journal of biosciences (2012)
This review discusses different findings suggesting the versatility in PQQ functions and provides the most plausible intellectual basis to the ubiquitous roles of this compound in a large number of biological processes, as a nutrient and a perspective vitamin.
- This review covers the comprehensive information on various aspects of PQQ known till date.
- Most recent findings correlating the exceptionally high redox recycling ability of PQQ to its potential as anti-neurodegenerative, anticancer and pharmacological agents, and as a signalling molecule have been distinctly brought out.
- This review discusses different findings suggesting the versatility in PQQ functions and provides the most plausible intellectual basis to the ubiquitous roles of this compound in a large number of biological processes, as a nutrient and a perspective vitamin.
Microbe-mitochondrion crosstalk and health: An emerging paradigm
Bajpai P et al. • Mitochondrion (2018)
All rights reserved.
- Microbial metabolites including short chain fatty acids as well as other molecules such as pyrroloquinoline quinone, fermentation gases, and modified fatty acids influence mitochondrial function.
- This review focuses on the known direct and indirect effects of microbes upon mitochondria and speculates regarding additional links for which there is circumstantial evidence.
- Overall, while there is compelling evidence that a microbiota-mitochondria link exists, explicit and holistic mechanistic studies are warranted to advance this nascent field.Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. and Mitochondria Research Society.
Targeting mitochondrial alterations to prevent type 2 diabetes--evidence from studies of dietary redox-active compounds
Cheng Z et al. • Molecular nutrition & food research (2014)
This systematic-review examined the effects of PQQ.
- Therefore, targeting the mitochondrial alterations with these redox-active compounds may lead to new therapeutic or preventive options for T2DM.
- In this article, we review the molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial alterations in T2DM, and the action of redox-active compounds to reverse mitochondrial changes and oxidative stress in T2DM.
- In addition, the current challenges and future directions are discussed and prospected.© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co.
Intrigues and intricacies of the biosynthetic pathways for the enzymatic quinocofactors: PQQ, TTQ, CTQ, TPQ, and LTQ
Klinman JP et al. • Chemical reviews (2014)
This systematic-review examined the effects of PQQ.
- Systematic review examining PQQ efficacy
- Published in Chemical reviews (2014)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Cofactor biosynthesis through protein post-translational modification
Yukl ET et al. • Current opinion in chemical biology (2012)
All rights reserved.
- The biosynthesis of these sites often requires one or more enzyme or protein accessory factors, the functions of which are quite diverse and often difficult to isolate in cases where multiple enzymes are involved.
- Herein is described the current knowledge of the biosynthesis of urease and nitrile hydratase metal centers, pyrroloquinoline quinone, hypusine, and tryptophan tryptophylquinone cofactors along with the most recent work elucidating the functions of individual accessory factors in these systems.
- These examples showcase the breadth and diversity of this continually expanding field.Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.
Review of adverse events associated with false glucose readings measured by GDH-PQQ-based glucose test strips in the presence of interfering sugars
Frias JP et al. • Diabetes care (2010)
GDH-PQQ test strips pose a safety risk to insulin-using patients treated with agents containing or metabolized to interfering sugars.
- Eighty-two reports were identified: 16 (20%) were associated with death, 46 (56%) with severe hypoglycemia, and 12 (15%) with nonsevere hypoglycemia.
- In eight reports (10%), the AE was not described.
- Forty-two events (51%) occurred in the U.S.
Potential physiological importance of pyrroloquinoline quinone
Rucker R et al. • Alternative medicine review : a journal of clinical therapeutic (2009)
For humans, such evidence suggests there may be similar parallels or benefits from improving PQQ status.
- In animals, PQQ is reported to participate in a range of biological functions with apparent survival benefits (e.g., improved neonatal growth and reproductive performance).
- There are also benefits from PQQ supplementation related to cognitive, immune, and antioxidant functions, as well as protection from cardiac and neurological ischemic events.
- Although PQQ is not currently viewed as a vitamin, its involvement in cell signaling pathways, particularly those important to mitochondriogenesis in experimental animal models, may eventually provide a rationale for defining PQQ as vital to life.
Analytical interferences in point-of-care testing glucometers by icodextrin and its metabolites: an overview
Floré KM et al. • Peritoneal dialysis international : journal of the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (2009)
The POCT glucometers based on the GDH-PQQ method should preferably not be used in this high-risk population and POCT glucose results inconsistent with clinical suspicion of hypoglycemic coma should be retested with another testing system.
- On the other hand, the GDH-PQQ test method results in falsely elevated blood glucose levels in peritoneal dialysis patients receiving solutions containing icodextrin (e.g., Extraneal; Baxter, Brussels, Belgium).
- Icodextrin is metabolized in the systemic circulation into different glucose polymers, but mainly maltose, which interferes with the GDH-PQQ-based method.
- Clinicians should be aware of this analytical interference.
Peritoneal dialysis: a primary care perspective
Saxena R et al. • Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine : JABFM (2006)
Monitoring of glycemia by assays that use glucose dehydrogenase pyrroloquinoline quinone enzymes should be avoided and serum amylase alone should not be relied on in diagnosing pancreatitis in patients on icodextrin.
- One such solution, icodextrin, is now approved for use in the United States.
- Although extremely safe to use, it is associated with unique metabolic effects that may concern primary care physicians.
- They include false elevation of blood glucose, a reversible increase in serum alkaline phosphatase and a false decline in serum amylase.
Effect of Dietary Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Disodium Salt on Cognitive Function in Healthy Volunteers: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Study
Shiojima Y et al. • Journal of the American Nutrition Association (2022)
Study demonstrates that supplementation of PQQ disodium salt is useful in improving memory, attention, judgment, and cognitive function, in middle-aged to elderly population, who feel they have become more forgetful because of aging.
- Significant improvements were observed on the Cognitrax's cognitive function domain score on "composite memory", "verbal memory", "reaction time", "complex attention", "cognitive flexibility", "executive function", and "motor speed" in the mnemoPQQ® group as compared to the placebo group.
- The DECO and the MMSE-J scores were also significantly improved in the mnemoPQQ® group.
- Study demonstrates that supplementation of PQQ disodium salt is useful in improving memory, attention, judgment, and cognitive function, in middle-aged to elderly population, who feel they have become more forgetful because of aging.