Various health effects of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)
Various health effects of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)
Apr 12, 2022
Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQfor short) is a coenzyme of oxidoreductase. Its unique o-benzoquinone structure endows it with many different physiological properties from other coenzymes, and also makes it have different physiological characteristics. effect.
PQQ is naturally present in the soil, can be absorbed by plants, it can be found in a variety of plants and animals, and some bacteria in fermented foods and beverages produce PQQ. Parsley and green peppers in vegetables, kiwifruit and papaya in fruits, green tea, oolong tea in drinks, and tofu are all about 30 ng/g, and the content of PQQ in natto is higher, reaching 61 ng/g. PQQ is present in various tissues of the human body, is concentrated in breast milk (140 to 180 ng of PQQ in milliliters of breast milk), and is a growth factor necessary for development.
The physiological functions of PQQ mainly include the following aspects: 1) Growth-promoting factors Many studies have shown that PQQ can not only promote the growth of mitochondria, but also enable mitochondria to biosynthesize active substances, prolong life, prevent active oxidation, and improve energy utilization. The researchers noted that enhancing mitochondrial health may be behind many of PQQ's health effects, such as improved energy, memory and sleep. 2) Neuroprotection Studies have found that PQQ can reduce the death of neuronal cells and can effectively promote the functional recovery of rats with spinal cord hemisection injury. PQQ can significantly reverse the decrease in Bax/Bcl-2 value caused by β-amyloid aggregation and inhibit the cleavage of Caspase-3. PQQ can inhibit the formation of amyloid and inhibit the cytotoxicity of truncated α-synuclein, and protect nerve cells damaged by β-amyloid polymerization toxicity. 3) Antioxidant It was found that PQQ can inhibit the formation of peroxynitrite, prevent SIN-1-induced ATP depletion, and scavenge superoxide anions to avoid nitration of bovine serum albumin. In addition, PQQ can prevent the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine from producing reactive oxygen species and reduce the cytotoxicity of 6-hydroxydopamine.
Because the body cannot synthesize PQQ itself, it can be supplemented by ingestion, the recommended daily intake for adults (except pregnant or breastfeeding women) is 20 mg. PQQ can be added to various beverages.