: Mind Your Ps And Qs
Posted June 22, 2015
By Michael T. Murray, ND
PQQ (short for pyrroloquinoline quinone) is a vitamin-like compound found in plant foods that shows a wide range of benefits for brain function and energy production. Learn more about PQQ with the following Q&A.
What Exactly Does PQQ Do?
PQQ is an extremely potent antioxidant that is able to carry out the role of an antioxidant in the body more than 20,000 times -- which is a rare thing. For example, other antioxidants, such as vitamin C, are only able to accomplish this "cycling" process about four times.
Are There Any Food Sources of PQQ?
PQQ has been found in all plant foods analyzed to date. Particularly PPQ-rich foods include parsley, green peppers, kiwi, papaya, and tofu. These foods contain 2 to 3 mcg of PQQ per 100 grams. Green tea provides about the same amount per 4-oz. serving. While these amounts appear to be sufficient in helping our cells carry out their basic functions, research indicates that boosting PQQ through supplementation can produce some amazing effects.
Is PQQ an Essential Nutrient?
Based on research, there is no question that PQQ plays a critical role in human nutrition. The immune system seems particularly sensitive to low levels of PQQ.
What Is the Most Important Function of PQQ?
Energy production. In addition to PQQ's powerful antioxidant effect, the nutrient helps protect mitochondria (the part of a cell responsible for generating energy) from oxidative stress. It also promotes the formation of new mitochondria within aging cells -- this effect is a fountain of youth for the body's mitochondrial function.
What Are PQQ's Health Benefits/Uses?
PQQ offers considerable benefits for conditions revolving around low mitochondrial function, including aging, neurological diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's and Parkinson's), and chronic degenerative diseases. Current research has focused primarily on PQQ's ability to protect memory and cognition in both aging animals and humans. Here are some of the effects noted in animal studies:
Has PQQ Been Studied on Humans?
- PQQ protects against a gene involved in an early stage of Parkinson's disease.
- PQQ protects brain cells against oxidative damage in models of strokes.
- PQQ blocks the formation of several compounds that are especially damaging to brain cells, including mercury and oxidopamine (a potent neurotoxin used by scientists to induce Parkinson's in laboratory animals).
- PQQ protects nerve cells from the damaging effects of the beta-amyloid-protein linked with Alzheimer's disease.
Yes, preliminary clinical studies are encouraging and several larger trials are in process. While PQQ has been shown to be effective on its own at improving brain function, the best results have been seen when PQQ is combined with CoQ10.
What is the Proper Dosage for PQQ?
Based on research, a therapeutic dosage is 10 to 20 mg daily. There are also some clinical and observational studies that support using 20 mg daily for memory enhancement.
Dr. Michael T. Murray is one of the world's leading authorities on natural medicine and the author of more than 30 bestselling books, including The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine.
He is a graduate and former faculty member, and serves on the Board of Regents, of Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington.
© 2015 doctormurray.com