Key findings from detailed records
Human studies of PQQ have reported higher memory-test scores after 12 weeks and an increase in PGC-1α, a protein involved in mitochondrial signaling, in a separate 6-week exercise trial. These findings concern specific tests and biomarkers; the exercise trial did not show better aerobic performance than placebo. PMID 36807425
KNOWLEDGE RECORD
- Category
- Metabolism and cellular function
- Last Reviewed
Names and related search termsPQQ / Pyrroloquinoline quinone / PQQ
Study type: selected human intervention studies.
OUTCOME-SPECIFIC EVIDENCE
Scientific Evidence Profile
Editorial pilot · selected evidence; not a systematic review or formal GRADE assessment.
Composite and verbal memory-test scores in adults aged 20–65
Limited
A placebo-controlled trial reported better memory scores after 12 weeks. Participant-flow reporting and multiple testing limit certainty about the size and reproducibility of the benefit.
Basis of this assessment
- Human study quality
- Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled. No multiplicity-adjustment method was identified in the reviewed material.
- Scale and replication
- 70 enrolled; 66 completers reported, but Table 1 and the participant supplement list 62. PQQ disodium salt 20 mg/day for 12 weeks.
- Consistency of findings
- Composite and verbal memory favored PQQ at 12 weeks. Other cognitive trials are listed in the article; they have not all been appraised sufficiently for a pooled conclusion here.
- Clinical relevance
- Test performance, not established improvement in everyday cognition or prevention of decline.
- Systematic reviews / meta-analyses
- No outcome-specific systematic synthesis was verified for this pilot; narrative reviews do not establish pooled certainty.
- Limitations / funding / COI
- Reasons for the full reduction to 62 are unclear; no dropout cause is inferred. Mitsubishi Gas Chemical funded the trial and several authors were company-affiliated.
Assessment sources
Profile reviewed:
This profile concerns the stated outcome and population, not the ingredient as a whole. It is not a probability of benefit, a safety rating, a product efficacy rating or an indication of product adoption.
How we assess evidenceIngredient Profile
- What is it?
- PQQ is pyrroloquinoline quinone, a quinone compound. Its role as a cofactor in some biological systems should be distinguished from the evidence obtained in human supplementation studies. [1]
Sources for this profile
Compound properties and formulation properties are different. These sources do not establish the efficacy of a finished supplement.
- PubChem — Pyrroloquinoline Quinone (CID 1024) Chemical identity reference. Maintained by NCBI, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Database record; not a clinical trial.
Profile sources checked:
Read the evidence in context
- Evidence: what was measured in the stated population or experimental model.
- Inference: an interpretation connecting findings; its applicability depends on the study conditions.
- Hypothesis: a proposed explanation or effect that remains to be tested.
Why It Matters #
Cognitive function and mitochondrial signaling offer two routes into PQQ research. Clinical tasks measure memory, while a separate exercise study measures a protein related to mitochondrial biogenesis.
What Was Studied #
Japanese adults aged 20–65; 70 enrolled. Table 1 and the supplementary participant list describe 62 people, 31 per group.
PQQ disodium salt 20 mg/day versus placebo · 12 weeks
What Was Found #
At 12 weeks, composite and verbal memory scores were higher in the PQQ group than in the placebo group (reported p=0.003 and 0.001; Supplementary Table S1). Findings in age subgroups varied by test and time point. PMID 36807425
What the Evidence Means #
The trial provides a positive finding on memory-test scores. It assessed multiple cognitive domains, time points and age subgroups; a method for adjusting for these multiple comparisons was not identified in the reviewed materials. Participant-flow reporting also needs care, as explained in the detailed study record.
What We Can Learn #
Memory-test improvements and a PGC-1α increase offer complementary research directions. The exercise trial did not improve aerobic performance, so a molecular change should be followed through to the function it is expected to support.
What Remains Unknown #
Further questions include reproducibility across populations and formulations, and the long-term balance of benefits and harms. Use the literature map as a starting point for these questions.
LITERATURE MAP / 11 PAPERS
Compare papers by conditions and findings.
Compare studies of metabolic measures, exercise and cognition. PQQ, reduced PQQ and combinations with NMN or other ingredients are not treated as identical interventions.
Initial selection: 2026-09-21; human-study additions: 2026-10-11. Editorial selection spans populations and research questions. The source-review scope is recorded per study; this is not a systematic review.
11 RECORDS
A dash marks fields outside the bibliographic record. Use detailed records to compare findings and design records to connect mechanisms.
| Paper and topic | Study conditions | Findings and scope |
|---|---|---|
| Pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt improves brain function in both younger and older adults. | Japanese adults aged 20–65; 70 enrolled. Table 1 and the supplementary participant list describe 62 people, 31 per group. · PQQ disodium salt 20 mg/day versus placebo · 12 weeks · Cognitrax cognitive domains and age-stratified analyses | At 12 weeks, composite and verbal memory scores were higher in the PQQ group than in the placebo group (reported p=0.003 and 0.001; Supplementary Table S1). Findings in age subgroups varied by test and time point. Explore the research |
| Mechanism and designPyrroloquinoline quinone stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis through cAMP response element-binding protein phosphorylation and increased PGC-1alpha expressionPMID 19861415 # | Study conditions Mouse-derived cells / CREB and PGC-1α — | Findings and scope Mitochondrial biogenesis through CREB and PGC-1α was examined in mouse liver cells. A human trial combining 20 mg/day with exercise for six weeks assessed PGC-1α changes. The human trial did not show a between-group difference in exercise performance. Signaling changes and physical function should be read separately. |
| Pharmacokinetics and metabolic measuresDietary pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) alters indicators of inflammation and mitochondrial-related metabolism in human subjects.PMID 24231099 # | Study conditions Exploratory crossover supplementation study
| Findings and scope After approximately 3 days, CRP and IL-6 decreased from baseline and urinary metabolites changed. This small exploratory study assessed inflammation and metabolism, not long-term clinical outcomes. View findings and limitations |
| Exercise / PGC-1αEffects of Pyrroloquinoline Quinone (PQQ) Supplementation on Aerobic Exercise Performance and Indices of Mitochondrial Biogenesis in Untrained Men.PMID 31860387 # | Study conditions Randomized placebo-controlled trial combined with exercise training
| Findings and scope An increase in PGC-1α, a protein associated with mitochondrial biogenesis, was reported. Aerobic performance did not differ significantly between groups. View findings and limitations |
| Effect of the Antioxidant Supplement Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Disodium Salt (BioPQQ™) on Cognitive Functions.PMID 26782228 # | Study conditions — | Findings and scope — Open original paper |
| Effect of Dietary Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Disodium Salt on Cognitive Function in Healthy Volunteers: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Study.PMID 34415830 # | Study conditions — | Findings and scope — Open original paper |
| Effects of Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Disodium Salt Intake on the Serum Cholesterol Levels of Healthy Japanese Adults.PMID 26226960 # | Study conditions — | Findings and scope — Open original paper |
| The impact of six-week dihydrogen-pyrroloquinoline quinone supplementation on mitochondrial biomarkers, brain metabolism, and cognition in elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial.PMID 38908296 # | Study conditions — | Findings and scope — Open original paper |
| Consumption of Sylimarin, Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Sodium Salt and Myricetin: Effects on Alcohol Levels and Markers of Oxidative Stress-A Pilot Study.PMID 39275279 # | Study conditions — | Findings and scope — Open original paper |
| The effects of pyrroloquinoline quinone and nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation on interoception following acute exhaustive exercise: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.PMID 41651893 # | Study conditions — | Findings and scope — Open original paper |
| Serum anti-Müllerian hormone response to pyrroloquinoline quinone supplementation in healthy women: no overall change and exploratory subgroup findings.PMID 42500134 # | Study conditions — | Findings and scope — Open original paper |
No papers match. Change the search conditions.
The literature map is an index of research questions and references. Individual assessment of results, doses, funding and COI is limited to the detailed study records. Related reports from the same trial may be included; paper counts are not counts of independent trials.
Explore the research Study Records
Listed doses describe study conditions, not recommended intake.
Supplementary Tables S1–S3 (PDF)Supplementary data (XLSX)UMIN000034459
Pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt improves brain function in both younger and older adults.
PMID 36807425DOI: 10.1039/d2fo01515c
- Authors
- Tamakoshi M, Suzuki T, Nishihara E, Nakamura S, Ikemoto K.
- Journal
- Food & Function
- Publication year
- 2023
- Study design
- Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
- Participants
- Japanese adults aged 20–65; 70 enrolled. Table 1 and the supplementary participant list describe 62 people, 31 per group.
- Dose and intervention
- PQQ disodium salt 20 mg/day versus placebo
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Outcomes and their role in the study
- Cognitrax cognitive domains and age-stratified analyses
- Findings
- At 12 weeks, composite and verbal memory scores were higher in the PQQ group than in the placebo group (reported p=0.003 and 0.001; Supplementary Table S1). Findings in age subgroups varied by test and time point.
- Limitations
- The paper reports 70 enrolled, 66 completing, four dropouts and one corrupted dataset. Table 1 and the supplementary participant list both contain 62 people. The full reasons for the reduction to 62 are not explained in the reviewed materials. Multiple cognitive domains, time points and age subgroups were tested, with no multiplicity-adjustment method identified. Test-score differences do not establish everyday cognitive benefit or prevention of cognitive decline.
- Funding
- Fully funded by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company.
- Conflict of Interest
- The disclosure identifies Mitsubishi Gas Chemical sponsorship of the RIKEN collaboration. Several authors are affiliated with the company.
- Scope of source review
- Publisher full text, Supplementary Tables S1–S3, the supplementary participant list and UMIN000034459 checked on 2026-10-24. The reported memory results and the 62-person list were verified; the complete participant-exclusion pathway remains unexplained. No independent reanalysis of individual cognitive data was performed.
Effects of Pyrroloquinoline Quinone (PQQ) Supplementation on Aerobic Exercise Performance and Indices of Mitochondrial Biogenesis in Untrained Men.
PubMed 31860387DOI: 10.1080/07315724.2019.1705203
- Authors
- Hwang PS, Machek SB, Cardaci TD, Wilburn DT, Kim CS, Suezaki ES, Willoughby DS.
- Journal
- Journal of the American College of Nutrition
- Publication year
- 2020
- Study design
- Randomized placebo-controlled trial combined with exercise training
- Participants
- 23 men without endurance training
- Dose and intervention
- PQQ 20 mg/day or placebo; both groups undertook endurance training
- Duration
- 6 weeks
- Outcomes and their role in the study
- Aerobic exercise performance, body composition and PGC-1α protein
- Findings
- An increase in PGC-1α, a protein associated with mitochondrial biogenesis, was reported. Aerobic performance did not differ significantly between groups.
- Limitations
- Small sample, men only, with exercise training. Distinguish changes in associated markers from improvement in overall mitochondrial function.
- Funding
- Details have not been verified. This does not mean that no disclosure exists.
- Conflict of Interest
- Details have not been verified. This does not mean that no disclosure exists.
- Scope of source review
- Bibliographic information and abstract checked. A full assessment of every item in the paper has not been completed.
Dietary pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) alters indicators of inflammation and mitochondrial-related metabolism in human subjects.
PubMed 24231099DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2013.07.008
- Authors
- Harris CB, Chowanadisai W, Mishchuk DO, Satre MA, Slupsky CM, Rucker RB.
- Journal
- The Journal of nutritional biochemistry
- Publication year
- 2013
- Study design
- Exploratory crossover supplementation study
- Participants
- 10 participants: 5 men and 5 women
- Dose and intervention
- Study 1: a single 0.2 mg/kg dose. Study 2: 0.3 mg/kg/day
- Duration
- Study 1: 48 hours. Study 2: approximately 3 days of daily supplementation.
- Outcomes and their role in the study
- Blood and urinary PQQ, inflammatory markers and urinary metabolites
- Findings
- After approximately 3 days, CRP and IL-6 decreased from baseline and urinary metabolites changed. This small exploratory study assessed inflammation and metabolism, not long-term clinical outcomes.
- Limitations
- Small, short-term exploratory studies. Physical function and long-term health benefits were not directly assessed.
- Funding
- Partly funded by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, which also supplied PQQ. Additional support came from the UC Davis Center for Health Related Research through the California Vitamin Settlement Fund.
- Conflict of Interest
- The paper states that funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, the publication decision or manuscript preparation. This statement does not itself establish an absence of author conflicts of interest.
- Scope of source review
- Original full text in the UC Davis repository checked on 2026-10-24 for methods, findings and funding. Study 2 is described as 76 hours in the abstract and 72 hours in Methods; this record uses approximately 3 days rather than assigning a single exact time.
Cite this page
LÍFSVARÐA. PQQ: memory, mitochondrial signals and human trials / Updated 2026-10-24
https://lifsvarda.com/knowledge/pqq/Edited by LÍFSVARÐA (product brand).Editorial policy
Safety and interactions
EFSA assessed a specified PQQ disodium salt for healthy adults at up to 20 mg/day, excluding pregnant and breastfeeding women. The assessment concerns that material and intended use; it is not evidence of lifelong safety or approval of a finished LÍFSVARÐA product.
Sources and updates
- Pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt improves brain function in both younger and older adults.
- Hwang PS, Machek SB, Cardaci TD, Wilburn DT, Kim CS, Suezaki ES, Willoughby DS. (2020). Effects of Pyrroloquinoline Quinone (PQQ) Supplementation on Aerobic Exercise Performance and Indices of Mitochondrial Biogenesis in Untrained Men.Bibliographic information and abstract checked. A full assessment of every item in the paper has not been completed.
- Harris CB, Chowanadisai W, Mishchuk DO, Satre MA, Slupsky CM, Rucker RB. (2013). Dietary pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) alters indicators of inflammation and mitochondrial-related metabolism in human subjects. Full text (PDF)Original full text in the UC Davis repository checked on 2026-10-24 for methods, findings and funding. Study 2 is described as 76 hours in the abstract and 72 hours in Methods; this record uses approximately 3 days rather than assigning a single exact time.
2026-10-11: Human-study coverage, findings and comparisons reviewed. Source-review scope is stated for each study.
2026-10-24: Checked the memory trial supplements and registry, clarified participant reporting, and verified the metabolic study full text and funding.