PQQ
Other ·Exploratory record · not publication-reviewed ·Updated July 13, 2026
Novel cofactor that promotes mitochondrial biogenesis, creating new mitochondria.
Exploratory record, not a reviewed medical publication.
See the editorial and medical-review policies for the publication gate.
This generated database record has not completed a claim-level review by a qualified human medical reviewer. Bibliography links and evidence labels are not approval. The page remains available for reference and is excluded from search indexing.
What the research says.
A quick, data-only summary. The full evidence, dosing, and sources are below.
PQQ is an other most often used for mitochondrial biogenesis, cognitive function, energy. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as emerging. A typical adult dose is 10-20 mg daily, commonly taken as pqq disodium salt (biopqq). This profile indexes 16 sources.
The bottom line
Evidence rating emerging. Most-documented uses: mitochondrial biogenesis, cognitive function, energy. 16 sources indexed (1993–2026), with 0 interaction records on file.
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
Activates PGC-1alpha via CREB phosphorylation, promoting mitochondrial biogenesis. Also acts as a potent redox cycling antioxidant and supports nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis.13,5
Dosing & protocol.
What it actually costs.
Real-world pricing across three quality tiers. Assumes PQQ Disodium Salt / BioPQQ.
Assumes 10-20 mg/day. Vendor basis: Life Extension, NOW/iHerb, Vitacost, and Amazon marketplace; BioPQQ-branded products drive premium pricing. Updated 2026-05-28.
The same dose, as food.
How much you'd eat to match a supplemental dose.
Food intake is trace-level; supplement doses are much more concentrated.
Full safety detail.
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Randomized controlled trials
7- 1The effects of pyrroloquinoline quinone and nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation on interoception following acute exhaustive exercise: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled studyPMIDZhao C, Wu B, Sui H et al. · Scientific reports · 2026
Zhao C, Wu B, Sui H et al.. The effects of pyrroloquinoline quinone and nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation on interoception following acute exhaustive exercise: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Scientific reports. 2026
- 2Randomized, Cross over, Multicenter, Single-Blind Study Comparing Citicoline 500 mg/Homotaurine 50 mg/Vitamin B3 54 mg/Pyrroloquinoline Quinone 5 mg (Neuprozin Mito(®)) and Citicoline 800 mg (Cebrolux(®)) on Pattern Electroretinogram (PERG) and Quality of Life in Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma with Well-Controlled Intraocular PressurePMIDRossi GCM, Rinaldi M, Matarazzo F et al. · Journal of clinical medicine · 2025
Rossi GCM, Rinaldi M, Matarazzo F et al.. Randomized, Cross over, Multicenter, Single-Blind Study Comparing Citicoline 500 mg/Homotaurine 50 mg/Vitamin B3 54 mg/Pyrroloquinoline Quinone 5 mg (Neuprozin Mito(®)) and Citicoline 800 mg (Cebrolux(®)) on Pattern Electroretinogram (PERG) and Quality of Life in Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma with Well-Controlled Intraocular Pressure. Journal of clinical medicine. 2025
- 3Pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt improves brain function in both younger and older adultsPMIDNakano M et al. · Food Funct · 2023
In younger adults PQQ improved cognitive flexibility and processing speed after 8 weeks; older adults showed improvements in complex and verbal memory after 12 weeks
- 4Effect of Dietary Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Disodium Salt on Cognitive Function in Healthy Volunteers: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group StudyPMIDItoh Y et al. · J Am Coll Nutr · 2021
PQQ supplementation improved memory, attention, judgment, and cognitive function in middle-aged to elderly population
- 5Effects of Pyrroloquinoline Quinone (PQQ) Supplementation on Aerobic Exercise Performance and Indices of Mitochondrial Biogenesis in Untrained MenPMIDHwang PS et al. · J Am Coll Nutr · 2020
20 mg/day PQQ supplementation significantly increased PGC-1alpha protein levels compared to placebo, confirming mitochondrial biogenesis in humans
- 6Effects of pyrroloquinoline quinone on cognitive function and sleep qualityItoh Y, Hine K, Miura H et al. · Funct Foods Health Dis · 2016
- 7Dietary pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) alters indicators of inflammation and mitochondrial-related metabolism in human subjectsPMIDHarris CB et al. · J Nutr Biochem · 2013
PQQ supplementation significantly decreased plasma CRP, IL-6 and urinary methylated amines, with changes consistent with enhanced mitochondria-related functions
Reviews & position papers
4- 8Pyrroloquinoline quinone scaffolds: centrality in anticancer drug designPMIDSen S, Karati D · Future medicinal chemistry · 2026
Sen S, Karati D. Pyrroloquinoline quinone scaffolds: centrality in anticancer drug design. Future medicinal chemistry. 2026
- 9The effects of pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt on brain function and physiological processesPMIDIkemoto K, Mohamad Ishak NS, Akagawa M · The journal of medical investigation : JMI · 2024
Ikemoto K, Mohamad Ishak NS, Akagawa M. The effects of pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt on brain function and physiological processes. The journal of medical investigation : JMI. 2024
- 10Consumption of Sylimarin, Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Sodium Salt and Myricetin: Effects on Alcohol Levels and Markers of Oxidative Stress-A Pilot StudyPMIDBosco G, Vezzoli A, Brizzolari A et al. · Nutrients · 2024
Bosco G, Vezzoli A, Brizzolari A et al.. Consumption of Sylimarin, Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Sodium Salt and Myricetin: Effects on Alcohol Levels and Markers of Oxidative Stress-A Pilot Study. Nutrients. 2024
- 11Safety of pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 258/97PMIDEFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA), Turck D, Bresson JL et al. · EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority · 2017
EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA), Turck D, Bresson JL et al.. Safety of pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 258/97. EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority. 2017
Mechanistic & preclinical
3- 12Safety assessment of a novel, dietary pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt (mnemoPQQ)PMIDKrishnaswamy R et al. · Food Chem Toxicol · 2022
PQQ is non-mutagenic and non-genotoxic; LD50 was 1825 and 1410 mg/kg bw in male and female rats respectively, establishing a wide safety margin at recommended doses
- 13Pyrroloquinoline quinone stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis through cAMP response element-binding protein phosphorylation and increased PGC-1alpha expressionPMIDChowanadisai W et al. · J Biol Chem · 2010
PQQ stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis through CREB phosphorylation and increased PGC-1alpha expression, the key mechanism for creating new mitochondria
- 14Stimulation of nerve growth factor production by pyrroloquinoline quinone and its derivatives in vitro and in vivoPMIDYamaguchi K et al. · Biosci Biotechnol Biochem · 1993
PQQ is a potent enhancer of nerve growth factor (NGF) production in vitro and in vivo, with the strongest NGF-promoting activity among tested compounds
Reference material
2- 15Baltic S, Nedeljkovic D, Todorovic N et al.. 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. The journal of nutrition, health & aging. 2024Source linkedPMID
- 16Frias JP, Lim CG, Ellison JM et al.. Review of adverse events associated with false glucose readings measured by GDH-PQQ-based glucose test strips in the presence of interfering sugars. Diabetes care. 2010Source linkedPMID
Common questions.
Quick answers about PQQ, drawn from the data on this page.
What is PQQ?
Novel cofactor that promotes mitochondrial biogenesis, creating new mitochondria.
What is PQQ used for?
Commonly cited benefits of PQQ include: Mitochondrial biogenesis; Cognitive function; Energy; Neuroprotection. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as emerging.
What is a typical dose of PQQ?
A typical adult dose of PQQ is 10-20 mg daily. The commonly recommended form is PQQ disodium salt (BioPQQ). These are general ranges, not personalized advice; confirm the right dose with a clinician.
What are the side effects of PQQ?
Reported side effects include well tolerated, headache (rare), fatigue initially. This is educational information; check with a healthcare professional before use.
How strong is the evidence for PQQ?
NutriStack rates this as Emerging, meaning early RCT signal, mechanistic data, or limited human evidence. Full tier criteria are at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/evidence-tiers.
Use this with your stack
PQQ in NutriStack.
Add it to your stack, see how it interacts with everything else you take, and get a Stack Score that updates the moment it does.