PQQ Reference

Reference summary

PQQ is a redox cofactor that the supplement industry markets as a mitochondrial-biogenesis driver based on PGC-1alpha and mitochondrial-DNA-copy-number changes seen in rodent cells and tissue. Human evidence is small and mostly from the Japanese BioPQQ program: randomized placebo-controlled pilot trials in healthy adults (Nakano 2009, Koikeda 2011, Itoh 2016) report modest improvements on attention, working-memory tasks, and self-rated sleep and fatigue, plus changes in oxidative-stress and inflammatory biomarkers. Effect sizes are small and replication outside the manufacturer-aligned literature is limited. No long-term human safety or outcome data exist.

Regulatory and posture

Categories

Nootropic, Longevity

Aliases

Pyrroloquinoline quinone, Methoxatin, PQQ disodium salt, BioPQQ, MGCPQQ

Evidence posture

preclinical - Sold as a dietary supplement, not as an FDA-approved drug. Cognitive and mitochondrial-biogenesis claims rely on small short-duration human pilot trials and rodent mechanistic data. Effect sizes are modest. Not a treatment.

Regulatory status

No FDA-approved PQQ drug label. Sold in the US as a dietary supplement, with an FDA New Dietary Ingredient notification on file for the BioPQQ / MGCPQQ disodium salt manufactured by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical. Generic PQQ supplements without that specific NDI letter sit in a less-clear regulatory state.

Content review status

research reference