There is a growing body of evidence that suggests the answer is yes!
The term “breakthrough discovery” is tossed around a lot in science these days. Sometimes it’s a breakthrough discovery in medicine regarding a cure for this or that. Other times it’s a breakthrough discovery by astronomers looking at the cosmos or it’s a breakthrough discovery by archeologists looking back in time.
It’s gotten to the point where you wonder if all these breakthrough discoveries are truly worthy of the phrase.
Well, there’s an anti-aging nutrition breakthrough discovery that is indeed worthy of the phrase and it has the potential to help you live longer and healthier than you ever dreamed possible.
PQQ and Mitochondria Biogenesis
Let’s cut to the chase… In 2010 scientists at the University of California, Davis, discovered that a naturally occurring essential nutrient called Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) could promote mitochondrial biogenesis; the spontaneous generation of new mitochondria within aging cells.
That’s an anti-aging breakthrough discovery if there ever was one. You see, there are only a handful of ways to create new mitochondria. Caloric restriction is one way. Intense exercise is another. And there are a couple of drugs that can do it.
PQQ is the first nutritional supplement that has been shown to generate new mitochondria and that’s great news for you—particular if you want to live a long, healthy life.
How important are mitochondria to your health? Very. Mitochondria are found in every living cell in your body. Some cells may have hundreds and hundreds of mitochondria. Other cells may have but one. Their main purpose is to provide energy to the cell, and thus to the surrounding tissue and organs. Young, healthy mitochondria translates into healthy organs. On the other hand, aging mitochondria translates into mitochondria dysfunction and opens the door to disease.
Mitochondria and Aging
Scientists agree that mitochondrial dysfunction is a biomarker of aging and have been looking for nutritional solutions to enhance mitochondrial function and slow the aging process.
Back in 2002 Dr. Bruce Ames and his colleagues at the University of California, Berkeley shocked the anti-aging community with their groundbreaking studies that showed the combination of R-Lipoic Acid and Acetyl-L-Carnitine could enhance mitochondrial function.
In the decade since their discovery, there has been an explosion of research looking into the connection between cell mitochondria and longevity, and it’s that research that has led us to PQQ.
PQQ Prevents Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress
The primary cause of mitochondrial dysfunction is oxidative stress. As the mitochondria work to produce energy, they give off high-energy electrons that form what’s called reactive oxygen species or free radicals. This results in significant oxidative stress in the mitochondria, and ultimately mitochondrial dysfunction.
Studies show that PQQ possesses powerful free radical–scavenging capacity and provides the mitochondria with superior antioxidant protection. Unlike other antioxidants, PQQ’s molecular stability allows it to carry out thousands of electron transfers without undergoing molecular breakdown.
And while protecting mitochondria from oxidative stress is good, that fact that PQQ can promote mitochondrial biogenesis is even better.
The researchers at UC Davis found that there are three signaling molecules activated by PQQ that cause cells to produce new mitochondria:
- PQQ activates a “master regulator” that directly stimulates genes that enhance mitochondrial and cellular respiration, growth, and reproduction.
- PQQ triggers the CREB signaling protein to stimulate the growth of new mitochondria.
- PQQ regulates a cell signaling protein called DJ-1. DJ-1 is intrinsically involved in cell function and survival, has been shown to be of particular importance to brain health and function.
That fact that PQQ can promote the production of new mitochondria in not one, but three different ways makes it even more desirable as an anti-aging nutrient.
PQQ For Brain Health
Neuroprotection is one of the most promising areas of research surrounding PQQ. There have already been studies that show PQQ improves memory, attention span, and cognition. Even more impressive is that PQQ supplementation stimulates the production and release of nerve growth factor in cells that support neurons in the brain. Neurons are electrically excitable brain cells involved in cognition. Promoting healthy neurons is a good way to improve thinking and protect your brain for aging.
In a clinical trial conducted in Japan in 2007, supplementation with 20 mg per day of PQQ resulted in improvements on tests of higher cognitive function in a group of 71 people between the ages of 40-70. The group that received the PQQ outperformed the placebo group by more than twofold on standardized memory tests.
In a separate Japanese study, PQQ again proved it neuroprotection power by preventing the formation of amyloid plaque in animals. Many scientists believe amyloid plaque build-up may contribute to brain aging and memory loss.
PQQ for Heart Health
Heart health is another one of PQQ’s proven health benefits. In a study published in 2007, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco reported that PQQ helps cells in the heart resist oxidative stress by preserving and enhancing mitochondrial function. Wrote the researchers, “Our results provide direct evidence that PQQ reduces oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cell death…”
Another study compared PQQ’s heart health benefits to the beta blocker drug metroprol, a drug often given to patients who have suffered a heart attack Independently, both PQQ and metroprol reduced the size of the damaged areas’ in the heart. The combination of PQQ with metoprolol also increased mitochondrial energy-producing functions. But only PQQ favorably reduced lipid peroxidation, leading the researchers to conclude that “PQQ is superior to metoprolol in protecting mitochondria from ischemia/reperfusion oxidative damage.”
PQQ – The Ultimate Anti-Aging Nutrient
Clearly, these brain and heart examples are impressive, and it’s understandably so. Both the brain and the heart contain massive numbers of energy producing mitochondria. But remember, every cell in your body contains mitochondria, and because PQQ supplementation can promote mitochondria biogenesis, every cell in your body, not just heart and brain cells, can benefit from PQQ.
So the question now is, do you want give your aging cells new life? Of course you do and PQQ supplementation is the current best way to do just that!
PQQ is the breakthrough discovery that can help you live longer, healthier life.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine & R-Lipoic Acid—Boosting Energy And Protecting Mitochondria
We already mentioned Dr. Bruce Ames’ breakthrough discovery that the combination of acetyl-l-carnitine and R-lipoic acid can protect and enhance cellular mitochondria function, but how exactly does this combination work?
Magnificently… here’s how:
Scientists have known since the 1980’s that the amino acid acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC) increases acetylcholine production in the brain and has a positive effect on brain health and memory.
Later studies showed these positive neurological effects were due to ALC’s ability to improve mitochondrial function. In particular, the research demonstrated that supplementation with ALC actually rejuvenated aging mitochondria.
The downside to this was the increase in damaging free radicals generated by mitochondria during energy production. It’s these free radicals that very likely accelerated mitochondrial aging and reduced energy output in the first place.
But what Dr. Ames and his colleagues discovered is that by combining ALC with the free radical scavenging antioxidant R-lipoic acid, you could re-invigorate aging mitochondria and reduce the risk of free radical mitochondrial damage!
After receiving ALC and R-lipoic acid together, the older lab animals used in the study did better on memory tests, they had more pep, and the energy-producing mitochondria in their cells worked better.
This discovery, first reported at the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2002, rocked the anti-aging world.
Said Dr. Ames at the time…”With the two supplements together, these old rats got up and did the Macarena. Their brains look better, they are full of energy—everything we looked at looks more like a young animal.”