- Disodium salt of stable pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ).
- 77% base content of Pyrroloquinoline Quinone.
- Compound developed from vegetal fermentation processes.
- Purity analysed by HPLC (High Sensitivity Chromatography): >99.0%.
- Tested Absorbance: Reduced PQQ presentation – Oxidation-free.
- Free of solvents and heavy metals. No Genetically Modified Organisms.
- Safe compound verified by the EU Commission of Experts on Nutrition.
PQQ: Pyrroloquinoline Quinone by HSN – Your Antioxidant
PQQ (Pyrroloquinoline Quinone) 20mg by EssentialSeries is a food supplement in vegetable capsules developed from the high purity Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Disodium Salt, derived from a natural source biosynthesised from a fermentation process. HSN’s formula also contains B vitamins and Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant.
Pyrroloquinoline quinone is a relatively new compound, which has aroused great interest among Europe’s leading specialists in the field of quality and safety in human nutrition. This committee of experts has established several essential quality factors for PQQ to be suitable for use as a food supplement, and we at HSN have developed our product taking all these criteria into account, to offer you what we always do: Premium quality at the right price.
HSN’s PQQ is derived from a bacterial fermentation process, but unlike other raw materials derived from such processes, our PQQ does not contain genetically modified organisms in its composition: It is 100% GMO-Free.
What exactly is Pyrroloquinoline Quinone?
Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ for short) is a quinone-structured molecule that was first identified as an enzyme cofactor in bacteria, a classic localisation process for other vitamin-like compounds we already know, such as para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA).
In bacteria, PQQ behaves as a vitamin would in humans. In fact, when further research on the compound began, it was established as a ‘new vitamin’ in the human diet, with the publication of Kasahara et al. (2003) in the prestigious scientific journal Nature, however, this claim was later rejected due to inconsistencies in the fundamentals, and was limited to being called a ‘vitamin-like’ compound such as PABA, Coenzyme Q10, or Choline.
PQQ in the human body is an enzyme cofactor with binding sites on a subtype of proteins in the body called quinoproteins.
Although the natural synthesis of Pyrroloquinoline Quinone and its use as a food supplement is a recent development, its natural intake is traditional as it is intrinsically located in commonly consumed foods. PQQ can be found in soy and foods made from fermented soy such as Natto or Tofu; in spinach, mustard, tea, and even in human milk during breastfeeding.
PQQ is a compound naturally present in our diet, and because of its valuable antioxidant power, it has been developed as a food supplement for consumption.
Don’t worry about PQQ! We explain everything you need to know in simple terms
Are all PQQs safe and effective?
Natural PQQ present in food is either in free form (as PQQ) or conjugated, and some of it is also present in degraded form, in the form of IPQ and other derivatives, all naturally occurring PQQ in food is safe.
However, when it comes to the development of food supplements, it is necessary to guarantee specific quality values resulting from a proper biosynthesis process. The European Food Safety Authority has helped producers define how it is appropriate to develop PQQ, and HSN has followed all the established criteria.
So make sure that the PQQ supplement you take meets these requirements to effectively and safely enjoy one of the most reputable antioxidants in human nutrition. Watch out! Because many companies don’t do so.
PQQ by HSN – A quality-backed option
HSN’s PQQ has been developed following the criteria set out in the Scientific Opinion of the EFSA Expert Group on Dietetic Products, Nutrition, and Allergies.
Our Pyrroloquinoline Quinone is not synthetic like most options on the American market that do not meet these stated requirements, our PQQ is biosynthesised from a bacterial fermentation process.
By culturing the bacterium Hyphomicrobium denitrificans CK-275, a classic micro-organism recognised as safe for human nutrition, naturally produced pyrroloquinoline quinone is obtained.
This process is carried out in a laboratory that maintains Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), starting from the non-genetically modified bacterial strain. The medium where the PQQ is generated is centrifuged and purified through processes that are not aggressive with the compound, ensuring a final result of purity >99.0%.
The purity of the compound can be seen in the natural colour that PQQ should have, which is a reddish tone, like that of the powder that you can find inside our vegetable capsules.
Plant origin: Bacterial fermentation
PQQ can be developed in different forms and one of the most classic forms that can be found in food supplements is synthetic pyrroloquinoline.
The Pyrroloquinoline Quinone by HSH has been developed naturally, from the use of the bacterial strain Hyphomicrobium denitrificans CK-275, through fermentation processes without the use of compounds of animal origin, making it a raw material completely suitable for consumption in vegan diets.
Furthermore, the bacterial strain of origin has been carefully cultivated without the presence of Genetically Modified Organisms. The renowned organisation ‘GMO Project’ classifies bacteria intended for the development of foodstuffs as elements of the category ‘High risk of containing genetically modified organisms’.
Well, our PQQ, as well as all the elements used in its production process, are completely free of Genetically Modified Organisms.
Enjoy pure PQQ from natural biosynthesis with HSN’s food supplement.
Disodium Salt Presentation – An environmentally stable form
The pyrroloquinoline quinone base has an associated problem, and that is its high reactivity. Being such a potent antioxidant, it is believed that in any pro-oxidative event (of which there are many types) such as exposure to light, oxygen, and other factors; it gives up electrons, oxidising and ‘degrading’ itself.
PQQ when degraded or when reacted with amino acids and nucleophiles and converted to IPQ loses at least part of its functional properties, as PQQ is biologically required as such to act as a catalytic cofactor for lactate and other dehydrogenases in the conversion of NADH to NAD+ in the organism, which is of important physiological relevance (Jonscher et al., 2021).
The disodium salt presentation of PQQ stabilises the compound while maintaining good bioavailability, as does the base PQQ, but significantly improving its resistance to environmental conditions that oxidise the native state of PQQ. As a result, the PQQ sodium salt powder can be stored stably, maintaining its purity for longer and in conditions that do not require as much control compared to the base PQQ, which demonstrates the quality of stability conferred by the disodium salt.
Absorbance values and reduced form. Why is it important?
Absorbance is the ability of a compound to absorb light at a specific wavelength. This is a classic test to define the characteristics of many compounds, but in PQQ it is especially relevant to determine the quality, safety, and effectiveness of the compound.
The European Expert Committee was interested in this finding, and this is what they stated in their scientific opinion:
‘The ratio between the absorbance at the two particular wavelengths (A233/A259 and A322/A259) allows differentiation between the oxidised and reduced forms of PQQ. Both values confirm the identity and purity of the compound’.
The absorbance values at the established wavelengths confirm that the PQQ used for the development of our food supplement is a reduced presentation, therefore, not oxidised and with all its antioxidant power intact.
The reduced form of PQQ is the Ubiquinol equivalent presentation of Coenzyme Q10, i.e. the biologically active form of the compound that the body would naturally use as an enzyme cofactor. So the fact that absorbance analyses confirm the reduction of the compound in the HSN formulation is key to supporting its quality and efficacy.
HSN’s formula contains important vitamins – Find out more
The composition of HSN’s PQQ formula has been supplemented with vitamins that support its overall function, including:
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin).
- Natural vitamin E.
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid).
Present in stable and highly bioavailable forms in the body.
The addition of vitamins contributes to the overall antioxidant properties of the formula, as vitamin E and riboflavin contribute to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.
Pantothenic acid also plays a key role in the use of this product, contributing to normal energy-yielding metabolism and normal mental performance.
A complete formula at all levels to enjoy the full properties of the nutrients used.
An effective PQQ supply – 20mg sodium salt | GMO-free and vegan
The amounts of PQQ traditionally found in foods are quite small, with fermented soy products being the main dietary source of PQQ, yet their content is only 60ng/g.
This food supplement by HSN has been developed according to the dose recommendations established in relevant scientific studies carried out in humans, such as:
- Harris, C. B., Chowanadisai, W., Mishchuk, D. O., Satre, M. A., Slupsky, C. M., & Rucker, R. B. (2013). Dietary pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) alters indicators of inflammation and mitochondrial-related metabolism in human subjects. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry, 24(12), 2076–2084.
- Itoh, Y., Hine, K., Miura, H., Uetake, T., Nakano, M., Takemura, N., & Sakatani, K. (2016). Effect of the Antioxidant Supplement Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Disodium Salt (BioPQQ™) on Cognitive Functions. Advances in experimental medicine and biology, 876, 319–325.
- Nakano, Masahiko & Yamamoto, Tetsuro & Okamura, Hisayoshi & Tsuda, Akira & Kowatari, Yasuyuki. (2012). Effects of Oral Supplementation with Pyrroloquinoline Quinone on Stress, Fatigue, and Sleep. Funct. Foods Health Dis. 2. 307-324.
- Shiojima, Y., Takahashi, M., Takahashi, R., Moriyama, H., Bagchi, D., Bagchi, M., & Akanuma, M. (2022). Effect of Dietary Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Disodium Salt on Cognitive Function in Healthy Volunteers: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Study. Journal of the American Nutrition Association, 41(8), 796–809.
Our R&D team uses the best and most recent scientific evidence of effectiveness and safety not only for the selection of the raw materials used but also for establishing the most appropriate dose for the development of food supplements.
Combine PQQ with other antioxidants from the HSN catalogue
PQQ is an established safe food supplement in combination with other food supplements. There are no known negative interactions with any compounds found in regular food supplements, so you can easily incorporate it into your diet.
Some of the most classic combinations with PQQ are:
- Ubiquinol (Kaneka™ Ubiquinol).
- NADH (Panmol®).
- Resveratrol.
- Vitamin C 1000mg.
Don’t miss out on HSN’s entire catalogue of antioxidants!
The scientific literature on PQQ
- EFSA NDA Panel. (2017). Safety of pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 258/97. EFSA Journal, 15(11).
- Rucker, R., Chowanadisai, W., & Nakano, M. (2009). Potential physiological importance of pyrroloquinoline quinone. Alternative Medicine Review: A Journal of Clinical Therapeutic, 14(3), 268–277.
- Kasahara, T., & Kato, T. (2003). Nutritional biochemistry: A new redox-cofactor vitamin for mammals. Nature, 422(6934), 832.
- Jonscher, K. R., Chowanadisai, W., & Rucker, R. B. (2021). Pyrroloquinoline-quinone is more than an antioxidant: A vitamin-like accessory factor important in health and disease prevention. Biomolecules, 11(10).