"Mitochondrial dysfunction is a key biomarker of aging. Most humans over 70 have 50% more mitochondrial damage in the brain cells than middle-aged individuals. Mitochondrial dysfunction and death have been definitively linked to the development of virtually all killer diseases of aging. PQQ (pyrroloquinoline quinone) is the only nutrient that has shown to have the ability to provide extraordinary defense against mitochondrial decay and be able to stimulate the growth of fresh mitochondria."

PQQ is found everywhere in the natural world from interstellar stardust to one celled plants. It has been found in all plant species tested to date. Humans and the bacteria that colonize the human digestive tract do not have the ability to synthesize PQQ making it an essential micronutrient. According to recent research, "PQQ is 30 to 5,000 times more efficient in sustaining redox cycling (mitochondrial energy production) . . . than other common antioxidant compounds, e.g. ascorbic acid."


Studies have shown that when deprived of dietary PQQ, animals exhibit stunted growth, compromised immunity, impaired reproductivity and significantly fewer mitochondria. Introducing PQQ through diet reverses these effects, restores systemic function and increases mitochondrial number and energy. Restoring mitochondria at the cellular level is one key to anti-aging and disease prevention. Another is DNA telomere length, which will be the subject of future articles.

The foods highest in PQQ are celery at 6.3 gr. per 100 gr. fresh weight (FW) and 63 gr. per 100 gr. of dried solids (DS), natto, a fermented soy product, with 6.2 gr. per 100 gr. FW and 62 gr. per 100 gr. DS, parsley has 3.4 gr. per 100 FW and 34 per 100 gr. DS. Kiwi and papaya have 2.7 and 27 and spinach has 2.2 and 22. The only other foods above 1.0 are carrots, 1.7 and 17, cabbage, 1.6 and 16 and bananas, 1.3 and 13.

Is it possible to get sufficient PQQ from food without supplementation? The answer from research based information and my personal opinion after reading the studies is yes, if we decide not to let our taste buds dictate the state of our health and wellness. Dr. Steinberg, University of California Davis, suggests that PQQ is needed at ~200-400 micrograms per kilogram of dry food and that 100-200 micrograms of PQQ per day may be sufficient for humans who consume about 300 to 500 grams of dry food daily.

Getting sufficient PQQ will demand that we don't shun celery, throw the parsley in the trash after using it as decoration or refuse to eat fermented foods. Soy raises estrogen levels no matter if you're a woman or a man, which probably wouldn't be a problem if plastics, including non-BPA plastics, didn't leak chemicals that act like the sex hormone estrogen. Raising estrogen levels lowers testosterone, which means it can cause undesirable biological changes in men and elevate estrogen levels in women. All legumes, beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, etc., can be made into natto by adding the natto spores, purchased in health food stores or online, and using the same recipe. Recipes and instructions can be found at or

If healthful foods and foods high in PQQ replace the sugars, highly processed and junk foods in our diet, supplements probably won't be necessary. Biophotons, the energy from the sun found in vegetables, is more potent when produce is fresh from the garden.

Larry R. Miller has been health, wellness and fitness writer since 1982.