Demand for clinically substantiated cognitive and healthy-ageing ingredients is continuing to rise, with increasingly educated consumers searching for products that are scientifically proven to do what they claim.
According to Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC), pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) remains one of the most rigorously researched and trusted bioactive compounds available to formulators.
PQQ is known for activating mitochondrial biogenesis, increasing the number and efficiency of mitochondria, which is vital for the brain, muscles and other tissues.
Age-related mitochondrial loss is linked to memory decline, reduced energy and decreased physical performance, making mitochondrial support essential for healthy ageing.
The company announced new animal research data that it claims further strengthens PQQ's scientific profile, showing that lifelong dietary intake of PQQ significantly delays age‑related decline and extends healthy survival.
MGC added that the findings reinforce PQQ's documented role in supporting the biological processes that underpin cognitive performance, energy metabolism and resilience with age, though it acknowledged that animal data does not translate directly to humans.
The company produces MGCPQQ — a naturally derived, fermentation‑based form of PQQ. It was this version of PQQ that was used in the latest study.
"The mice that consumed PQQ as part of their diet not only lived longer as a group but also stayed more physically active and maintained better neuromuscular function as they aged," said Atsushi Sugimoto, Assistant Manager, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical.
Importantly, the results showed that PQQ supported a longer healthy lifespan, not just survival, which is a key distinction in ageing research.
MGCPQQ remains the only PQQ approved as a Novel Food ingredient in the European Union.
Known as BioPQQ in North America and Japan, MGC said it is the most tested and trusted PQQ, supported by extensive safety, toxicology and efficacy data and approved for food‑supplement use in multiple global markets.
As research into mitochondria, cognition and healthy ageing continues to evolve, PQQ stands out for the consistency and depth of evidence behind it, with MGC positioning the ingredient as a "proven, future‑fit ingredient for EU formulations" with a focus on long‑term cognitive and overall health.