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PQQ is an extremely powerful antioxidant that influences numerous biochemical processes and physical activities in life. Several recent studies continue to identify and support the role of PQQ in keeping and improving human health. Nutritional studies have found that when PQQ deficiency exists, a systemic effect occurs with many diverse symptoms and multiple systems affected. Benefits have been shown with protection and prevention of heart disease, cholesterol and lipid management, blood sugar control and more.
For individuals who have been to their health care provider recently for routine check-ups or annual physicals, the big focus is on heart health and blood sugar. The labs are checked for blood sugar levels and cholesterol markers. If they are elevated or borderline elevated, you are given the “talk” about diet and exercise and usually a prescription or two. The incidence of blood sugar problems and heart disease has sky-rocketed in recent decades worldwide.
The complications of diabetes and heart disease resulting in illness and death have also risen dramatically. That comes as no surprise in the world of fast food and “Frankenfood”. Blockbuster cholesterol and blood sugar lowering drugs have yet to truly turn the tide around for heart disease and metabolic syndrome. What we do about it from a behavioral and environmental approach is one thing and fundamental to basic health. What we do about protecting the heart and improving blood sugar with nutrition is another and it involves mitochondria.
Blood Sugar, Mitochondria, and Heart Health
The basic principles for healthy blood sugar and heart health management are at the core of daily life. These include following The Leptin Diet, reducing/eliminating sugar, eliminating gluten if intolerant, and physical activity. Digging deeper and supporting the body at the core of cellular signaling, redox agents, and mitochondrial health provides even more fundamental support for blood sugar, cholesterol, and heart disease.
Mitochondrial health is directly tied into this core. Mitochondria are your cell’s “engines”. They burn sugar and fat to produce energy. When mitochondria fail to work well or become less efficient, problems start to escalate with blood sugar and cholesterol leading to increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. High levels of free radicals injure mitochondria. The basic advice of improving diet, exercise, avoiding toxins, sleep and stress management can help mitochondria work better, but many often need further support. This is where PQQ can step in and bring added support.
There are several nutrients that support mitochondria, but there is none so focused on mitochondria as PQQ. PQQ is at the heart of mitochondrial health with increasing mitochondrial biogenesis or birth of new mitochondria. It also provides immense major free radical scavenging activity and modulates cell signaling pathways. PQQ is a widely distributed nutrient found in trace amounts within dietary sources and provides highly valuable support throughout the body.
PQQ Lowers Triglycerides
When blood sugar elevates and is not used properly, the sugar is put into storage as triglycerides. Elevated triglycerides are a direct risk factor for stroke, heart disease, and heart attacks. Simply eating too many carbohydrates during the day or eating high carb foods between meals will raise triglycerides. High carbohydrate foods include not only the breads, baked goods, and starches, but also fruits, fruit and vegetable juices. This high intake of sugar or poorly used sugar can lead to other challenges with cholesterol. The daily intake and pattern creates repetitive wear and tear. When it goes on long enough, it may be seen as fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis, or arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. The end medical result is the prescription for statin and blood sugar lowering drugs that ultimately fail.
Research has demonstrated that PQQ can lower triglycerides. The study showed animals that were deficient in PQQ had problems with elevated triglycerides and struggled with making energy from food. The lack of PQQ changed the basic role of healthy mitochondria and energy production. The lack of PQQ in the body and its effect on the mitochondria was like trying to run a car with a broken engine but a full gas tank.
Animal studies in diabetic rodents show marked improvement in many blood markers caused by elevated blood sugar and cholesterol when PQQ was supplemented. Blood sugar, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and markers of inflammation all improved with the intake of PQQ.
Protecting Heart Cells from Injury
In addition to supporting daily healthy blood sugar and lipid metabolism with healthy mitochondrial function, PQQ also protects the heart and circulatory system from injury and cell death. Animal research has shown that PQQ is able to protect and prevent heart muscle cell death caused by heart attacks. Heart cells die when massive amounts of high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are released as a result of high levels of acute oxidative stress. The ROS pummel holes into the mitochondria and its cell membrane. When enough of this happens, cell death can occur. When even more happens, life threatening cardiac complications can occur.
For individuals who have a history of heart damage from heart attack or congestive heart failure, PQQ may offer unique support. Animal research showed that PQQ treatment protected heart cells from injury due to lack of adequate oxygen. It specifically protected the heart cells from free radical damage. It did this because PQQ activated cell signaling mechanisms that ended up protecting the mitochondria from inflammatory damage.
Mitochondria and Aortic Calcification
There are other highly interesting benefits that PQQ may possibly provide in the arena of cardiovascular health and calcification of blood vessels. In the last couple of years, researchers are studying the effects of mitochondrial dysfunction and why calcification occurs in blood vessels. A 2012 cellular study investigated this concern. Scientists found that smooth muscle cells or blood vessels that were calcifying had mitochondrial damage. There were high levels of ROS free radicals that compromised the structural integrity of the mitochondria. In this study, they found that another mitochondrial protecting nutrient, lipoic acid, helped to preserve the mitochondria in the blood vessels and weakened or blocked the build-up of calcium in the artery walls. There are no known studies on PQQ yet with this aspect in mind, but theoretically the shoe fits.
Aorta Calcification and Spine Arthritis Connection
There is another potential connection yet in the making with research on aortic calcification. Researchers have been on the hunt to see if they can find a link between calcification of the aorta and osteoarthritis of the spine. Scientists used participants’ data from the Framingham Heart Study. They found that there was a correlation with spinal joint degeneration, specifically facet joint arthritis and the presence of abdominal aorta calcification. A follow up study found that similar findings in that the abdominal aorta calcification correlated with loss of disc height in the spine.
We just reviewed early evidence that calcification of blood vessels like the aorta is associated with mitochondria breakdown. In a previous article, I have reported on the connection between mitochondria breakdown resulting in loss of cartilage and arthritis. While the research communities work on the technical details, it is theoretically safe to say that the breakdown in mitochondria is underlying these two concerns and may be the missing link. PQQ again turns out to be a primary choice in nutritional support for both of these seemingly unrelated disorders. PQQ is the single best nutrient for mitochondria support.
As scientists tease out mechanisms of injury related to heart disease, diabetes, atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis, we are seeing that underlying damage to mitochondria is relevant. One theory of aging is related to mitochondria breakdown. If we just think about it in the big picture context, this makes sense. In healthy young children who are active, running, jumping, playing, and highly energetic, the mitochondria are alive, well, and abundant. The more worn down and exhausted a person becomes with age and various diagnoses, we are seeing a breakdown in the mitochondria. Protecting, preserving and making new mitochondria needs to be part of any supplement regime and exercise activity. PQQ stands out head and shoulders above the rest, but may be taken with other nutrients that also support mitochondria. Consider PQQ as a top tool for heart health, mitochondria, and blood sugar support.
More...
For individuals who have been to their health care provider recently for routine check-ups or annual physicals, the big focus is on heart health and blood sugar. The labs are checked for blood sugar levels and cholesterol markers. If they are elevated or borderline elevated, you are given the “talk” about diet and exercise and usually a prescription or two. The incidence of blood sugar problems and heart disease has sky-rocketed in recent decades worldwide.
The complications of diabetes and heart disease resulting in illness and death have also risen dramatically. That comes as no surprise in the world of fast food and “Frankenfood”. Blockbuster cholesterol and blood sugar lowering drugs have yet to truly turn the tide around for heart disease and metabolic syndrome. What we do about it from a behavioral and environmental approach is one thing and fundamental to basic health. What we do about protecting the heart and improving blood sugar with nutrition is another and it involves mitochondria.
Blood Sugar, Mitochondria, and Heart Health
The basic principles for healthy blood sugar and heart health management are at the core of daily life. These include following The Leptin Diet, reducing/eliminating sugar, eliminating gluten if intolerant, and physical activity. Digging deeper and supporting the body at the core of cellular signaling, redox agents, and mitochondrial health provides even more fundamental support for blood sugar, cholesterol, and heart disease.
Mitochondrial health is directly tied into this core. Mitochondria are your cell’s “engines”. They burn sugar and fat to produce energy. When mitochondria fail to work well or become less efficient, problems start to escalate with blood sugar and cholesterol leading to increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. High levels of free radicals injure mitochondria. The basic advice of improving diet, exercise, avoiding toxins, sleep and stress management can help mitochondria work better, but many often need further support. This is where PQQ can step in and bring added support.
There are several nutrients that support mitochondria, but there is none so focused on mitochondria as PQQ. PQQ is at the heart of mitochondrial health with increasing mitochondrial biogenesis or birth of new mitochondria. It also provides immense major free radical scavenging activity and modulates cell signaling pathways. PQQ is a widely distributed nutrient found in trace amounts within dietary sources and provides highly valuable support throughout the body.
PQQ Lowers Triglycerides
When blood sugar elevates and is not used properly, the sugar is put into storage as triglycerides. Elevated triglycerides are a direct risk factor for stroke, heart disease, and heart attacks. Simply eating too many carbohydrates during the day or eating high carb foods between meals will raise triglycerides. High carbohydrate foods include not only the breads, baked goods, and starches, but also fruits, fruit and vegetable juices. This high intake of sugar or poorly used sugar can lead to other challenges with cholesterol. The daily intake and pattern creates repetitive wear and tear. When it goes on long enough, it may be seen as fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis, or arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. The end medical result is the prescription for statin and blood sugar lowering drugs that ultimately fail.
Research has demonstrated that PQQ can lower triglycerides. The study showed animals that were deficient in PQQ had problems with elevated triglycerides and struggled with making energy from food. The lack of PQQ changed the basic role of healthy mitochondria and energy production. The lack of PQQ in the body and its effect on the mitochondria was like trying to run a car with a broken engine but a full gas tank.
Animal studies in diabetic rodents show marked improvement in many blood markers caused by elevated blood sugar and cholesterol when PQQ was supplemented. Blood sugar, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and markers of inflammation all improved with the intake of PQQ.
Protecting Heart Cells from Injury
In addition to supporting daily healthy blood sugar and lipid metabolism with healthy mitochondrial function, PQQ also protects the heart and circulatory system from injury and cell death. Animal research has shown that PQQ is able to protect and prevent heart muscle cell death caused by heart attacks. Heart cells die when massive amounts of high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are released as a result of high levels of acute oxidative stress. The ROS pummel holes into the mitochondria and its cell membrane. When enough of this happens, cell death can occur. When even more happens, life threatening cardiac complications can occur.
For individuals who have a history of heart damage from heart attack or congestive heart failure, PQQ may offer unique support. Animal research showed that PQQ treatment protected heart cells from injury due to lack of adequate oxygen. It specifically protected the heart cells from free radical damage. It did this because PQQ activated cell signaling mechanisms that ended up protecting the mitochondria from inflammatory damage.
Mitochondria and Aortic Calcification
There are other highly interesting benefits that PQQ may possibly provide in the arena of cardiovascular health and calcification of blood vessels. In the last couple of years, researchers are studying the effects of mitochondrial dysfunction and why calcification occurs in blood vessels. A 2012 cellular study investigated this concern. Scientists found that smooth muscle cells or blood vessels that were calcifying had mitochondrial damage. There were high levels of ROS free radicals that compromised the structural integrity of the mitochondria. In this study, they found that another mitochondrial protecting nutrient, lipoic acid, helped to preserve the mitochondria in the blood vessels and weakened or blocked the build-up of calcium in the artery walls. There are no known studies on PQQ yet with this aspect in mind, but theoretically the shoe fits.
Aorta Calcification and Spine Arthritis Connection
There is another potential connection yet in the making with research on aortic calcification. Researchers have been on the hunt to see if they can find a link between calcification of the aorta and osteoarthritis of the spine. Scientists used participants’ data from the Framingham Heart Study. They found that there was a correlation with spinal joint degeneration, specifically facet joint arthritis and the presence of abdominal aorta calcification. A follow up study found that similar findings in that the abdominal aorta calcification correlated with loss of disc height in the spine.
We just reviewed early evidence that calcification of blood vessels like the aorta is associated with mitochondria breakdown. In a previous article, I have reported on the connection between mitochondria breakdown resulting in loss of cartilage and arthritis. While the research communities work on the technical details, it is theoretically safe to say that the breakdown in mitochondria is underlying these two concerns and may be the missing link. PQQ again turns out to be a primary choice in nutritional support for both of these seemingly unrelated disorders. PQQ is the single best nutrient for mitochondria support.
As scientists tease out mechanisms of injury related to heart disease, diabetes, atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis, we are seeing that underlying damage to mitochondria is relevant. One theory of aging is related to mitochondria breakdown. If we just think about it in the big picture context, this makes sense. In healthy young children who are active, running, jumping, playing, and highly energetic, the mitochondria are alive, well, and abundant. The more worn down and exhausted a person becomes with age and various diagnoses, we are seeing a breakdown in the mitochondria. Protecting, preserving and making new mitochondria needs to be part of any supplement regime and exercise activity. PQQ stands out head and shoulders above the rest, but may be taken with other nutrients that also support mitochondria. Consider PQQ as a top tool for heart health, mitochondria, and blood sugar support.
More...