The little known nutrient that’s growing my daughter new mitochondria | PQQ

Mitochondria.

We all have them.

We all need them.

We need them especially in order to digest some of the biology textbook reminiscent explanations of what they do!

But we’ve got even the most mito-challenged, fatigued among you covered with this two-minute, easy-to-follow video that explains why mitochondria are the powerhouses of our cells and what can happen if they aren’t optimally functioning.

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Mitochondrial dysfunction

Mitochondrial disease and dysfunction are both serious cause for attention because their effects are so far reaching. Anyone with poorly functioning or a decreased quantity of mitochondria can suffer from a wide variety of symptoms, including:

• Fatigue, weakness, loss of muscle coordination • Neurological problems, seizures, strokes, headaches • Autistic-like features • Visual and/or hearing problems • Developmental delays, learning disabilities • Heart, liver or kidney disease • Gastrointestinal disorders, constipation • Diabetes • Increased risk of infection • Thyroid and/or adrenal dysfunction • Autonomic dysfunction • Neuropsychiatric symptoms, memory loss, ADHD, OCD, anxiety, depression

Not surprisingly, the tissues and organs with the greatest density of mitochondria, our brain and muscles, are the ones that suffer the most in mito dysfunction.

A mito cocktail of supplements; CoQ10, l-carnitine, b-vitamins and antioxidants help nourish our mitochondria and ensure our cells aren’t running on empty. And they are essential! But something none of them can do is generate new mitochondria.

Pyrroloquinoline Quinone (PQQ)

In the world of treating mito dysfunction, the introduction of PQQ, a next-generation coenzyme capable of growing new mitochondria, is a game changer.

It’s been called the “fountain of youth” for mitochondria because while supplements such as CoQ10 help optimize mitochondrial function, PQQ activates the genes that govern mitochondrial reproduction, protection, and repair.

Increasing your mitochondria count provides your cells with more energy, much like a larger horsepower engine. In this analogy, the fuel you add from a mito cocktail can only help so much if the quantity of mitochondria (your horsepower) is not also increased. With PQQ your cells are supercharged.

But there’s more! In addition to generating new mitochondria, PQQ also has the power to calm and heal our brain’s neurotransmitters. It does this by preventing overstimulation of our NMDA receptors (often occurring from excess glutamate) and reducing excitotoxicity, in turn improving the symptoms of many neurological conditions and even promoting better sleep.

Still another benefit is PQQ’s ability to protect the brain against damage from certain environmental toxins. A recent study showed it significantly reduced mercury induced neuronal toxicity.

Did we have you at mercury? Thought so!

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You can probably guess that research and articles about the myriad benefits of PQQ are a plenty. Please read 11 Proven Health Benefits of PQQ to learn about how PQQ can also:

Decrease Inflammation – Increase Nerve Growth Factor – Improve Sleep, Mood and Fatigue – Decrease Inulin Resistance – Improve Memory and Reasoning – Improve Immune Health – And more

Potential Physiological Importance of Pyrroloquinoline Quinone is a well written scholarly review authored by three PhD researchers that you may also want to read.

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Our Experience

Almost four months ago, my daughter experienced a severe PANS flare. It was the first episode following an initial diagnosis in 2011 and came on with a vengeance. We’ve been working diligently to heal her and added PQQ two months ago, along with other treatments.

It’s impossible to pinpoint it’s exact effect, but I believe it’s been significant in the healing process. I can report that from a list of 20+ symptoms and days we couldn’t leave the house, only 2 of them remain and she’s happy to be feeling better!

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How much do we need?

PQQ can be found in many foods, however the levels are a fraction of what’s needed to achieve benefits found in the studies. Some of the research has been conducted with 20 mg of PQQ in adult participants.

They found that the effects were even more dramatic when administered with coQ10, however you can also use PQQ alone.

*If you’re adding them both, I recommend to do so separately. While helpful for most, CoQ10 / Ubiquinol (or too much of it), can make certain kids more stimmy or add a ‘wired’ feeling. I haven’t heard of PQQ alone having that effect.

A dose of 0.2-0.3 mg/kg per day of PQQ has been studied here and is generally what I suggest.

My daughter takes 7mg PQQ – she is 75 lbs (34kg).

*I empty a small portion of the contents of a 10 mg capsule to get to a 7mg dose of BioPQQ. There are many brands and variations of this supplement and it’s generally tasteless.

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It’s been said that supplementing with PQQ can feel like a power surge for your mind and body. I’ve taken it and can attest to noticeably greater energy and mental clarity.

Since there never seem to be enough hours in the day, those benefits alone make it worthwhile… but when you see that it can help calm and heal intense neurological issues for your child, well, then you really have to write a blog about it.

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