Discovery of Anti-Aging Effects of Pyrroloquinoline Quinone and Its Derivative Imidazopyrroloquinoline

Extending healthy lifespan, slowing appearance aging, recovering muscle function, and reducing fat accumulation

A research group comprising Dr. Keiko Odera and Professor Emeritus Ryoya Takahashi of Toho University, along with Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc., demonstrated for the first time in mice that pyrroloquinoline quinone (hereinafter referred to as PQQ) and its derivative imidazopyrroloquinoline (hereinafter referred to as IPQ) reduced mortality risk from young adulthood through midlife. It slowed down the rates of appearance aging and muscle function decline during midlife. Furthermore, they discovered that PQQ and IPQ improved muscle function in middle-aged mice, which had declined due to aging. IPQ reduced visceral and subcutaneous fat, thereby suppressing the onset of fatty liver disease. Appropriate intake of PQQ and IPQ is expected to contribute to extending the healthy lifespan of an aging society. These research findings were published online ahead of print in Food & Function on May 11, 2026, and officially published on July 20, 2026. This study was also selected for the front-cover illustration of that issue (Vol. 17, No. 14).

Key Points

First Discovery of Midlife Mortality Risk Reduction and Delayed Appearance Aging: Intake of PQQ and IPQ was demonstrated for the first time to reduce mortality risk during midlife and delay “appearance aging.”
Improvement of Neuromuscular Functions: Intake of PQQ and IPQ suppresses age-related decline in neuromuscular function and restores neuromuscular function, which has declined with age.
Contribution to Healthy Longevity: Supplementation with PQQ or IPQ is expected to suppress frailty in middle and old age, enhance quality of life (QOL), and contribute to extending healthy lifespan.

Summary
PQQ and its derivative IPQ are vitamin-like compounds that exert various physiological effects, such as promoting cell growth, providing neuroprotection, and stimulating mitochondrial biogenesis. However, their impact on mammalian lifespan and aging is unknown. A research group at Toho University used senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM) models to investigate the effects of lifelong (Experiment 1) and midlife-initiated intake (Experiment 2) of PQQ and IPQ on various age-related alterations.

[Experiment 1: Lifelong Intake] The researchers found that PQQ and IPQ reduced mortality rates during midlife, suppressed the progression of appearance aging (fur aging), and prevented age-related decline in muscle function.
[Experiment 2: Midlife Intake] Administering PQQ and IPQ to middle-aged mice (equivalent to approximately 50 years of age in humans) enhanced muscle function, which had declined with age. Furthermore, IPQ was found to suppress fat accumulation in subcutaneous and visceral fat tissues, as well as in the liver (fatty liver).

PQQ and IPQ are expected to enhance the quality of life (QOL) of older adults and contribute to extending healthy lifespan.

PQQ and IPQ supplementation, whether initiated early or middle age, is effective in ameliorating age-related alterations and extending healthy lifespan

Publication Journal:
Food & Function, Vol. 17, No. 14, 6343–6358 (2026). (Online pre-publication: May 11, 2026; Official publication: July 20, 2026)

Title:
Pyrroloquinoline quinone and imidazopyrroloquinoline intake diminish mortality risk during midlife and improve muscular dysfunctions with age in mice

Authors:
Keiko Odera, Yuka Tanaka, Kazuto Ikemoto, Masanori Tamakoshi, Ryoya Takahashi

DOI:
10.1039/D6FO00788K

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