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PQQ Explained
PQQ, short for pyrroloquinoline quinone, is a small compound found in some foods and sold as a supplement for cell energy. Most research is in animals and test tubes. The one human trial we found used 20 mg a day for 12 weeks and tested memory, not the heart. Cardio Clear 7 has 10 mg, and long-term safety data are scarce.
Written by the Cardio Clear 7 research deskUpdated · 8 min read
01The basics
What is PQQ?
PQQ is a small molecule that can pass electrons back and forth, a kind of chemistry cells use to make energy. Its full name is pyrroloquinoline quinone.
It is found in small amounts in some foods. In supplements it is usually sold as PQQ disodium salt, a stable powder form. That is the form Cardio Clear 7 lists, at 10 mg per capsule (Simple Promise store listing).
Marketers link PQQ to mitochondria, the tiny power plants inside cells. That link comes mostly from lab and animal work. A 2024 review notes that much of the PQQ evidence is from animal and in vitro studies, and that more human trials are needed (Yan 2024 - PQQ review).
In vitro means in a dish or test tube. Results there often do not carry over to people, so they are a starting point, not an answer.
02Regulation
Is PQQ approved by the FDA?
No. FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they are sold (FDA - Dietary Supplements Q&A). What PQQ does have is two FDA letters about its use in drinks, which are often misread.
In 2016, two companies told FDA they had concluded PQQ disodium salt was "generally recognized as safe", or GRAS, for certain beverages. FDA replied to each that it had no questions at this time (FDA GRN 625 - PQQ disodium salt) (FDA GRN 641 - PQQ disodium salt).
| Detail | GRN 625 (FDA GRN 625 - PQQ disodium salt) | GRN 641 (FDA GRN 641 - PQQ disodium salt) |
|---|---|---|
| Date | August 18, 2016 | October 14, 2016 |
| Use | Energy, sport and isotonic drinks, meal-replacement drinks, water | Energy, sport and isotonic drinks, fortified water |
| Amount per serving | Up to 8 mg | Up to 5 mg in drinks, 20 mg in fortified water |
| FDA's own GRAS finding | None made | None made |
| Covers supplements? | No | No |
So the letters say something about drinks at set amounts. They are not a review of any capsule, and FDA said in both that it had not made its own GRAS decision.
03Human research
What did the human PQQ trial find?
Better scores on some memory tests, in a small group, over 12 weeks. That is the best human PQQ trial we found, and it did not look at the heart.
- Who: 70 healthy Japanese adults aged 20-65 enrolled, and 62 were analyzed, 31 per group (Food Funct 2023 - PQQ 20 mg trial).
- Dose: 20 mg of PQQ a day, or placebo, for 12 weeks.
- Result: Composite and verbal memory scores improved compared with placebo.
- Caveats: Age subgroups held only about 13-18 people each, and the maker of the PQQ funded the whole study (Food Funct 2023 - PQQ 20 mg trial).
A maker-funded study can still be sound. It does mean the result needs repeating by others before anyone leans on it. No heart, blood pressure or cholesterol outcomes were measured.
04Dose
How does 10 mg of PQQ compare with the research?
It is half the amount in the memory trial. The bars below set each ingredient in one capsule against the doses researchers used.
No optimal PQQ dose has been set, and the 2024 review found no clear dose-response pattern (Yan 2024 - PQQ review). So 10 mg is not known to be too low or just right. It is simply untested on its own and untested alongside 100 mg CoQ10 and 80 mg shilajit. The supplement facts page lists every ingredient on the label.
Cardio Clear 7: from $31 a bottle30 capsules · 1, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping · 365-day money-back
See packs05Safety
Is PQQ safe?
No serious problems show up in the small trials, but the safety record is short. The 2024 review calls data on long-term safety and effectiveness scarce (Yan 2024 - PQQ review).
The same review says interactions with common medicines have not been well studied (Yan 2024 - PQQ review). That matters for older adults, many of whom take several prescriptions.
In Cardio Clear 7, PQQ shares the capsule with CoQ10, which has known interactions with warfarin and insulin (NCCIH - Coenzyme Q10). The brand says anyone on medicine should ask a doctor first, and that the product is not for pregnant or nursing women (Cardio Clear 7 info page).
Keep taking prescribed medicine; never stop or change it because of a supplement.
06The formula
Why is PQQ paired with CoQ10?
Mostly for a shared story about cell energy. Both are linked to mitochondria, and pairing them sounds logical on a label.
No trial we found tested PQQ and CoQ10 together for any heart outcome. The bottle's claim "Helps Maintain Healthy Cellular Energy*" carries the FDA asterisk, which means FDA has not evaluated it (21 CFR 101.93 - Supplement statements).
That is normal for supplements, and it is fair to say plainly. Read the PQQ ingredient page for the full profile.
07Bottom line
Is PQQ worth taking?
The honest answer is that nobody knows yet. PQQ has a plausible role in cell chemistry, one small human memory trial, and no heart trials. Treat it as a minor extra in Cardio Clear 7, with CoQ10 as the ingredient that carries the most research.
08FAQ
PQQ: FAQ
What does PQQ do in the body?
PQQ can pass electrons in chemical reactions, and lab studies link it to mitochondria, the energy centers of cells. Most of that work is in animals and test tubes (Yan 2024 - PQQ review). How much it does in people at supplement doses is not well known.
Is PQQ a vitamin?
No, PQQ is not an official vitamin. It is a small compound found in some foods and sold as a supplement, usually as PQQ disodium salt. Cardio Clear 7 lists that form at 10 mg per capsule (Simple Promise store listing).
Is PQQ GRAS?
Two companies concluded PQQ disodium salt is GRAS for certain drinks, at up to 8 mg or 5-20 mg per serving, and FDA said it had no questions (FDA GRN 625 - PQQ disodium salt) (FDA GRN 641 - PQQ disodium salt). FDA made no GRAS finding of its own, and the letters do not cover supplements.
How much PQQ should I take a day?
No optimal dose has been established (Yan 2024 - PQQ review). The one human trial we found used 20 mg a day for 12 weeks (Food Funct 2023 - PQQ 20 mg trial). Cardio Clear 7 has 10 mg per capsule. Follow your label and ask your doctor if you take medicines.
Does PQQ help the heart?
No human trial we found tested PQQ for heart outcomes. The best trial measured memory scores (Food Funct 2023 - PQQ 20 mg trial), and most other evidence comes from animal and lab work (Yan 2024 - PQQ review). Any heart benefit is unproven.
What are the side effects of PQQ?
The small trials reported few problems, but long-term safety data are scarce and drug interactions are not well studied (Yan 2024 - PQQ review). If anything feels wrong after starting a supplement with PQQ, stop and talk to your doctor.
Can I take PQQ and CoQ10 together?
Many products combine them, including Cardio Clear 7. No trial we found tested the pair for heart outcomes. CoQ10 has known interactions with warfarin and insulin (NCCIH - Coenzyme Q10), so ask your pharmacist first if you take either.
09Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the bottle, the official store listing, the brand info page and linked NIH, FDA, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a licensed U.S. retail desk, not by the manufacturer or by Simple Promise. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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