Efficacy and safety of a novel dietary pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt on muscle strength and physical function in healthy volunteers: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 64 healthy Japanese male and female adults over a period of 12 weeks to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) disodium salt (mnemoPQQ®; 21.5 mg/day as PQQ disodium salt) for improving muscle strength and physical function. The subjects were randomly assigned to receive either mnemoPQQ® or placebo. The efficacy on muscle strength and physical function was investigated using lower limb extension muscle strength as the primary outcome (primary endpoint) and grip strength, 10-meter shuttle walking, 6-minutes walking, and 10-meter walking tests as secondary outcomes (secondary endpoints). A total of 62 subjects [placebo = 31 (age = 54.2 ± 1.2 Y); mnemoPQQ® = 31 (age = 54.5 ± 1.0 Y)] completed the study. Significant improvements were observed in lower limb extension muscle strength and grip strength in the mnemoPQQ® group (p < 0.01). The physical function results of the 10-meter shuttle walking, 6-minutes walking, and 10-meter walking tests were also significantly improved in the mnemoPQQ® group (p < 0.01). No adverse events were observed. Overall, the present study demonstrates that mnemoPQQ® supplementation improves muscle strength and physical function (motor function) in healthy Japanese male and female volunteers.