Research Findings
Functional and Safety Test Reports
Vigoufull PQQ® has been demonstrated to be safe and effective through animal and clinical studies.
Vigoufull PQQ® is a novel functional food ingredient developed by Nugene Pharma (Shandong) Co., Ltd.
The safety of Vigoufull PQQ® has been confirmed through multiple studies and is recognized by the following institutions:
In addition, various functional studies on Vigoufull PQQ® have been conducted by our internal research team as well as scientists both domestically and internationally, confirming its wide range of beneficial effects.
Here, we present representative evidence demonstrating the key functionalities of Vigoufull PQQ®.
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Supports brain function maintenance
Clinical trials
Consumption of Vigoufull PQQ® improves short-term memory and attention in healthy men and women
Healthy men and women aged 40 to 60 were divided into two groups. One group took a capsule containing 20 mg of Vigoufull PQQ® daily, while the other group took a placebo capsule without Vigoufull PQQ®, for 12 weeks. They then underwent a word memory test to assess simple short-term memory and a Stroop test to measure attention.
The results showed a trend toward improved performance in the Vigoufull PQQ® group compared to the placebo group on tests evaluating higher brain functions such as memory retention and information processing.
Source: Nakano M. et al. (2009), FOOD style21 13, 50–53
This chart has been adapted from the above-mentioned publication (error bars omitted).
Clinical Trial
Consumption of Vigoufull PQQ®
Improves Visual-Spatial Cognition and Working Memory
Forty-one healthy middle-aged and older participants, with a mean age of 58.6 years, were divided into two groups. One group took a capsule containing 20 mg of Vigoufull PQQ® daily, while the other group received a placebo capsule without Vigoufull PQQ®, for 12 weeks.
The results showed that, compared to the placebo group, the Vigoufull PQQ® group demonstrated improved performance in the TouchEm test, which assesses visual-spatial cognitive function and working memory—the ability to temporarily store and process incoming information.
Source: Itoh Y et al. (2016), Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 876: 319–325
This chart has been prepared based on modifications to the data from the above-mentioned publication (error bars omitted).
Clinical Trial
Consumption of Vigoufull PQQ® helps reduce stress
Seventeen healthy male and female full-time office workers (mean age 38.1 years) experiencing fatigue and sleep disturbances consumed a capsule containing 20 mg of Vigoufull PQQ® daily for eight weeks and completed a questionnaire to assess their symptoms. Results showed an improvement in markers of stress.
Source: Nakano M et al. (2012), Functional Foods in Health and Disease, 2(8): 307–324
This chart has been prepared based on modifications to the original publication.
Animal testing
Vigoufull PQQ® improved the learning rate in rats
In the Morris water maze test*, which assesses spatial memory in animals, the learning rate per trial was compared between rats administered Vigoufull PQQ® and those not administered Vigoufull PQQ®. The results showed that rats receiving Vigoufull PQQ® exhibited a higher learning capacity compared to those not receiving Vigoufull PQQ®.
*A test in which rats are placed in a water tank and trained to locate a hidden escape platform submerged underwater; the time taken to find the platform and the distance swum are used as indicators of learning.
Source: Ohwada K et al. (2008), J Clin Biochem Nutr 42, 29–34
This chart has been prepared based on modifications to the original publication.
Animal testing
Vigoufull PQQ®
Inhibits oxidative stress-induced memory decline in rats
It is well known that oxidative stress leads to memory decline. Rats were exposed to a 100% oxygen environment to induce strong oxidative stress, and were then tested to assess how long they retained learned memory. The results showed that rats not administered Vigoufull PQQ® exhibited significant memory decline due to oxidative stress, whereas rats receiving Vigoufull PQQ® showed suppression of memory deterioration.
Source: Ohwada K et al. (2008), J Clin Biochem Nutr 42, 29–34
This chart has been prepared based on modifications to the original publication (error bars omitted).
2
Energy support
Clinical Trial
Consumption of Vigoufull PQQ® improves fatigue scores
Seventeen healthy male and female full-time office workers (mean age 38.1 years) with fatigue and sleep disturbances were asked to take a capsule containing 20 mg of Vigoufull PQQ® daily for eight weeks, followed by completing a questionnaire. Results showed an improvement in fatigue scores.
Source: Nakano M, et al. (2012), Functional Foods in Health and Disease, 2(8):307-324
The chart was drawn based on some modifications of the above-mentioned paper.
Animal testing
Vigoufull PQQ® inhibits fat accumulation in mice fed a high-fat diet
Mice fed a high-fat diet continuously accumulate fat and become significantly heavier than normal mice. However, studies have shown that co-administration of Vigoufull PQQ® can inhibit this fat accumulation.
The experiment was conducted with three groups. The results showed that, compared to the high-fat diet group, the group receiving Vigoufull PQQ® had approximately an 11% reduction in body fat percentage.
CT images of the abdominal area in mice revealed that those fed a high-fat diet accumulated visceral fat, whereas mice supplemented with Vigoufull PQQ® showed a reduction in fat accumulation.
Source: Nur Syafiqah Mohamad Ishak et al. (2021), ACS Food Science & Technology, 1, 1979–1989
Cell test
Vigoufull PQQ® increases mitochondria
Experiments using cultured mouse cells showed that Vigoufull PQQ® can increase mitochondria. The image below shows mitochondria in cells stained with a green fluorescent dye. It was found that when cells were treated with Vigoufull PQQ®, the number of mitochondria within the cells increased.
Source: Saihara K et al. (2017), Biochemistry 56, 6615–6625
The chart is based on the above paper with modifications.
Cell test
Vigoufull PQQ® is 5,000 times less potent than NMN and 100 times less potent than resveratrol.
NMN and resveratrol, which are expected to have anti-aging effects, can also increase mitochondria. When tested under the same conditions as Vigoufull PQQ®, the results showed that NMN was sufficient to promote mitochondrial biogenesis at concentrations of 50 μM or 100 μM.
Resveratrol at 1000 nM slightly increased mitochondria, but this increase was not statistically significant compared to cells not treated with resveratrol. Since 1 nM = 0.001 μM, Vigoufull PQQ® was found to be approximately 1/100 to 1/5000 as potent as NMN or resveratrol.
Source: Saihara K et al. (2017), Biochemistry 56, 6615–6625
The chart is based on the above paper with modifications.
3
Anti-aging
Cell test
Vigoufull PQQ® increases NAD+, which is required to activate the longevity gene Sirtuin
The Sirtuin genes play a key role in regulating aging and lifespan and are also known as “longevity genes.” For Sirtuin genes to function, a substance called “NAD+” is required, and Vigoufull PQQ® has been shown to increase NAD+ levels in the body. When 50 nM or 100 nM of Vigoufull PQQ® was added to cultured cells, NAD+ levels increased. In contrast, NAD+ elevation was observed when 100 μM of NMN was administered.
Source: Saihara K et al. (2017), Biochemistry 56, 6615–6625
The chart is based on the above paper with modifications.
4
Safety Testing
Clinical Trial
Human intake trials have confirmed its safety.
Healthy men and women were given the substance orally on a continuous basis,
and it was confirmed to be non-toxic under the following conditions.
20 mg/day (0.3 mg/kg body weight/day) for 24 weeks
Non-toxic
60 mg/day (0.9 mg/kg body weight/day) for 4 weeks
Non-toxic
100 mg/day (1.5 mg/kg body weight/day) for 4 weeks
Non-toxic
Source: EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) et al. (2017), EFSA Journal; 15(11):5058
Animal testing
Confirmation of acceptable intake levels in rats
Oral testing in rats determined the LD50 (the dose of the test substance that causes death in 50% of animals under specified conditions) to be between 1000 and 2000 mg/kg body weight. This is significantly higher than the amount ingested by humans through dietary supplements (0.3 mg/kg body weight).
Single-dose study
LD50: 1,000–2,000 mg/kg
90-day repeated dose study
NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level)
>100mg/kg/天
Source: Nakano M et al. (2014), Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 70(1), 107-121
Cell test
All genotoxicity tests for Vigoufull PQQ® have been confirmed negative
Genotoxicity of Vigoufull PQQ® was evaluated using mutagenicity testing (Ames test), micronucleus test, and chromosome aberration test, and all results were negative.
Mutagenicity test (Ames test)
Negative
Micronucleus test
Negative
Chromosome aberration test
Negative
Source: Nakano M et al. (2013), Regul Toxicol Pharmacol; 67(2):189-97
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