Pterostilbene Benefits: How Can It Improve Your Health?
We've all heard about the much-touted health benefits of blueberries, grapes, and other berries, but you may not have heard of the unique compound they contain — pterostilbene. What are the benefits of pterostilbene for your health?
As an emerging antioxidant that's getting a lot of attention, pterostilbene is chemically related to the more well-known resveratrol. However, studies show that pterostilbene may have even more powerful effects!
Resveratrol boosts heart and brain health, promotes normal blood sugar, and supports a strong immune system, but pterostilbene does those things more effectively and with better bioavailability.
What Is Pterostilbene?
Pterostilbene (trans-3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxystilbene) is a phytochemical (plant chemical) that's produced in response to injury and infection. Research also suggests it might have therapeutic benefits for humans.
Pterostilbene — pronounced "terro-still-bean" — supports graceful aging, normal blood sugar, cognition and memory, mood, and a healthy weight.
Both pterostilbene and its cousin resveratrol are in the same class of molecules — stilbenes. If you want a little chemistry lesson, pterostilbene has two methoxy groups (a methyl — or CH3 — bound to oxygen) instead of hydroxy groups, which resveratrol has. This makes it more "lipophilic" (fat-loving) than trans-resveratrol, and it passes through cell membranes more easily, which is to say it's more bioavailable.[1]
A study on how these two stilbenes affected mice models concluded that pterostilbene helps brain health more than resveratrol.[1] While resveratrol has its perks, the scientists found pterostilbene at higher concentrations in the brain, despite both molecules being fed equally to the mice.[1]
While we don't yet know whether these specific findings apply to people in the same way, it sheds light on how the compound might work.
8 Benefits of Pterostilbene
Pterostilbene is emerging as a major player in anti-aging, heart health, memory building, and boosting overall health. Here are nine reasons to consider adding pterostilbene foods or supplements to your daily regime.
1. Acts as a Potent Antioxidant
Experiments suggest that pterostilbene offers several important benefits. First and foremost, pterostilbene acts as a powerful antioxidant.[2] Adding pterostilbene to your diet can balance out free radicals which cause so-called "oxidative stress" on cells.
Oxidative stress happens when your cells get overwhelmed by things that cause oxidation — think of how an avocado or apple turns brown when exposed to oxygen — that's oxidation! Antioxidants counteract oxidation inside the body, keeping your cells fresh and healthy.
2. Supports Normal Blood Sugar
According to studies, pterostilbene promotes normal blood sugar levels.[3, 4] Maintaining balanced blood sugar helps everyone, not just people with metabolic conditions, like diabetes. When your body experiences wild blood sugar swings, cells may become insulin-resistant, ultimately leading to metabolic syndrome or diabetes.
Numerous studies have found that consuming blueberries and other berries — potent sources of pterostilbene — supports already-healthy blood sugar.[3] In one study, 97 adults took Pterocarpus marsupium, a plant which contains pterostilbene, for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, 67 percent of the participants had normal glucose levels.[4]
3. Promotes Healthy Aging
Researchers have been especially interested in pterostilbene due to its effects on aging. Trans-pterostilbene is a bioactive chemical which supports cognitive health, promotes normal blood sugar, and soothes irritation.[5]
Did you know that pterostilbene protects your DNA?
According to the study, pterostilbene supports normal aging by mimicking the effects of calorie restriction or fasting, which have powerful health-stimulating effects. Pterostilbene — and calorie restriction — trigger the body to release adiponectin, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and fatty acid metabolism.[5]
Pterostilbene also supports your telomeres, which are the protective caps at the ends of a DNA strand. Telomeres naturally start to break down as you age. Amazingly, pterostilbene strengthens the enzymes that protect your telomeres.[6] This means that consuming pterostilbene can help your body's natural anti-aging abilities.
4. Supports Memory & Cognition
As you age, you may become forgetful, or feel like your brain has lost a little bit of its edge. Although this is a natural part of life, you can take actions to help your brain age normally. Taking pterostilbene supplements or eating pterostilbene-rich foods are two effective strategies.
Pterostilbene is known for promoting healthy, strong nerves and brain cells!
Studies have found that pterostilbene supports healthy motor function, cognition, and memory at "diet-achievable" amounts.[1] The scientists from one study called this compound a "potent neuromodulator" of aging. In other words, it helps aging progress normally, keeping your brain and nerve cells healthy and strong.
5. Boosts Heart Health
Used for centuries in Indian and Chinese medicine to protect heart health, scientists have since found evidence to back up this ancient use. Specifically, pterostilbene promotes normal levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL or "good" cholesterol) and platelet aggregation, which supports cardiovascular health.[7]
Pterostilbene appears to bind to PPAR (peroxisome proliferator-activated) receptors, stimulating the production of the compound. PPAR plays an important role in supporting healthy cholesterol and lipid (fat) levels in your blood, such as triglycerides. One study using animal models reported pterostilbene's success at promoting normal triglyceride levels.[8]
All of these benefits contribute to a healthier, happier heart. For more ideas, check out our Healthy Heart Tips article.
6. Supports Normal Weight
Pterostilbene may even help with maintaining a healthy weight by supporting normal metabolism. When scientists fed rats a fattening diet and gave them pterostilbene supplements, it lowered adipose (fat) tissue by 15 percent and improved fat burning, emphasizing pterostilbene's potential for promoting a healthy body weight.[9]
In another study by the same researchers, rats that had developed insulin resistance from a fattening diet were fed pterostilbene supplements. Over time, the supplement promoted normal blood sugar and insulin regulation in the rats.[10] Having balanced blood sugar promotes normal weight, whereas wild blood sugar swings lead to weight gain.
7. Encourages a Happy Mood
Most people can use a little less when it comes to daily stress and occasional anxiety. A study on mice measured the effects of pterostilbene on task performance while under stress. The scientists also measured how the hippocampus and amygdala, two areas of the brain that control anxiety, responded.[11]
Small servings of pterostilbene may improve mood and help occasional anxiety.
Mice that consumed pterostilbene performed better in maze tests, which involve running around a labyrinth and executing tasks.[11] The study also found that pterostilbene resulted in changes to their brains which indicated lower anxiety levels. Interestingly, the effects were most pronounced at servings of 1-2 mg/kg (milligrams per kilogram body weight), and not as effective at larger servings of 5-10 mg/kg.
In life, we also experience all sorts of "maze tests" — and approaching them with a calm mind instead of an anxious one can help us perform our best.
8. May Help With Swollen Joints
When rats with swollen joints were given pterostilbene for eight weeks, they experienced less redness and swelling. The pterostilbene also seemed to reduce the number of "reactive oxygen species" produced in cartilage matrix cells, which means it reduced the oxidative stress experienced by these cells.[12]
Natural Sources of Pterostilbene
There are many naturally-occurring sources of pterostilbene, including the following:[13]
- Blueberries
- Cranberries
- Rhubarb
- Red grapes
- Almonds
- Lingonberries
- Mulberries
- Deerberries
- Narra tree leaves
- Sandalwood
- Huckleberry
- Bilberry
- Chinese water bamboo (Dracaena)
Pterostilbene Side Effects & Precautions
Studies have not found any toxic side effects of pterostilbene. For example, in one study, mice were given 3,000 mg/kg daily — a huge amount — without any harm.[14] Typical blueberries only have about 6mg/kg of pterostilbene, so it was over 500 times the normal intake for humans.
Did you know that pterostilbene doesn't have any toxic side effects?
In a human study, participants were given 250 mg of pterostilbene daily over six to eight weeks and experienced no negative effects on kidney or liver function.[15]
Some people taking it experienced higher appetite and a recent study indicated that a supplement containing both pterostilbene and nicotinamide ribosome might slightly increase LDL ("bad") cholesterol in overweight individuals, but not in those with a healthy body weight.[16]
Supplementing With Pterostilbene
If you want the health benefits of pterostilbene but aren't sure you are getting enough in your normal diet, or you want a higher serving, a supplement is a great way to get you there.
As mentioned, one study found that "diet-achievable" amounts of pterostilbene from blueberries can support brain health, but those studies have not shown that the amount of pterostilbene typically found in food is enough to elicit its other benefits.
Pro tip: When looking for supplements, always make sure they're plant-based and sourced from the highest-quality ingredients.
Of course, a diverse diet full of brightly-colored fruits and vegetables is always an excellent idea! However, if you need an extra boost of antioxidant-power, a supplement can help.
Since this compound has an excellent safety record,[14, 15] through supplementation, you can safely consume larger servings than what you'd get in berries and other foods. Be sure to seek out the highest-quality supplements sourced from plants, and make sure it contains trans-pterostilbene.
Points to Remember
Recent research has emphasized the powerful health-promoting effects of pterostilbene. As a strong antioxidant, pterostilbene supports normal aging, healthy weight, cognition, and heart health. It may also encourage a happy mood.
You can find pterostilbene naturally in many anti-aging foods, including blueberries, mulberries, huckleberries, lingonberries, and cranberries, as well as other sources like almonds, rhubarb, and red grapes. Other sources include Chinese water bamboo (bamboo water is now a thing), and narra tree leaves.
Pterostilbene has an excellent safety record, and higher servings have not been shown to produce any adverse health effects in animals or humans. It may be a great option to support healthy aging.
If you opt to take a supplement, I suggest Ultimate Cellular Health, a potent blend of antioxidants and powerful ingredients, including pterostilbene. Cellular Health supports and energizes mitochondrial function while protecting against oxidative stress.
Have you ever tried pterostilbene? What was your experience? Comment below!
References (16)
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- Li YR, et al. Effect of resveratrol and pterostilbene on aging and longevity. Biofactors. 2018;44(1):69-82.
- Stull AJ. Blueberries' impact on insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. Antioxidants (Basel). 2016 Dec; 5(4):44.
- Philip S. Flexible dose open trial of Vijayasar in cases of newly-diagnosed non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Indian J Med Res. 1998;108:24-29.
- McCormack D, McFadden D. A review of pterostilbene antioxidant activity and disease modification. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2013;2013:575482.
- Wang X-B, et al. Resveratrol‐induced augmentation of telomerase activity delays senescence of endothelial progenitor cells. Chin Med J (Engl). 2011;124(24):4310–4315.
- Paul B, et al. Occurrence of resveratrol and pterostilbene in age-old darakchasava, an ayurvedic medicine from India. J Ethnopharmacol. 1999;68(1-3):71-76.
- Cignarella A, et al. Novel lipid-lowering proterties of Vaccinium myrtillus L. leaves, a traditional antidiabetic treatment, in several models of rat dyslipidaemia: a comparison with ciprofibrate. Thromb Res. 1996;84(5):311-322.
- Gómez-Zorita S, et al. Pterostilbene, a dimethyl ether derivative of resveratrol, reduces fat accumulation in rats fed an obesogenic diet. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2014;62(33):8371-8378.
- Gómez-Zorita S, et al. Pterostilbene improves glycaemic control in rats fed an obesogenic diet: involvement of skeletal muscle and liver. Food Funct. 2015;6(6):1968-1976.
- Al Rahim M, et al. Anxiolytic action of pterostilbene: involvement of hippocampal ERK phosphorylation. Planta Med. 2013;79(9):723-730.
- Xue EX, et al. Pterostilbene inhibits inflammation and ROS production in chondrocytes by activating Nrf2 pathway. Oncotarget. 2017 Jun 27;8(26):41988-42000.
- Rimando AM, et al. Resveratrol, pterostilbene, and piceatannol in Vaccinium berries. J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Jul 28;52(15):4713-4719.
- Ruiz MJ, et al. Dietary administration of high doses of pterostilbene and quercetin to mice is not toxic. J Agric Food Chem. 2009;57(8):3180-3186.
- Riche DM, et al. Analysis of safety from a human clinical trial with pterostilbene. J Toxicol. 2013;2013:463595.
- Dellinger RW, et al. Repeat dose NRPT (nicotinamide riboside and pterostilbene) increases NAD + levels in humans safely and sustainably: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. NPJ Aging Mech Dis. 2017 Nov 24;3:17.
†Results may vary. Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, see your physician.
Dr. Edward Group, DC
FOUNDER | HEALER | ADVOCATEDr. Group, DC is a healer and alternative health advocate, and an industry leader and innovator in the field of natural health who is dedicated to helping others. He is a registered doctor of chiropractic (DC), a naturopathic practitioner (NP), and proud alum of Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan School of Management. Dr. Group, DC is the founder of Global Healing – a mission and vision he has shared through best-selling books and frequent media appearances. He aims to spread his message of positivity, hope, and wellness throughout the world.
