Correction
We clarified the effect of Pterostilbene on blood pressure.
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Pterostilbene is a dimethylated derivative of resveratrol that, for some mechanisms, is more potent. It is also much better absorbed, and is commonly referred to as a 'better resveratrol'. It looks promising, but has significantly less research than its predecessor.
Pterostilbene is most often used for
Last Updated:February 19, 2025
Pterostilbene is a methylated stilbene molecule with structural similarity to resveratrol, the only difference being two methoxy groups on the pterostilbene molecule that replace hydroxy groups on the resveratrol molecule. While most of the actions of the two are comparable, pterostilbene appears to be much more well absorbed following oral ingestion and may be a more potent antioxidant and anticancer molecule.
Only one study has evaluated pterostilbene in humans. It found an increase in LDL-cholesterol and a trend towards decreased HDL in people with high cholesterol levels who took 100 or 250 mg per day. Although 100 mg/day pterostilbene failed to have significant effects on blood pressure, blood pressure decreased on average by -8 mmHg systolic and -7 mmHg diastolic in the group who took the higher 250 mg/day dose.
Supplementation of pterostilbene for the purpose of aiding glucose and lipid metabolism tends to be around 20- 40mg/kg oral ingestion in rats, which is an estimated human dosage range of:
Possible anxiolytic properties of pterostilbene are seen at 1-2mg/kg in mice, which is an estimated human dose of:
Which is notable as 5-10mg/kg in these mice (slightly over double the dose) has failed to have the same anxiolytic effects, suggesting a bell-curve that may favor lower dosages such as is found in food consumption rather than higher dosages from supplementation.
Limited human studies have used either 50mg twice a day or 125mg twice a day, and the addition of Grape seed extract (100mg at both dosing times) with the low dose may mitigate some adverse effects on cholesterol seen with pterostilbene in isolation.
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Correction
We clarified the effect of Pterostilbene on blood pressure.
Written By
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