# Pterostilbene

Pterostilbene is a close cousin of resveratrol (a dimethylated stilbene). It is found naturally in blueberries, grapes, and Indian kino (Pterocarpus marsupium) heartwood. Two methoxy groups replace resveratrol's hydroxyl groups. That makes it more fat-soluble and metabolically stable. So more of it survives when you take it. The result: roughly 2 to 4 times better oral absorption than resveratrol, and a longer half-life. Like resveratrol, it is studied as a possible SIRT1 activator and AMPK modulator. It also switches on PPARα, relevant to fat-burning. In rodents, it improves cognition, lowers inflammatory and oxidative markers, and extends lifespan in some strains. Human data are limited to small trials on cholesterol, blood pressure, and antioxidant markers. The effects are modest and inconsistent. One randomized trial (Riche et al. 2014, NCT01267227) actually found raised LDL at higher doses in the monotherapy arm. That result was striking enough that ChromaDex later stopped taking new orders for the ingredient. No strong evidence supports an anti-aging benefit in humans, and long-term safety data are sparse.

## Sources

- Riche DM, Riche KD, Blackshear CT, McEwen CL, Sherman JJ. (2014). Pterostilbene on metabolic parameters: a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/459165

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