Pterostilbene

See also :

• Blueberry
• Bilberry

Pterostilbene is a stilbenoid phytochemical with structure similar to that of resveratrol (pterostilbene contains two extra methyl groups). Pterostilbene is more stable than resveratrol and has a higher bioavailability. It is found in foods such as peanuts, skins of blueberries and grapes. Plants produce it to fight infections.

Special Precautions of Pterostilbene

Due to a lack of research, little is known about the safety of long-term use of dietary supplements containing pterostilbene. It's important to note, however, that self-treating a chronic condition (such as diabetes) with pterostilbene and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences. If you're considering the use of pterostilbene in treatment of a chronic condition, make sure to consult your physician.

The benefits of Pterostilbene are

• May help to prevent cancer. In-vitro studies demonstrate that pterostilbene induces apoptosis of cancer cells and improves the efficiency of the ant-cancer drug tamoxifen. A number of preliminary studies suggest that pterostilbene may offer anti-cancer benefits. In a 2012 report published in the Journal of Surgical Research, for instance, scientists reviewed the available research on pterostilbene as an anti-cancer agent and found that pterostilbene may hinder cancer growth by altering cancer cell cycles, inducing apoptosis (a type of programmed cell death essential for stopping the proliferation of cancer cells), and inhibiting metastasis (the spread of cancer from one part of the body to another). In addition, the review determined that pterostilbene's antioxidant effects may play a key role in cancer protection. What's more, several recent animal-based studies and studies on human cells have found that pterostilbene may be effective for protection against breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer.
• Improves heart health : Studies in test tube and animals show that pterostilbene may improve heart health by lowering cholesterol levels and reducing plaque formation.
• Anti-inflammatory : Studies indicate the potential use of pterostilbene as an effective anti-inflammatory agent. The phytochemical inhibits the production of prostaglandin E2 from lipopolysaccharides-stimulated human blood cells.
• Diabetes : Similar to what has been discovered with the drug metformin, pterostilbene has been shown to lower blood glucose levels in rats by as much as 56 percent, while simultaneously raising insulin and hemoglobin levels to near normal levels. Pterocarpus marsupium, a tree that contains high levels of pterostilbene in its heartwood, has also showed an anti-diabetic effect in humans, with 67% of participants in a clinical study obtaining control of their blood sugar levels after 12 weeks and an average drop of 32 mg/dl in fasting blood glucose levels.
• Cognitive decline : In a study of 40 19-month-old rats fed either a normal diet or a diet containing blueberry, strawberry, or spinach extracts, the rats that were fed blueberry extracts had a significant reversal in motor-skill decline due to aging as well as other cognitive impairments. All of the diets above, except the normal one, resulted in some reversal or reduction of cognitive decline but none greater than the blueberry group.A similar study with blueberries in a group of adults exhibiting age-related memory decline demonstrated a significant improvement in memory tests after just 12 weeks of drinking blueberry juice.A study out of Tufts University on pterostilbene supplementation in elderly rats showed that pterostilbene conferred significant memory improvement as well.The authors theorized that the memory improvement may be due to pterostilbene's unique ability as an anti-oxidant to cross the blood-brain barrier and co-localize in the hippocampus (the brain's memory center) where it may offer protection against free radical damage.