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Pterostilbene

Evidence Fact Sheet

trans-3,5-dimethoxy-4'-hydroxystilbene

Pterostilbene is a dimethylated resveratrol analog (a blueberry/Pterocarpus stilbene) studied for sirtuin/AMPK/Nrf2 signaling and cellular-aging research. Human data are limited: a 50-250 mg/day lipid/blood-pressure RCT and the fixed NR+PT (NRPT) NAD+ combination, plus honest negatives (raised LDL). US DSHEA supplement; EU/CN/BR access pending.

Also known as: Pterostilbene · trans-3,5-dimethoxy-4'-hydroxystilbene · Pterocarpus marsupium / blueberry stilbene · Resveratrol dimethyl ether (analog · NOT interchangeable)

Overview

Pterostilbene (trans-3,5-dimethoxy-4'-hydroxystilbene) is a naturally occurring stilbene found in blueberries and Pterocarpus marsupium, and a dimethyl-ether analog of resveratrol whose two methoxy substitutions are reported to increase lipophilicity and metabolic stability. Mechanistic research describes SIRT1, AMPK, NF-kB, Nrf2/ARE and mTOR/autophagy signaling, mostly from preclinical and in-vitro models; human longevity endpoints are not demonstrated. Research literature describes single-ingredient doses of roughly 50-250 mg/day, while the most-studied human exposure is the fixed nicotinamide-riboside + pterostilbene (NRPT) combination at PT 50 mg/day — effects of that combination cannot be attributed to pterostilbene alone. Regulatory status: a legal dietary-supplement ingredient in the US under DSHEA (structure/function claims only, mandatory disclaimer); it has never been submitted for EFSA health-claim evaluation and likely needs EU Novel Food authorization, has no clear ANVISA path in Brazil, and is not an approved novel food ingredient in China. This page reports research findings in studied populations and is not medical, dosing, or disease-treatment advice.

Mechanism of Action

SIRT1 activation reported (research-context · sirtuin-pathway framing carried over from resveratrol literature · human longevity-endpoint NOT demonstrated) · AMPK activation → metabolic/energy signaling (preclinical mechanism) · NF-κB inhibition → anti-inflammatory signaling (in-vitro / animal mechanistic context) · Nrf2 / ARE antioxidant-response pathway activation (mechanistic) · mTOR inhibition / TFEB-mediated autophagy induction (preclinical · La Spina 2021 PMID 34992716) · Improved oral bioavailability vs resveratrol (~80% reported pharmacokinetic property · two methoxy substitutions increase lipophilicity/metabolic stability)

Body systems: Cellular Renewal · Cardiovascular · CNS · METABOLISM · Endocrine & Metabolic · Mitochondrial & Cellular Energy

Evidence-Based Benefits

Each benefit below is anchored to a specific PubMed-indexed study. Effect sizes, sample sizes, and p-values are reported as published; no values are inferred. Honest negatives and null results are kept alongside the positive findings, and disease-research populations are described as such — Pterostilbene is not characterized as a treatment for any disease.

Blood Pressure (Single-Ingredient RCT)

RCT supported
  • −7.8 mmHgsystolic · P<0.01
  • −7.3 mmHgdiastolic · P<0.001
  • 80patients · high-dose arm

In the main single-ingredient human trial, high-dose pterostilbene monotherapy was associated with reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure in adults with elevated cholesterol. This is one isolated RCT, not a confirmatory program, and no meta-analysis of pterostilbene blood pressure exists.

Reported effect: Both systolic (−7.8 mmHg; P < 0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (−7.3 mmHg; P < 0.001) were reduced with high dose pterostilbene

“A prospective, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study that enrolled 80 patients with a total cholesterol ≥200 mg/dL and/or LDL ≥ 100 mg/dL. ... Both systolic (−7.8 mmHg; P < 0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (−7.3 mmHg; P < 0.001) were reduced with high dose pterostilbene.”

Source: PMID 25057276 · Riche 2014 · Evid Based Complement Alternat Med

LDL Cholesterol — Honest Negative (Raised LDL)

Null / no benefit RCT supported

In the same randomized trial, single-ingredient pterostilbene unexpectedly raised LDL cholesterol — an honest negative. The LDL increase was seen with monotherapy but not when pterostilbene was combined with grape extract, and the authors concluded pterostilbene increases LDL while reducing blood pressure.

Effect size: not quantified on this page — see the linked study below for the reported figures.

Source: PMID 25057276 · Riche 2014 · Evid Based Complement Alternat Med

NAD+ (NR+PT / NRPT Combination — NOT Pterostilbene Alone)

RCT supported
  • approximately 40%NAD+ rise · NRPT 1X
  • approximately 90%NAD+ rise · NRPT 2X

The most-cited human NAD+ result comes from the fixed nicotinamide-riboside + pterostilbene (NRPT) combination, not pterostilbene monotherapy, so it cannot be attributed to pterostilbene alone. NRPT dose-dependently and sustainably raised whole-blood NAD+ over 8 weeks with no serious adverse events.

Reported effect: NAD+ levels increased by approximately 40% in the NRPT 1X group and approximately 90% in the NRPT 2X group after 4 weeks as compared to placebo and baseline

“NAD+ levels increased by approximately 40% in the NRPT 1X group and approximately 90% in the NRPT 2X group after 4 weeks as compared to placebo and baseline. Furthermore, this significant increase in NAD+ levels was sustained throughout the entire 8-week trial.”

Source: PMID 29184669 · Dellinger 2017 · NPJ Aging Mech Dis

Short-Term Tolerability / Safety (Single-Ingredient RCT)

RCT supported

A safety analysis of the same 80-subject trial reported no significant adverse effects on hepatic, renal, or glucose markers and no statistically significant difference in self-reported adverse reactions versus placebo over 6-8 weeks, supporting short-term tolerability up to 250 mg/day. Long-term (>6 month) independent human safety data remain limited.

Effect size: not quantified on this page — see the linked study below for the reported figures.

Source: PMID 23431291 · Riche 2013 · J Toxicol

Antioxidant / Cellular-Aging (Mechanistic — No Monotherapy Efficacy Endpoint)

Emerging / indexed
  • 30healthy men · pilot

The only single-ingredient human pilot beyond the lipid trial measured blood microRNA, not a clinical aging or antioxidant outcome: pterostilbene altered miR-34a and miR-193b expression with no adverse events, but reported no efficacy effect size. Sirtuin/Nrf2 antioxidant framing for pterostilbene remains mechanistic and preclinical; human longevity or antioxidant efficacy endpoints are not demonstrated.

Effect size: this study reports the direction of the finding but does not state a specific numeric effect size, so none is given here rather than estimated.

“A double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-arm comparison trial was conducted with 30 healthy men. In the analysis of blood miRNA expression levels, miR-34a and miR-193b showed very high increases at week 4 and after week 4 of intake, respectively ... No adverse events were reported during the trial in any participant.”

Source: PMID 40024751 · Otsuka 2025 · J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo)

Dosage (research context · not a recommendation)

Educational reference, not a dosing recommendation. Research literature describes 50-250 mg/day single-ingredient pterostilbene; the most-studied human exposure is the fixed NR+PT (NRPT) combination at PT 50 mg/day alongside NR 250-1000 mg/day. Doses are framed by small short-term or combination studies, not by confirmatory single-ingredient efficacy trials.

Regulatory Status · 4 Markets

US · FDA
Legal dietary supplement ingredient under DSHEA (NDI notification pathway) · no independent GRAS notification on file · multiple marketed supplements contain pterostilbene · structure/function claims only with mandatory DSHEA disclaimer · NO FDA-authorized health/disease claim
EU · EFSA
0 authorized / 0 non-authorized health claim — pterostilbene has never been submitted for EFSA Reg 432/2012 evaluation · likely requires Novel Food (Reg 2015/2283) authorization for EU food-supplement market access (EU Commission Novel Food assessment context as of 2026-01-27, authorization path unconfirmed) · no functional copy supported at EU level
CN · China
Not approved as a China novel food ingredient; pterostilbene is a non-traditional, non-listed substance with no lawful food/supplement market path in China pending novel-food authorization.
BR · ANVISA
No clear Brazilian market-access path · non-traditional food constituent · not an established listed supplement ingredient · would require case-by-case ANVISA evaluation · no IN 28/2018 Anexo V alegação funcional

Safety

Single-ingredient pterostilbene human monotherapy: 1 short-term double-blind placebo-controlled pilot in healthy participants (Otsuka 2025 PMID 40024751 · exploratory/safety, not a confirmatory efficacy RCT); direct meta-analysis/SR count = 0 → evidence grade B (reclassified from a prior blended B, which leaned on NR+PT combination data). Most human data come from the NR+PT (NRPT) fixed combination and CANNOT be attributed to pterostilbene alone (excluded from the tier · combination study). Resveratrol analog studies are NOT counted (derivative · not counted). Short-term tolerability appears acceptable; long-term (>6 months) independent human safety data are limited. Pterostilbene is an analog of resveratrol but pharmacokinetics and efficacy data are NOT interchangeable. No adequate pregnancy/lactation data. Consult a healthcare provider before use, especially if on prescription medication.

Goals: longevity-stack · heart-health

Lifestyles: senior-60-plus

References

PubMed-indexed citations anchoring the benefit findings above. Effect sizes are reported as published.

  1. PMID 25057276 · Riche 2014 · Evid Based Complement Alternat Med — Blood Pressure (Single-Ingredient RCT)
  2. PMID 29184669 · Dellinger 2017 · NPJ Aging Mech Dis — NAD+ (NR+PT / NRPT Combination — NOT Pterostilbene Alone)
  3. PMID 23431291 · Riche 2013 · J Toxicol — Short-Term Tolerability / Safety (Single-Ingredient RCT)
  4. PMID 40024751 · Otsuka 2025 · J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) — Antioxidant / Cellular-Aging (Mechanistic — No Monotherapy Efficacy Endpoint)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What about the NAD+ and longevity claims you see in marketing?

The headline NAD+ result (about 40% at the recommended dose, about 90% at double dose; Dellinger 2017, PMID 29184669) comes from the NRPT combination of nicotinamide riboside plus pterostilbene, not pterostilbene by itself. So that NAD+ effect should not be read as a pterostilbene-monotherapy effect, and human longevity endpoints have not been demonstrated.

2. Is pterostilbene an approved supplement, and is it the same as resveratrol?

It is a legal US dietary-supplement ingredient under DSHEA (structure/function claims only, with the mandatory disclaimer), but it has no authorized EFSA health claim, no clear Brazil ANVISA path, and is not an approved China novel food ingredient. It is a dimethyl-ether analog of resveratrol, but their pharmacokinetics and efficacy data are not interchangeable.

Last evidence review: 2026-06-13

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