NutriDex

The Supplement Research Compendium
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Pterostilbene

A blueberry stilbene marketed as a better-absorbed resveratrol.

Preliminary evidence ⏳Longevity

✚ Updated · How we grade evidence

Evidence tier
Preliminary
Research weight
Citations
6 verified / 6
Classification
Longevity
❝
What the evidence says. Graded preliminary: only a handful of small, short human trials exist. The one stand-alone RCT lowered blood pressure but raised LDL cholesterol, and most other evidence comes from combination products (with nicotinamide riboside) and animal/mechanistic work, so longevity claims remain unproven. (Preliminary evidence: Early or small human trials; promising but not yet conclusive.)

What is Pterostilbene?

Pterostilbene is a longevity supplement used for lower blood pressure. NutriDex grades the human evidence as Preliminary. Pterostilbene is a naturally occurring stilbene found in blueberries and grapes, structurally a dimethylated analog of resveratrol with markedly higher oral bioavailability (roughly 80% vs 20% in rats). It is sold as an anti-aging supplement on the strength of preclinical sirtuin/antioxidant activity, but human data are thin. In the only stand-alone RCT (80 adults with high cholesterol), 125 mg twice daily lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure by about 7–8 mmHg over 6–8 weeks, but unexpectedly raised LDL cholesterol by ~17 mg/dL when taken alone. Combination products pairing pterostilbene with nicotinamide riboside showed promise in a tiny ALS pilot but no benefit on muscle recovery in healthy elderly. No human trial has tested it for lifespan, cognition, or dementia. Short-term use up to 250 mg/day appears well tolerated; longer-term safety and the LDL signal need follow-up.

Purported Benefits

✓Lower blood pressure
✓Antioxidant support
✓Marketed for healthy aging
✓Combined with NR for NAD+ support

Evidence by outcome

The same supplement can be well-proven for one use and unproven for another — here is the human evidence graded outcome by outcome.

OutcomeEvidenceEffectStudies
Lower blood pressureSingle RCT (n=80) cut SBP ~8 mmHg over 6-8 wk; one trial only, needs replication. Preliminary ↑ benefit · moderate 1
LDL cholesterol (taken alone)Same RCT unexpectedly raised LDL ~17 mg/dL when used without other agents; unconfirmed signal. Preliminary ⚠ risk · small 1
ALS progression (with nicotinamide riboside)Tiny pilot RCT (n=32) of combination product slowed ALSFRS-R decline; pilot-stage, not pterostilbene alone. Preliminary ↑ benefit 1
Muscle recovery/strength in elderly (with NR)RCT (n=32) found no effect on muscle stem cells, strength or regeneration after injury. Preliminary — no effect · negligible 1

Dosing & Compounds

Typical Dose
50–250 mg/day; most human data used 125 mg twice daily, often paired with grape extract or nicotinamide riboside.
Active Compounds
Pterostilbene (trans-3,5-dimethoxy-4'-hydroxystilbene)

Safety & Cautions

Short-term use up to 250 mg/day was well tolerated in human trials, with no liver, kidney or glucose abnormalities; mild GI upset is the most common complaint. Taken alone it raised LDL cholesterol in one RCT, so people with high cholesterol should monitor lipids. Because it can lower blood pressure, it may add to the effect of antihypertensives; theoretical caution applies with anticoagulants and antidiabetic drugs given its polyphenol class, though human interaction data are lacking. Long-term safety and use in pregnancy or breastfeeding have not been established. Educational only — always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining Pterostilbene with any medicine.

Key Studies

RCT Jensen 2022 ✓ PubMed
RCT in elderly (n=32): NR+pterostilbene was well tolerated but showed no effect on muscle stem cells, strength recovery or regeneration after muscle injury.
RCT de la Rubia 2019 ✓ PubMed
Pilot RCT (EH301: 1000mg nicotinamide riboside + 200mg pterostilbene, n=32) slowed ALSFRS-R decline and improved strength/pulmonary function vs placebo at 4 mo.
RCT Riche 2014 ✓ PubMed
RCT (n=80): pterostilbene 125mg BID cut SBP ~7.8 and DBP ~7.3 mmHg but raised LDL ~17.1 mg/dL when taken alone over 6–8 wk.
Safety Riche 2013 ✓ PubMed
Safety analysis of the same 80-patient trial: no hepatic, renal or glucose adverse signals; judged generally safe up to 250 mg/day for 6–8 weeks.
Review Kapetanovic 2011 ✓ PubMed
In rats, oral bioavailability was ~80% for pterostilbene vs ~20% for resveratrol, with a higher and longer-lasting plasma peak.
Review McCormack 2013 ✓ PubMed
Review of pterostilbene antioxidant activity and disease-modifying signals; concludes evidence is largely preclinical with limited human data.
6 sources cited · 6 verified Search all studies on PubMed ↗

Common questions about Pterostilbene

What is Pterostilbene used for?

Pterostilbene is most often taken for Lower blood pressure, Antioxidant support, Marketed for healthy aging, Combined with NR for NAD+ support. A blueberry stilbene marketed as a better-absorbed resveratrol.

Does Pterostilbene work — what does the evidence say?

Preliminary evidence. Early or small human trials; promising but not yet conclusive. Pterostilbene is a naturally occurring stilbene found in blueberries and grapes, structurally a dimethylated analog of resveratrol with markedly higher oral bioavailability (roughly 80% vs 20% in rats). It is sold as an anti-aging supplement on the strength of preclinical sirtuin/antioxidant activity, but human data are thin. In the only stand-alone RCT (80 adults with high cholesterol), 125 mg twice daily lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure by about 7–8 mmHg over 6–8 weeks, but unexpectedly raised LDL cholesterol by ~17 mg/dL when taken alone. Combination products pairing pterostilbene with nicotinamide riboside showed promise in a tiny ALS pilot but no benefit on muscle recovery in healthy elderly. No human trial has tested it for lifespan, cognition, or dementia. Short-term use up to 250 mg/day appears well tolerated; longer-term safety and the LDL signal need follow-up.

What is the typical dose of Pterostilbene?

50–250 mg/day; most human data used 125 mg twice daily, often paired with grape extract or nicotinamide riboside.

Is Pterostilbene safe? Any cautions or side effects?

Short-term use up to 250 mg/day was well tolerated in human trials, with no liver, kidney or glucose abnormalities; mild GI upset is the most common complaint. Taken alone it raised LDL cholesterol in one RCT, so people with high cholesterol should monitor lipids. Because it can lower blood pressure, it may add to the effect of antihypertensives; theoretical caution applies with anticoagulants and antidiabetic drugs given its polyphenol class, though human interaction data are lacking. Long-term safety and use in pregnancy or breastfeeding have not been established.

How many studies support Pterostilbene?

NutriDex cites 6 sources for Pterostilbene, graded "Preliminary".

Cite this page
APA

Peh, D. (2026). Pterostilbene: Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects & Evidence. NutriDex — The Supplement Research Compendium. Retrieved 26 Jun 2026, from https://nutridex.info/s/pterostilbene

BibTeX
@misc{nutridex_pterostilbene,
  author       = {Peh, Daryl},
  title        = {Pterostilbene: Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects \& Evidence},
  year         = {2026},
  howpublished = {NutriDex --- The Supplement Research Compendium},
  url          = {https://nutridex.info/s/pterostilbene},
  note         = {Reviewed by Dr Daryl Peh, MBBS Singapore, MMed FM. Accessed 2026-06-26}
}

For medical claims, citing the underlying primary studies linked above is preferred. NutriDex is an educational reference, not medical advice.

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