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< LEADERBOARD/s/pterostilbeneBotanicals & stilbenes

Pterostilbene

Also sold as: Trans-pterostilbene · Dimethylated resveratrol · Pterocarpus marsupium extract

A methylated stilbene related to resveratrol, marketed for cognition and longevity. Human monotherapy evidence is sparse and includes an LDL-cholesterol increase.

Focus Longevity

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Research

FocusNo established evidenceLongevityNo established evidence
  • Focus: Cognitive benefit from pterostilbene alone is not established in human RCTs; animal findings are not a human null trial.
  • Longevity: No human lifespan or clinical anti-aging benefit is established. NRPT biomarker trials cannot isolate pterostilbene contribution.

REALITY CHECK // Better rodent bioavailability than resveratrol is often marketed as better human efficacy. That leap is unsupported: the direct human metabolic trial reported LDL +17.1 mg/dL, while NAD+ findings come from an NR combination and do not establish longevity.

Levels: how we grade evidence. Grey = evidence of no benefit; amber = evidence it makes this goal worse.

Ratings are self-reported by a self-selected group of users: how it felt, not proof that it works.

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How it was studied

01 // STUDIED_DOSE_RANGE
250 mg/day trial exposure
125 mg twice daily was associated with LDL elevation in a 6-8-week metabolic trial; this is not a recommendation.
02 // TIMING_&_MATRIX
Formulation changes interpretation
Pure trans compound, botanical extract and NRPT are distinct interventions. Do not compare their total capsule masses as equivalent.
03 // EVALUATION_WINDOW
6-8 weeks of monotherapy evidence
A small short study cannot establish long-term cardiovascular or cognitive safety.
04 // SAFETY_&_QUALITY_GATE
Lipid and medicine review
LDL elevation matters especially with dyslipidemia. Human efficacy and long-term safety remain unresolved.

UPPER LIMIT // No established EFSA/NIH UL is supplied. The 250 mg/day trial exposure is not a safety ceiling or a recommended target, since LDL increased. Long-term safety is unknown.

NERD'S NOTENerd Protocols · a clinical and sports dietitian based in the EU

Summary

One short trial in 80 adults with elevated cholesterol found higher LDL with monotherapy, despite blood-pressure signals. Claims for human cognition, cancer prevention or longer life are unsupported by direct clinical endpoints.

Mechanism

Methoxy groups alter metabolism relative to resveratrol. Nrf2, AMPK, platelet and sirtuin pathways are mainly mechanistic hypotheses; rodent pharmacokinetics and cellular effects do not prove human clinical superiority.

Typical studied dose

The metabolic monotherapy dossier highlights 125 mg twice daily (250 mg/day), over 6-8 weeks, with an LDL increase. NRPT products instead combined roughly 250-500 mg nicotinamide riboside with 50-100 mg pterostilbene; these are different interventions, not equivalent monotherapy doses.

Upper limit

No established EFSA/NIH UL is supplied. The 250 mg/day trial exposure is not a safety ceiling or a recommended target, since LDL increased. Long-term safety is unknown.

POPULAR_STACKScombos with n ≥ 5

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Forms and label traps

Forms compared
Form on labelActive contentStudied range / dayAbsorption & GI toleranceVerdict
Purified trans-pterostilbene, declared purity
Best for: Identifying the monotherapy exposure with LDL concern.
 Extract weight · ~99% marker 250–250 mg Higher oral exposure than resveratrol chiefly demonstrated in rodents; human PK limited.
Short-term GI tolerance was generally acceptable.		 Caution [CAUTION // LABEL_CHECK]
99% is a declared-purity example, not bioavailability. Full ingredient mass comparison does not prove every 99% product matches the trial.
Pterocarpus marsupium extract / Silbinol
Best for: Separating botanical extract from purified compound.
 Unstandardized: active content unknown no comparable trial range Depends on actual standardized content; no general conversion supplied.
Short-term healthy-adult safety study only.		 Caution [CAUTION // LABEL_CHECK]
Unknown extract content and trial interval remain unavailable; no invented marker percentage.
Nicotinamide riboside plus pterostilbene (NRPT)
Best for: Reading separate ingredient amounts on combination labels.
 Unstandardized: active content unknown no comparable trial range Combination raises blood NAD+, but isolated pterostilbene contribution is unknown.
Short-term combination trials cannot establish monotherapy safety.		 Caution [CAUTION // LABEL_CHECK]
No total-blend mg target: the NR and pterostilbene doses must be evaluated independently.
Nanoemulsion / nanoparticle formulations
Best for: Recognizing preclinical delivery claims.
 Unstandardized: active content unknown no comparable trial range Enhanced exposure described in preclinical formulations.
Human tolerability not established here.		 Caution [CAUTION // LABEL_CHECK]
No established human trial range or clinical superiority; calculator target unavailable.

Common label traps

  • TRAP_01 // BETTER RESVERATROL MEANS MORE BENEFIT
    Pharmacokinetics is not clinical efficacy; human cognition and lifespan results are absent.
  • TRAP_02 // HEART HEALTH AND LOWER CHOLESTEROL
    The n=80 metabolic trial reported LDL +17.1 mg/dL (P=0.001) with monotherapy; this is a harm signal, not cardioprotection.
  • TRAP_03 // PTEROSTILBENE RAISES NAD+ AND REJUVENATES
    NRPT studies tested NR plus pterostilbene. NAD+ is a biomarker and does not isolate pterostilbene contribution or demonstrate longer life.

Other outcomes studied

Outside the five leaderboard goals. Same evidence levels as above.

  • LDL cholesterol Limited · makes it worse
    Monotherapy increased LDL by 17.1 mg/dL (P=0.001) in a short trial of 80 adults with elevated cholesterol.
    PMID 25057276 PMID 30482564
  • Blood pressure Limited · benefit
    Same cohort: systolic -7.8 mmHg (P<0.01), diastolic -7.3 mmHg (P<0.001); independent replication is lacking.
    PMID 25057276
  • BMI Limited · benefit
    A subgroup of 51 had BMI -0.62 kg/m2 (P=0.012); small clinical magnitude and no basis for a weight-loss claim.
    PMID 25057276
  • Glycemic control Limited · no benefit
    No significant glucose effect in the human metabolic trial; animal studies include both favorable and negative findings.
    PMID 25057276 PMID 36145121 PMID 34085383 PMID 28629731
  • NRPT blood NAD+ Limited · benefit
    Combination biomarker rise in healthy adults and AKI studies; cannot assign it to pterostilbene alone or infer longer life.
    PMID 29184669 PMID 32791973
  • NRPT hepatic inflammation / muscle injury Limited · benefit
    Combination studies reported hepatic-marker signals and mixed experimental muscle-injury findings; no monotherapy efficacy is established.
    PMID 36082508 PMID 35998039
  • Cancer / inflammation mechanisms No established evidence
    Cell/animal reviews describe pathways; human cancer-treatment and clinical anti-inflammatory benefits of monotherapy remain unestablished.
    PMID 33801098 PMID 38259272
  • Neuroprotection mechanisms No established evidence
    Animal or cellular cognitive findings are hypothesis-generating, without a human pterostilbene-alone cognitive RCT in this dossier.
    PMID 21982274 PMID 33280250

Reader questions

Is 50 mg safer than 250 mg?

The dossier does not establish a safe effective longevity dose. The 250 mg/day trial raised LDL; lower-dose marketing does not establish benefit or long-term safety.

Is it better than resveratrol?

It differs chemically and in rodent pharmacokinetics. That does not establish greater human cognitive or longevity benefit.

Should it accompany NR or NMN?

NRPT raises NAD+ as a combination, but pterostilbene contribution is not isolated. There is no demonstrated human lifespan advantage.

Can I use it for high cholesterol?

The direct monotherapy trial moved LDL in the wrong direction. Discuss dyslipidemia with a clinician rather than treating this as a lipid-lowering supplement.

Stack interactions

  • Caution Anticoagulants / antiplatelets [CAUTION // REVIEW]
    Isolated human-platelet and mouse findings support a theoretical bleeding concern; clinical interaction magnitude is unestablished.
    PMID 33852294 PMID 33807403
  • Caution Lipid-lowering medicines / grape extract [CAUTION // REVIEW]
    Concomitant lipid therapy or the grape-extract arm attenuated the LDL rise in the small trial. This is not a reason to add a supplement that raises LDL.
    PMID 25057276 PMID 30482564
  • Caution NR / other NAD+ precursors [CAUTION // REVIEW]
    NAD+ and hepatic inflammatory-marker results came from a combination; no isolated pterostilbene longevity effect is demonstrated.
    PMID 29184669 PMID 36082508
  • Caution Glucose-lowering medicines [CAUTION // REVIEW]
    Animal results conflict and the metabolic human trial showed no significant glucose change; additive hypoglycemia remains theoretical, not an established interaction.
    PMID 36145121 PMID 28629731

Red flags: interactions and who should avoid it

Interactions

Antiplatelet effects in isolated human platelets and mice raise a theoretical additive bleeding concern with anticoagulants/antiplatelets. Blood-pressure drugs may add to a small-trial pressure signal. CYP and hormonal interactions are incompletely characterized; NR combinations do not isolate its effects.

Avoid or ask a doctor first if

Avoid unsupervised use with dyslipidemia/high cardiovascular risk, bleeding disorders, perioperative care, pregnancy/lactation or in children. Hormone-sensitive conditions and narrow-therapeutic-index medicines require review. A short trial without frequent GI events does not settle long-term safety.

Sources (PubMed, 21)

  1. Pterostilbene on metabolic parameters: a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial.
    PMID 25057276 · 2014 · randomized controlled trial
    Short metabolic RCT: LDL rise alongside blood-pressure and small BMI signals; no significant glucose effect.
  2. Pterostilbene raises low density lipoprotein cholesterol in people.
    PMID 30482564 · 2019 · peer-reviewed research
    Clinical commentary/reanalysis emphasizing the LDL increase in people.
  3. Metabolism and pharmacokinetics of resveratrol and pterostilbene.
    PMID 29315886 · 2018 · narrative review
    Metabolism/pharmacokinetic review; does not prove improved clinical outcomes.
  4. Pharmacokinetics, oral bioavailability, and metabolic profile of resveratrol and its dimethylether analog, pterostilbene, in rats.
    PMID 21116625 · 2011 · animal study
    Rat comparison of resveratrol/pterostilbene exposure, not human bioavailability.
  5. A Short-Term Safety Evaluation of Silbinol&#xae;- an Extract from Pterocarpus marsupium in Healthy Adults- a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.
    PMID 37671486 · 2023 · randomized controlled trial
    Short botanical-extract safety trial; not lifelong purified-compound efficacy.
  6. Repeat dose NRPT (nicotinamide riboside and pterostilbene) increases NAD+ levels in humans safely and sustainably: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
    PMID 29184669 · 2017 · randomized controlled trial
    NRPT combination raises NAD+; isolated pterostilbene contribution not tested.
  7. Nicotinamide riboside with pterostilbene (NRPT) increases NAD+ in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, stepwise safety study of escalating doses of NRPT in patients with AKI.
    PMID 32791973 · 2020 · randomized controlled trial
    AKI NRPT dose-escalation safety/biomarker trial.
  8. Nicotinamide riboside and pterostilbene reduces markers of hepatic inflammation in NAFLD: A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
    PMID 36082508 · 2023 · randomized controlled trial
    NAFLD NRPT combination hepatic-inflammatory-marker findings.
  9. A randomized placebo-controlled trial of nicotinamide riboside and pterostilbene supplementation in experimental muscle injury in elderly individuals.
    PMID 35998039 · 2022 · randomized controlled trial
    Older-adult experimental muscle-injury combination trial with mixed endpoints.
  10. Pterostilbene, a Dimethylether Analogue of Resveratrol, Possesses High Potency in the Prevention of Platelet Activation in Humans and the Reduction of Vascular Thrombosis in Mice.
    PMID 33852294 · 2021 · animal study
    Human platelets ex vivo and mouse thrombosis; mechanistic bleeding concern, not a clinical prevention trial.
  11. The Antithrombotic Agent Pterostilbene Interferes with Integrin &#x3b1;IIb&#x3b2;3-Mediated Inside-Out and Outside-In Signals in Human Platelets.
    PMID 33807403 · 2021 · animal study
    Isolated human-platelet signaling findings.
  12. Pterostilbene Fails to Rescue Insulin Secretion and Sensitivity in Multiple Murine Models of Diabetes.
    PMID 36145121 · 2022 · animal study
    Negative murine diabetes findings, preserving conflict with favorable animal models.
  13. Pterostilbene Improves Insulin Resistance Caused by Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) in Hepatocytes and Mice.
    PMID 34085383 · 2021 · animal study
    Favorable hepatocyte/mouse insulin-resistance findings; preclinical.
  14. Pterostilbene ameliorates insulin sensitivity, glycemic control and oxidative stress in fructose-fed diabetic rats.
    PMID 28629731 · 2017 · animal study
    Favorable diabetic-rat glycemic findings, not human efficacy.
  15. Low-dose pterostilbene, but not resveratrol, is a potent neuromodulator in aging and Alzheimer's disease.
    PMID 21982274 · 2012 · animal study
    Preclinical neuromodulation; not a human cognition trial.
  16. Pterostilbene Alleviates A&#x3b2;1-42 -Induced Cognitive Dysfunction via Inhibition of Oxidative Stress by&#xa0;Activating&#xa0;Nrf2 Signaling Pathway.
    PMID 33280250 · 2021 · animal study
    Preclinical amyloid-related cognitive dysfunction/Nrf2 findings.
  17. Pterostilbene in Cancer Therapy.
    PMID 33801098 · 2021 · narrative review
    Cancer-therapy review of preclinical pathways; no human cancer efficacy established.
  18. Pterostilbene in the treatment of inflammatory and oncological diseases.
    PMID 38259272 · 2023 · narrative review
    Inflammatory/oncologic mechanistic review.
  19. Pterostilbene nanoemulsion promotes Nrf2 signaling pathway to downregulate oxidative stress for treating Alzheimer's disease.
    PMID 38492898 · 2024 · animal study
    Preclinical nanoemulsion/Nrf2 delivery findings.
  20. Improved oral nutraceutical-based intervention for the&#xa0;management of obesity: pterostilbene-loaded chitosan nanoparticles.
    PMID 36066036 · 2022 · animal study
    Preclinical chitosan nanoparticle obesity intervention.
  21. Nanoparticles prepared from pterostilbene reduce blood glucose and improve diabetes complications.
    PMID 34176494 · 2021 · animal study
    Preclinical nanoparticle diabetes findings.

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