Pterostilbene benefits include anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects that can help to promote longevity and keep cells healthy and free of certain forms of damage.
Part of a class of plant-derived chemicals known as phytoalexins, Pterostilbene is found in some food sources, like berries and grapes.
You may have heard of Resveratol, a very close analog to Pterostilbene which is famously found in red wine. Many of the same effects which are attributed to Reservatrol are also generated by Pterostilbene, with added intensity.
Pterostilbene’s ability to affect gene expression could be the key to longer life and less decline with age. Let’s take a look at how the health benefits can impact your life for the better and why this supplement is used in popular Nootropic stack formulas like Alpha Brain.



- 4x more bioavailable than Resveratrol
- Powerful anti-oxidant for longevity support
- Reduces cortisol for sleep, stress & weight loss
Pterostilbene Anti-Inflammation Benefits
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Sometimes called the silent killer, inflammation is at the root of countless serious, chronic physical disorders.
Many of these conditions are attributed to aging, such as heart disease and liver disease, but they are in part cause by inflammation.
Normally part of the body’s natural immune response to irritation, bacteria, injury, or toxins, inflammation is essential to healing. Vascular tissues swell to remove pathogens.
However, chronic inflammation of tissues, which can be caused by diet, lifestyle, and age, can actually create serious damage and conditions like atherosclerosis, leukocyte defects, and cancer.
When inflammation happens in the brain, synaptic connections are harder to form, memories are harder to access, and logical and verbal reasoning becomes impaired. These are all key symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
Improves Cerebrovascular Health
Like its close relative Resveratrol, Pterostilbene attacks inflammation by limiting the amount of sphingosine kinase and phospholipase D, enzymes which trigger the inflammation response.
This is nowhere more important than in the brain, where chronically inflamed tissue can result in serious neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s Disease. By fighting inflammation here, Pterostilbene contributes to strong vascular health which makes all functions of cognition easier throughout life.
Neural plasticity in increased, and it becomes easier to access memories, form new logical associations, and engage in verbal reasoning. There is no reason that these functions must decrease with age, as long as neurological tissue health is maintained.
Anti-Oxidant Pterostilbene Benefits
The other main Pterostilbene benefits result from its work as an anti-oxidant.
When molecules interact with oxygen, they can become damaged, also known as oxidation, and transformed into free radicals. Excessive oxidation can lead to premature cell death, cancers, and many neurological disorders. Pterostilbene effectively targets free radicals.
Unlike many low dose food based anti-oxidants, Pterostilbene is highly bioavailable and can cross the blood brain barrier. It is able to effectively neutralize these threats to cell health directly in the brain.
Genetic Programming
Pterostilbene benefits simulate the positive effects of a low calorie diet by influencing gene expression. Especially when taken in combination with Resveratrol, Pterostilbene has the ability to switch genes on and off, stopping programmed apoptosis (cell death), or preventing cancer cells from replicating.
Whereas a low calorie diet can create these effects by controlling blood sugar and lowering lipid levels, Pterostilbene supplements can achieve the same benefits.
Research is currently investigating the possibility of increasing maximum lifespan by modifying the pre-programmed genetic messages which initiate cell death over time. If we can learn how to turn off these messages, it may be possible to significantly increase the average human life expectancy well above 100 or so years.
Pterostilbene Benefits for the Brain
In addition to contributing to good vascular and tissue health in the brain, Pterostilbene also has several direct mechanisms which improve cognition.
It controls and prevents the loss of dopamine, which works in the brain as a neurotramsitter regulating the nervous system. Dopamine can be an effective weapon against symptoms of many neurological disorders such as ADD and ADHD, Parkinsons, and many addictions, and contributes to overall mood enhancement.
Pterostilbene has also been shown to improve memory by activating proteins in the hippocampus which improve cell signaling in the brain, a prime factor in memory.
Stacking with choline supplements bears rich results for cognitive enhancement. Pterostilbene cuts the inflammation which inhibits synaptic growth, growth which is then amplified by the choline. These stacks enhance one another’s efficacy.
How to Take Pterostilbene
Pterostilbene can be taken on its own in a single ingredient capsules or in a nootropic stack with other synergistic supplements. The recommended dosage for individual use of Pterostilbene is between 100 – 300 mg per day. Users will typically only take one dosage per day.
There are a number of natural compounds such as Phosphatidylserine, Vinpocetine and Huperzine A that can improve the results achieved by taking this compound. Products like Alpha Brain from Onnit Labs are recommended for users looking for an all-in-one brain supplement.
While there are some Pterostilbene side effects to be aware of before use, these are considered mild and do not cause a problem for the majority of users.
- Wang W, Ding XQ, Gu TT, Song L, Li JM, Xue QC, Kong LD. Pterostilbene and allopurinol reduce fructose-induced podocyte oxidative stress and inflammation via microRNA-377. Free Radic Biol Med. 2015
- Chang J, Rimando A, Pallas M, Camins A, Porquet D, Reeves J, Shukitt-Hale B, Smith MA, Joseph JA, Casadesus G. Low-dose pterostilbene, but not resveratrol, is a potent neuromodulator in aging and Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging. 2012
- Song Z, Han S, Pan X, Gong Y, Wang M. Pterostilbene mediates neuroprotection against oxidative toxicity via oestrogen receptor α signalling pathways. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2015
- Wang Y, Ding L, Wang X, Zhang J, Han W, Feng L, Sun J, Jin H, Wang XJ. Pterostilbene simultaneously induces apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and cyto-protective autophagy in breast cancer cells. Am J Transl Res. 2012
- McCormack D, McDonald D, McFadden D. Pterostilbene ameliorates tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced pancreatitis in vitro. J Surg Res. 2012
Article last updated on: March 25th, 2018 by Nootriment