Pterostilbene Side Effects – Is This Supplement Safe for Long-Term Use?

Pterostilbene is a natural supplement that is said to improve brainpower and memory, protect against aging, reduce signs of inflammation and improve energy metabolism and hormone balance.

Very similar to Resveratrol, Pterostilbene is a plant-derived chemical which fights major causes of age-related cognitive decline, including free radical damage.

It also contributes to healthy mental function by improving vascular health and regulating the loss of dopamine.

Are there any Pterostilbene side effects to consider when taking this supplement for life extension and brain enhancement? Read on to find out.

Pterostilbene

Anti-Oxidant Supplement

Heart Health

Longevity

Cognition

How It Works:

• 4x more bioavailable than Resveratrol
• Powerful anti-oxidant for longevity support
• Reduces cortisol for sleep, stress & weight loss

Dosage:

Between 100 - 400 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

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Natural Sources of Pterostilbene

In plants, Pterostilbene is produced as part of a class of phytoalexins, natural chemicals which fight infection.

It also exists in several common food items, such as blueberries, cranberries, and grapes. Its close chemical relative Resveratrol (which is a single-methylated version of the same compound), is famously found in red wine.

Countless studies pondering the connection between longevity and the drinking of red wine, particularly in French populations, have concluded that Resveratrol is responsible.

Unfortunately, to achieve truly dramatic cognitive benefits from Pterostilbene, food sources of the compound aren’t enough. With a recommended daily dose of approximately 300 mg, you’d have to eat nearly 15,000 cups of blueberries (each cup of blueberries contains just 20 micrograms of Pterostilbene.)

Supplements are an easy way to make taking the compound practical, but do these large doses come with Pterostilbene side effects? Our bodies have been naturally  processing Pterostilbene and Resveratrol through food sources for thousands of years. Perhaps for this reason, Pterostilbene very few known side effects.

How Pterostilbene Enhances Longevity

Pterostilbene is known as the longevity nootropic because it attacks all of the causes of life span limitation and organ degeneration at the source. Cell death is starting point for all degenerative diseases.

While some people assume that decline in our vascular health, nervous system, and tissue integrity is an unavoidable consequence of aging, this is not the case.

As a powerful anti-oxidant, Pterostilbene destroys free radicals (oxygen-damaged molecules) which are responsible for cellular degeneration.

Next, Pterostilbene’s role as an anti-inflammatory prevents the excessive release of inflammation-triggering enzymes sphingosine kinase and phospholipase D. Chronic inflammation is a key cause of age-related disorders such as arthritis, cancers, and atherosclerosis.

Finally, Pterostilbene may be able to prevent premature cell death by influencing gene expression. Genes are like an elaborate blueprint for the development of all physical structures in the body.

Pterostilbene can either increase or decrease the sensitivity and frequency of genetic communication, preventing the programmed cell death ordered by DNA, as well as turning off the ability of individual cancer cells to spread. Together, these functions may be able to slow some of the decline associated with aging.

Minor Pterostilbene side effects that you might experience are usually negligible for health adults.

Combining Pterostilbene With Other Supplements

Not only is it safe to add Pterostilbene to many other supplements, but its effects can actually be greatly enhanced by stacking it.

In particular, Pterostilbene’s anti-inflammatory effects go very well with any nootropic supplements which enhance neuroplasticity. This term describes a state in which neurons are healthy and are able to readily form new connections between each other.

It has been established that memories are encoded in our brains as connections between neurons. By preserving the ability of these connections (called synapses) to form it may be possible to retain strong memory function even as we age.

As we age, brain tissue can become chronically inflamed and rigid. It becomes harder and harder for new growth to occur, which means it gets harder for us to access memories and create new ones. This is the physical component of cognitive decline.

Pterostilbene is often stacked with memory-boosting supplements like Citicoline or Alpha GPC. These supplements increase levels of the acetylcholine neurotransmitter in the brain, which can help to support synaptic plasticity and improve memory retention, formation and recall.

Pterostilbene Mental Benefits

In addition to the long term cognitive benefits that Pterostilbene provides by enhancing neuroplasticity, it also has several short-term benefits.

Pterostilbene regulates the loss of dopamine, making sure there is enough of this neurotransmitter which is involved in mood, attentional control, motivation and feelings of pleasure.

Pterostilbene also boosts memory in the hippocampus, improving cell signaling by proteins. Mild Pterostilbene side effects such as headache may be partly caused by an increase of blood flow to the brain connected to these benefits.

Avoid Pterostilbene Side Effects

With no major side effects reported, there are few warnings about Pterostilbene dosages. The general consensus is that Pterostilbene is most effective at 300 mg per day.

However, it is known to have a fairly short half life of about 100 minutes or less. For that reason, many users try to split their daily dosage into 2 parts, taking one in morning and one later in the day.

Pterostilbene can be found as an ingredient in the Alpha Brain nootropic stack by Onnit Labs. This popular brain supplement combines this compound with other natural cognitive enhancers such as L-Theanine, Bacopa Monnieri, Vinpocetine and Huperzine A which can also protect the brain and improve mental function.

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