Pterostilbene Supplements for Cholesterol, Memory and Cancer

Pterostilbene supplements can help you live longer, improve your memory, keep your heart healthy and relieve oxidative stress.

It’s no wonder then that this natural compound is quickly gaining new followers in the life extension and nootropic community.

Pterostilbene is a stilbenoid which is chemically related to Resveratrol, although it is now viewed as significantly more powerful.

Dietary food sources for this supplement include blueberries, grapes, cranberries and lingonberries. However, the content in these fruits is very small which is why supplementation is necessary to receive the benefits.

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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Why Use Pterostilbene Supplements?

Studies show Pterostilbene to have anti-cancer, cholesterol fighting, and triglyceride reducing properties.

There is also evidence it may be able to reduce or reverse symptoms of cognitive decline while improving memory retention and recall.

Additional research has found it to exert anti-diabetic properties, though this is an area where additional findings are needed.

From a chemical and structural standpoint, it is related to a group known as phytoalexins, which simply means agents or compounds produced by plants that are capable of and used to fight off infections.

Pterostilbene and Resveratrol have almost identical molecular structures except that the latter has one hydroxyl group on its molecule where the former has two methoxy groups. Because this supplement is a double methylated version of Resveratrol, it exhibits a higher rate of bioavailability.

This means Pterostilbene is more readily transported into your cells and is also better able to resist degradation and elimination. The reported oral availability of Pterostilbene capsules is between 67% to 94%, with a half-life of between 78 and 104 minutes.

Pterostilbene and Cholesterol

The cause of heart disease is the hardening of the arteries, also known as atherosclerosis. This supplement has shown good promise in protecting against this condition and the factors that lead up to it.

A recent (2012) study that was published in the journal Apoptosis studied the effects upon both mice and human cells. They demonstrated that Pterostilbene may be able to inhibit the buildup of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.

It was also determined that this supplement may help to fight oxidative stress, which has long been considered a key element in the development of heart disease.

Animal studies have discovered significant reductions in blood lipid and cholesterol counts when administering Pterostilbene pills. This may be helpful in the prevention of heart disease and strokes. It has also been linked to lowering blood glucose levels in rats, while raising insulin and hemoglobin levels to normal rates.

There has also been a human study focusing on Pterostilbene’s effects on cholesterol and blood pressure. This was conducted at the University of Mississippi in April of 2012, using a double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled methods.

The research team demonstrated Pterostilbene is safe in doses of up to 250 mg per day. The results of the study also showed that high doses of Pterostilbene did reduce blood pressure in participants and was associated with minor weight loss.

Pterostilbene and Memory

There have been a number of studies which show that Pterostilbene can be helpful in the area of cognitive function.

Studies have shown that this effect may be tied to an increase in the production of a peptide known as insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I). This peptide is thought to promote the growth of blood vessels and neurons in the hippocampus area of the brain.

Pterostilbene supplements are also considered to be neuroprotective, capable of protecting the brain from neural damage and even preventing cognitive decline. Pterostilbene may be helpful in the treatment of Alzheimer’s and other cases of cognitive decline like dementia.

Pterostilbene and Cancer

There is also evidence that Pterostilbene may have some anti-cancer benefits. A 2012 report published in the Journal of Surgical Research concluded that this supplement may hinder cancer growth.

It does this by altering cancer cell cycles including a type of programmed cell death known as apoptosis. It also inhibits metastasis, or the spread of cancer from one part of the body to another.

The review determined that Pterostilbene acts as an effective anti-oxidant compound, removing free radicals from the body, as well as offering cancer protection. Resveratrol studies show similar results, though to a lesser degree.

How to Take Pterostilbene Supplements

Since this supplement is still relatively new, there has not been a standard recommended dosage level established. The purpose for its use may determine the best dosage range.

For example, those who are hoping to obtain cognitive benefits from this supplement may want to stick with fairly low doses in the 10 mg per day range. However, there is some room for personal experimentation since Pterostilbene is viewed as being very safe with no serious side effects.

Those people who are looking for cholesterol reductions and more anti-aging effects should use higher doses. Most studies have administered Pterostilbene supplements in the range of 250 to 500 mg per day. This level seems to have the most consistent benefits in reducing cholesterol and glucose levels in animal studies.

In fact, this reduction in glucose and improvement in insulin sensitivity seems to be quite potent, with several studies noting it is compared to Metformin as a reference drug. Pterostilbene may be stacked with Alpha Lipoic Acid for addition anti-diabetic effects.

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