Pterostilbene is a cousin of resveratrol naturally produced by blueberries to provide protection against environmental damage. Like resveratrol, there are animal studies showing its efficacy at promoting heart health and positively affecting the body's aging processes. This valuable antioxidant is only available in small amounts in each blueberry however, meaning an alternative source is necessary to bring clinically helpful amounts to you. As a high purity all-trans pterostilbene, pTeroPure® satisfies that requirement. pTeroPure® is nature identical, meaning it is the same as the pterostilbene found in nature, both in structure and function. pTeroPure® is the only pterostilbene product to be used in human clinical trials and the only pterostilbene to have self-affirmed Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status, a designation by the FDA that an ingredient in food is considered safe.
Pterostilbene
Resveratrol, an antioxidant found in grapes, wine, peanuts, some berries and Giant Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum), has emerged as one of the most potent natural substances to promote optimal health. Yet, the newest research is focusing on a highly bioavailable derivative of resveratrol known as pterostilbene (pronounced tare-oh-still-bean), which has powerful health-promoting properties similar to its parent compound.
Stilbenes are naturally occurring polyphenol compounds produced by a variety of plants, which secrete them in response to environmental challenges such as exposure to viruses, fungi and microbes or excessive ultraviolet radiation. Pterostilbene belongs to this class of compounds and has been shown to be as much as 80 percent bioavailable when administered orally to animals.1 This excellent bioavailability enhances its effects in a wide range of health concerns.
Resveratrol and pterostilbene are both stilbenes with similar characteristics. The uniqueness of pterostilbene may lie in the fact that it contains a methoxy group in a location that resveratrol contains a hydroxyl group. This structural difference is thought to increase the bioavailability and pharmacological activity of pterostilbene. However, most benefit may be derived from supplementing both stilbenes because some of the pharmacological activities between the two differ. For example, the antioxidant activity of resveratrol (with three hydroxyl groups) targets reactive oxygen species in whole blood and isolated lymphocytes. Pterostilbene (with one hydroxyl group and two methoxy groups) targets extracellular reactive oxygen species. Combining the quick-acting resveratrol and the longer-acting pterostilbene offers a higher level of health support for a range of conditions than using either one of these on their own.
Heart Health
In animals, pterostilbene has been shown to play a role in optimal heart function. One way in which it accomplishes this is by its ability to activate PPAR-alpha, which is involved in the break down of fatty acids and lipids. Activation of PPAR-alpha leads to decreased synthesis of triglycerides and very low-density lipoproteins.2-5
By influencing the activity of PPAR-alpha, pterostilbene is involved in balancing healthy cholesterol levels. In hamsters fed with pterostilbene at 25 ppm of the diet, significant blood lipid-balancing effects, as well as blood-glucose-supporting effects were demonstrated.6
Another way pterostilbene exerts powerful effects on the cardiovascular system is by promoting normal growth of aortic vascular smooth muscle cells. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are the main cellular component in the arterial wall and imbalanced proliferation of VSMCs are involved in the thickening of artery walls and also possibly in the development of blood pressure concerns.7
Balancing Glucose
Pterostilbene may also play a role in normal glucose metabolism. In one study, animals that were orally administered pterostilbene experienced significant beneficial effects on glucose balance, insulin levels and glycosylated hemoglobin, which is a measurement of glucose control over time. Changes in key enzymes involved in glucose metabolism were cited as an effect from the pterostilbene.8 Pterostilbene has also been shown to be a PPAR-alpha agonist, which may further explain its potential to help support healthy blood glucose levels.6
Colon and Pancreatic Health
Pterostilbene’s effects in rodents included promoting normal cell growth in the colon through inhibition of iNOS and modulation of certain inflammation-related genes.9 Pterostilbene also has promoted healthy cell growth of pancreatic cells during in vitro experiments. The compound was shown to promote normal cell proliferation, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, and activation of effector caspases.10
Life Extension
Muscarinic receptors, which are acetylcholine receptors found in the plasma membranes of certain neurons and other cells, are important in memory and vascular functioning.11 Oxidative stress and age-related deficits in muscarinic receptors may result in the cognitive, behavioral and neuronal changes that may occur with aging . Researchers have found that pterostilbene is able to alter the sensitivity of the muscarinic M1 receptor in aged animals. Pterostilbene-supplemented animals showed improved cognitive performance as compared to those given the control diet, especially in the high-dose pterostilbene group in tests that measured working memory.12
Age-related alterations in striatal dopamine release have been shown to be related to spatial memory as well as motor function. The increased sensitivity of muscarinic receptors that occurs after pterostilbene supplementation causes increased dopamine release in animals supplemented with pterostilbene compared to the control group.13-14
Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between the hippocampal pterostilbene levels and working memory performance. The findings are similar to those seen previously in both cell and animal models, suggesting that pterostilbene may improve cognitive performance in the aged animal by increasing muscarinic receptor sensitivity.12,15-16
A Trio of Powerful Antioxidants
A new formula combines pterostilbene with trans-resveratrol and grape seed extract, three powerful antioxidants. When resveratrol is combined with pterostilbene, there is a synergistic antioxidant effect.17
Researchers have studied resveratrol for its ability to increase the lifespan of yeast, fruit flies and roundworm by increasing the expression of the SIR2 enzyme. Resveratrol’s longevity-extending effects were similar to those achieved with caloric restriction.18
In mice, resveratrol increased insulin sensitivity, promoted normal fat metabolism and distribution in the liver, increased the number of mitochondria per cell, supported motor function, and supported healthy weight management. Mice given resveratrol also were able to run twice as far as the control group without fatigue.19-20 Resveratrol also plays a role in immune regulation, has inflammation-modulating effects, and supports the health of the heart.21-25
Grape seed extract is another antioxidant polyphenol that can protect overall health. In mice, grape seed extract has been shown to enhance cognitive health and brain cell function.26
Researchers also have shown that grape seed extract supports healthy blood pressure levels in human subjects.27 By virtue of its antioxidant abilities, grape seed extract has other effects on heart health such as protecting cardiac cells and tissue.28
Conclusion
A new formula offered here combines three of the most powerful antioxidants—pterostilbene, trans-resveratrol and grape seed extract. Research is showing that pterostilbene’s excellent bioavailability and uptake by the body make it an essential component of any life extension regimen. Combining pterostilbene with its parent compound resveratrol and grape seed extract can have synergistic effects on heart health, normal blood sugar metabolism and cognitive function, taking resveratrol supplementation to the next level.
References
1. Izet M. Kapetanovic, Miguel Muzzio, Zhihua Huang, Thomas N. Thompson, David L. McCormick. Pharmacokinetics, oral bioavailability, and metabolic profile of resveratrol and its dimethylether analog, pterostilbene, in rats. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. DOI 10.1007/s00280-010-1525-4.
2. Fruchart JC, Staels B, Duriez P. PPAR-alpha in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. Prog Exp Cardiol. 2003;8:3-16.
3. Gilde AJ, Van Bilsen M. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARS): Regulators of gene expression in heart and skeletal muscle. Acta Physiol Scand. 2003;178:425-434.
4. Fruchart JC, Duriez P. Anti-cholesterol agents, new therapeutic approaches. Ann Pharm Fr. 2004;62:3-18.
5. Gervois P, Torra IP, Fruchart JC, Staels B. Regulation of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism by PPAR activators. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2000;38:3-11.
6. Rimando AM, Nagmani R, Feller DR, Yokoyama W. Pterostilbene, a new agonist for the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor r-Isoform, lowers plasma lipoproteins and cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic hamsters. J Agric Food Chem. 2005;53:3403-3407.
7. Park ES, Lim Y, Hong JT, Yoo HS, Lee CK, Pyo MY, Yun YP. Pterostilbene, a natural dimethylated analog of resveratrol, inhibits rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation by blocking Akt-dependent pathway. Vascul Pharmacol. 2010 Jul-Aug;53(1-2):61-7.
8. Pari L, Satheesh MA. Effect of pterostilbene on hepatic key enzymes of glucose metabolism in streptozotocin-and nicotinamide-induced diabetic rats. Life Sci. 2006;79:641-645.
9. Nanjoo Suh, Shiby Paul, Xingpei Hao, Barbara Simi, Hang Xiao, Rimando AM, Reddy BS. Pterostilbene, an Active Constituent of Blueberries, Suppresses Aberrant Crypt Foci Formation in the Azoxymethane-Induced Colon Carcinogenesis Model in Rats. Clin Cancer Res. January 2007;13(1).
10. Mannal PW, Alosi JA, Schneider JG, McDonald DE, McFadden DW. Pterostilbene Inhibits Pancreatic Cancer In Vitro. J Gastrointest Surg. 2010;14:873-879.
11. Joseph, JA, Fisher DR, Carey AN. Fruit extracts antagonize Abeta- or DA-induced deficits in Ca2+ flux in M1-transfected COS-7 cells. J Alzheimer’s Dis. 2004;6:403-411, discussion 443-449.
12. Joseph JA, Fisher DR, Cheng V, Rimando AM, Shukitt-Hale B. Cellular and Behavioral Effects of Stilbene Resveratrol Analogues: Implications for Reducing the Deleterious Effects of Aging. J Agric Food Chem. 2008;56:10544-10551.
13. Joseph JA, Kowatch MA, Maki T, Roth GS. Selective cross-activation/inhibition of second messenger systems and the reduction of age-related deficits in the muscarinic control of dopamine release from perifused rat striata. Brain Res. 1990; 537:40-48.
14. Rutz S, Majchrzak M, Siedschlag V, Barbelivien A, Harati H, Rothmaier AK, Feuerstein TJ, Jackisch R, Cassel JC. The modulation of striatal dopamine release correlates with watermaze performance in aged rats. Neurobiol Aging. 2007. DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2007.09.011.
15. Joseph JA, Shukitt-Hale B, Denisova NA, Bielinski D, Martin A, McEwen JJ, Bickford PC. Reversals of age-related declines in neuronal signal transduction, cognitive, and motor behavioral deficits with blueberry, spinach, or strawberry dietary supplementation. J Neurosci. 1999;19:8114-8121.
16. Youdim KA, Shukitt-Hale B, Martin A, Wang H, Denisova N, Bickford PC, Joseph JA. Short-term dietary supplementation of blueberry polyphenolics: Beneficial effects on aging brain performance and peripheral tissue function. Nutr Neurosci. 2000;3:383-397.
17. Mikstacka R, Rimando AM, Ignoatowicz E. Antioxidant effect of trans-resveratrol, pterostilbene, quercetin and their combinations in human erythrocytes in vitro. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2010;65:57-63.
18. Guarente L, Picard F. Calorie restriction – the SIR2 connection. Cell. 2005;120:473-482.
19. Baur JA, Pearson KJ, Price NL, et al. Resveratrol improves health and survival of mice on a high-calorie diet. Nature. 2006;444:337-342.
20. Lagouge M, Argmann C, Gerhart-Hines Z, et. al. Resveratrol improves mitochondrial function and protects against metabolic disease by activating SIRT1 and PGC-1alpha. Cell. 2006;127:1109-1122.
21. Sharma S, Chopra K, Kulkarni SK, Agrewala JN. Resveratrol and curcumin suppress immune responses through CD28/CTLA-4 and CD80 co-stimulatory pathway. Clin Exr Immunol. 2007;147:155-163.
22. Gonzales AM, Orlando RA. Curcumin and Resveratrol inhibit nuclear factor-kappaB-mediated cytokine expression in adipocytes. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2008;5:17.
23. Pearson KJ, Baur JA, Lewis KN, et. al. Resveratrol delays age-related deterioration and mimics transcriptional aspects of dietary restriction without extending life span. Cell Metab. 2008;8:157-168.
24. Wang Z, Huang Y, Zou J, et al. Effects of red wine polyphenol Resveratrol on platelet aggregation in vivo and in vitro. In J Mol Med. 2002;9:77-79.
25. Carluccio MA, Ancora MA, Massaro M, et al. Homocysteine induces VCAM-1 gene expression through NF-kappa B and NAD(P)H oxidase activation: protective role of Mediterranean diet polyphenolic antioxidants. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2007;293:H2344-H2354.
26. Wang J, Ho L, Zhao W, Ono K, Rosensweig C, Chen L, Humala N, Teplow DB, Pasinetti GM. Grape-derived polyphenolics prevent Abeta oligomerization and attenuate cognitive deterioration in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. J Neurosci. 2008 Jun 18;28(25):6388-92.
27. Siva B, Edirisinghe I, Randolph J, Steinberg F, Kappagoda T. Effect of a polyphenoics extracts of Grape Seeds (GSE) on Blood Pressure (BP) in patients with the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). The FASEB Journal. 2006;20:A305.
28. Bagchi D, Sen CK, Ray SD, Das DK, Bagchi M, Preuss HG, Vinson JA. Molecular mechanisms of cardioprotection by a novel grape seed proanthocyanidin extract. Mutation Research. 2003 Feb-Mar;523-524:87-97.
News 
Market Data 
Discover 
AI
