Pterostilbene
Summary
Pterostilbene is a blueberry polyphenol related to resveratrol. In one 80-person trial in people with high cholesterol, it lowered blood pressure but raised LDL cholesterol (grade D). Combined with nicotinamide riboside it raised blood NAD+ in older adults, though that tests the pair, not pterostilbene alone. Up to 250 mg a day was well tolerated for 6–8 weeks.
Key facts
- A stilbene polyphenol, a dimethylated relative of resveratrol[1]
- Blood pressure (D, down); LDL cholesterol (D, up, unwanted); NAD+ levels with nicotinamide riboside (combination only)[1][3]
- LDL rose by 17.1 mg/dL with pterostilbene alone; adding grape extract blunted the rise[1]
- No adverse drug reactions beyond placebo at up to 250 mg/day in the 80-person trial[2]
- 3 graded human outcomes on this page
- October 11, 2026
How it works
ProposedPterostilbene shares resveratrol’s stilbene backbone with two methoxy groups added; lab studies link stilbenes to antioxidant signalling, but these effects are not established in people.[1]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
At a glance: strongest evidence per outcome
| Outcome | Grade | Effect | Strongest evidence | Rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthy aging | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 120 · 2017 | 1 row |
| Heart | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 80 · 2014 | 2 rows |
Every graded row
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood NAD+ in older adults (with nicotinamide riboside) | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 120 · 2017 Healthy adults aged 60–80 Form: Nicotinamide riboside plus pterostilbene (NRPT) · Dose: Recommended or double dose of the combination · Duration: 8 weeks Blood NAD+ rose about 40% (standard dose) and 90% (double dose) at 4 weeks versus placebo and stayed up. | 29184669 (opens PubMed)Source [3] |
| Blood pressure in adults with high cholesterol | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 80 · 2014 Adults with total cholesterol ≥200 mg/dL and/or LDL ≥100 mg/dL Form: Pterostilbene · Dose: 50 or 125 mg twice daily · Duration: 6–8 weeks At 125 mg twice daily, systolic pressure fell by 7.8 mmHg and diastolic by 7.3 mmHg versus placebo. | 25057276 (opens PubMed)Source [1] |
| LDL cholesterol | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 80 · 2014 Adults with total cholesterol ≥200 mg/dL and/or LDL ≥100 mg/dL Form: Pterostilbene alone or with grape extract · Dose: 50–125 mg twice daily · Duration: 6–8 weeks LDL rose by 17.1 mg/dL with pterostilbene alone, an unwanted effect not seen when it was combined with grape extract. | 25057276 (opens PubMed)Source [1] |
Forms
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from 100 to 250 mg of pterostilbene a day for 6 to 8 weeks; NAD+ studies paired it with nicotinamide riboside.[1][3]
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
None found in our sources.
Who should be careful
- People with high LDL cholesterol
- Pterostilbene alone raised LDL by about 17 mg/dL in the only placebo-controlled trial we found.[1]
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- No safety data were found in the trials we cite.[2]
- Anyone on blood pressure drugs
- It lowered blood pressure at 250 mg/day, which could add to these drugs; no interaction studies exist.[1]
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
Where to buy Pterostilbene
Products from brands we partner with that contain Pterostilbene. Listing a product is not a claim that it works; check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.
- SupersmartPaid linkPterostilbene Supplement1 capsule: 100 mg trans-pterostilbene; 30 servingsShop at Supersmart (opens in new tab)Price and label checked 2026-10-11 on the brand’s site.
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Frequently asked questions
Is pterostilbene better than resveratrol?
We found no head-to-head human trials; pterostilbene’s human outcome data are limited to small trials.[1]
Does pterostilbene raise cholesterol?
In one trial it raised LDL by about 17 mg/dL when taken alone.[1]
Does pterostilbene raise NAD+?
A combination with nicotinamide riboside raised NAD+; pterostilbene alone was not tested.[3]
Is pterostilbene safe?
Up to 250 mg a day was tolerated for 6–8 weeks without more adverse reactions than placebo.[2]
Sources
- [1]Pterostilbene on metabolic parameters: a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial.. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2014. RCT
- [2]Analysis of safety from a human clinical trial with pterostilbene.. J Toxicol, 2013. RCT
- [3]Repeat dose NRPT (nicotinamide riboside and pterostilbene) increases NAD+ levels in humans safely and sustainably: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.. NPJ Aging Mech Dis, 2017. RCT
What changed
- Effect arrows corrected on 1 row(s): outcomes where a harmful measure fell (pain, symptoms, blood pressure, lipids, glucose, risk) now show as improved (up). No study data changed.
- First draft. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities (title, year and journal taken from the PubMed record; retraction and expression-of-concern flags checked: none) and abstracts read for each cited row. Product details in Where to buy read from the brand page on the date shown.