Is pterostilbene better than resveratrol?

Yes, Pterostilbene, with its superior bioavailability and activity (ORAC value Resveratrol 28 µmol Trolox equivalents per gram (TE/g), ORAC value Pterostilbene 64 µmol Trolox equivalents per gram (TE/g)) may be a better alternative for more efficient formulations.

Pterostilbene (trans-3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxystilbene) is a naturally derived compound found primarily in blueberries and Pterocarpus marsupium (PM) heartwood. Substantial evidence suggests that pterostilbene may have numerous preventive and therapeutic properties in many human diseases, including neurological, cardiovascular, metabolic, and hematologic disorders. Further benefits of pterostilbene have been reported in preclinical trials, in which pterostilbene was shown to be a potent anticancer agent in several malignancies.

Pterostilbene is structurally similar to resveratrol, a compound found in red wine that has comparable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic properties; however, pterostilbene exhibits increased bioavailability due to the presence of two methoxy groups, which cause it to exhibit increased lipophilic and oral absorption. In animal studies, pterostilbene was shown to have 80% bioavailability compared to 20% for resveratrol, making it potentially advantageous as a therapeutic agent. Resveratrol’s potential biological effectiveness may be limited due to its low bioavailability. For this reason, many products are on the market with high dosis of this compound, reaching up to 1.5 g of resveratrol per dose. For a stilbene to be effective, it must be absorbed in sufficient quantity and remain unaltered long enough to reach its target effect. However, resveratrol is rapidly metabolized, leading to minimal levels of unaltered resveratrol in blood after intake.

References

[1] Denise McCormack, David McFadden. “A review of pterostilbene antioxidant activity and disease modification.” Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity (2013): 575482.

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