What is it?
What this Pterostilbene page covers
3Pterostilbene is a stilbene polyphenol. The useful public comparison is the stated chemical form, amount, co-ingredients, and quality information—not an assumption of a cognitive effect.
Names, aliases and forms
Mechanisms of action
Mechanistic interest is not a nootropic result
5Cellular and metabolic research can explain interest in pterostilbene, but the clinical literature has limited pterostilbene-specific findings and does not establish a memory, focus, or long-term brain-support effect in people.
Potential effects and evidence map
Human studies are limited, short, and not designed to establish a nootropic effect. One 80-participant metabolic trial found higher LDL with pterostilbene alone; a separate two-month study tested a specific 90% pterostilbene botanical extract rather than every product form.
Current clinical evidence does not establish pterostilbene as a reliable cognitive or brain-support supplement.
Typical dosages and timing
One 2014 trial studied pterostilbene at 50 mg or 125 mg twice daily for 6-8 weeks in adults with elevated cholesterol or LDL. That research amount is not a recommended dose, a long-term safety conclusion, or proof that other products are interchangeable.
Safety, side effects and risk profile
Human studies are short and use different formulations; this does not establish long-term safety or a standard consumer dose.
Because human trials observed lipid and blood-pressure changes, people using medicines for lipids or blood pressure should seek individualized clinical advice before adding pterostilbene.
In one 6-8 week trial, pterostilbene alone increased LDL; high-dose treatment also changed blood pressure. Do not present it as a heart-health supplement.
Public evidence here does not establish safety in pregnancy or lactation; use individualized professional advice rather than extrapolating from short adult trials.
In the 2014 randomized trial, pterostilbene monotherapy increased LDL; the high-dose group also had lower blood pressure. That makes cardiovascular context more important than a generic antioxidant or heart-health claim.
Interactions and cautions
If you use medicine for cholesterol or blood pressure, or have a relevant clinical concern, ask a qualified clinician before adding pterostilbene. This is a practical precaution based on observed trial changes, not a claim of a proven drug interaction.
Legal and regulatory status
FDA does not provide an authoritative list proving that an ingredient was marketed in U.S. supplements before 15 October 1994. If an ingredient is new, the manufacturer or distributor must assess the applicable notification and safety requirements for that formulation. An FDA identity record is not product approval.
Practical buying and quality notes
- Check whether the label specifies trans-pterostilbene, the amount per serving, a botanical extract versus isolated material, co-ingredients, and independent identity or purity testing. Do not assume a study of one formulation applies to another.2
FAQ
Is pterostilbene a proven nootropic?
5No. A review of clinical and preclinical stilbene literature reports limited pterostilbene findings and largely missing clinical efficacy evidence. This page therefore does not treat it as an established focus or memory supplement.
Does a study amount set a product dose?
2No. Trial amounts describe the tested formulation and time period. They do not establish a universal consumer dose, long-term safety, or equivalence across isolated and botanical-extract products.
References
- Riche DM, Riche KD, Blackshear CT, et al. Pterostilbene on metabolic parameters: a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2014;2014:459165.
- Majeed M, Nagabhushanam K, Paulose S, Mundkur L. A short-term safety evaluation of Silbinol®—an extract from Pterocarpus marsupium in healthy adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine. 2023;28:2515690X231198312.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Global Substance Registration System: PTEROSTILBENE (UNII 26R60S6A5I).
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. New Dietary Ingredients in Dietary Supplements—Background for Industry.
- Socała K, Żmudzka E, Lustyk K, et al. Therapeutic potential of stilbenes in neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders: a comprehensive review of preclinical and clinical evidence. Phytotherapy Research. 2024;38(3):1400-1461.