If you’re looking to protect cognitive function and prevent heart disease, here’s a new word to learn: Pterostilbene! This powerful antioxidant may contribute to neuroprotective and cardiometabolic effects for long-term health. If you’re interested, our functional medicine Toronto providers can introduce you to this supplement. 

Findings show that natural constituents, such as plant compounds, may be beneficial for anti-aging medicine purposes, especially for managing chronic conditions. “Because approximately 25% of the world population is expected to be older than age 65 by 2050

… the need for effective prevention strategies is more pressing than ever before,” urges a Neurochemistry International piece. 

Pterostilbene – pronounced terro-STILL-bene – is commonly called PTS, and emerging research shows it may offer aid for aging healthily. According to a Frontiers in Pharmacology article, “Various studies indicate that PTS exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumour properties, potentially making it a promising candidate for clinical applications.”

PTS is a natural analog of resveratrol, a compound found in blueberries. With its high bioavailability rate and wide-ranging health benefits, pterostilbene is emerging as a potential powerhouse in integrated health care. Here, we list details about pterostilbene supplementation; determining its suitability for you; and how our personalized integrative medicine services work. 

Crash Course on Pterostilbene 

Stilbenoids are a group of plant-based compounds with antioxidant properties, and pterostilbene is a stilbenoid. It’s a cousin to resveratrol, which is another plant compound with neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory functions. Here are some key things to know about PTS supplementation: 

• • It’s been embraced for centuries by ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners. 
  • Although PTS and resveratrol exert similar effects, PTS has a high bioavailability rate of 80% compared to resveratrol’s rate of 20%. 
  • It may reduce your risks for forming heart disease. Supplementing with PTS may result in cardiometabolic benefits, such as: 
    • Cholesterol management: Studies show that pterostilbene may reduce LDL cholesterol while increasing HDL cholesterol (also known as the ‘good’ cholesterol). 
    • Blood sugar regulation: It may enhance insulin sensitivity and lower blood glucose levels, especially for managing diabetes. 
  • Pterostilbene can cross the blood-brain barrier, which means it may impact cognitive function. Its supplementation can reduce oxidative stress, thereby lowering inflammation that can hinder brain cell function. Also, PTS could help reduce amyloid plaque buildup for improving memory for patients with Alzheimer’s.
  • Further research is needed, though PTS may exert anti-cancer effects: 
    • It may inhibit cancer cell proliferation.
    • PTS may promote apoptosis (programmed cell death) in malignant cells.
    • It may also suppress angiogenesis, which is the formation of new blood vessels that tumors may use for growth and spreading. 

Is PTS Right for You? 

This supplement may be of interest to you if your health goals include slowing down physical and mental aging; preventing heart disease, cancer, metabolic syndrome; and for boosting brain health. Before taking this supplement though, please consult with a functional healthcare provider to see if it’s compatible with your needs. Medication interactions can occur while taking pterostilbene; here are some examples: 

• • PTS may affect your intake of SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and certain chemotherapies. 
  • It may interact with blood pressure medications, as the nutrient is already known to reduce blood pressure. 

This supplement is not recommended for children and pregnant or breastfeeding women. Though food sources of PTS are accessible, such as red grapes, blueberries, cranberries, and peanuts, their pterostilbene levels are diminutive. Oral supplementation is usually advised for supporting beneficial effects, and our functional clinicians can recommend a PTS dosage for you. Please let us know if you’d like this included in your treatment plan from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre.   

Suggested reading: Progesterone for Women: A Guide from our Functional Medicine Toronto Clinicians

Experience the Functional Medicine Approach to Health Today

If you’re still unsure why you feel unwell, an individualized approach to healthcare could offer you new insight into your wellness. 

The functional medicine model is practiced by our clinicians, which is a discipline that identifies the source of health issues. This may involve conducting functional lab tests and tailoring a treatment plan for your biological needs, such as nutritional deficiencies and hormonal imbalances. Functional medicine does not group patients together for scrutinizing symptoms and diagnosing. Instead, a patient is treated as a unique entity and individual components, including your health background, genetics, environmental and lifestyle factors, are taken into consideration. 

Our clinic is an integrative medicine practice. We can combine and adapt several treatment modalities for symptom relief and disease prevention, such as conventional treatment methods (Western), naturopathic medicine and homeopathic medicine, holistic nutrition, herbal medicines, psychotherapy, Chinese medicine acupuncture services, IV therapy, and more. Our IV Lounge is where our patients can have their nutritional drips administered; when IV therapy is combined with additional functional medicine therapies and lifestyle modifications, they can contribute to optimal health outcomes. 

With extensive clinical experience, our wellness team is adept at modifying therapeutic modalities. Personalized treatment options can help with managing several conditions, including autoimmune diseases, digestive concerns (i.e. irritable bowel syndrome), exposures to heavy metals, polycystic ovary syndrome, diabetes/metabolic syndrome, and more. 

New patients can access our functional medicine therapies in Toronto today! Take your first steps towards optimal wellness now – simply call us to reserve your initial consultation. 

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media. 

 

References

Dutta, B. J., Rakshe, P. S., Maurya, N., Chib, S., & Singh, S. (2023). Unlocking the therapeutic potential of natural stilbene: Exploring pterostilbene as a powerful ally against aging and cognitive decline. Ageing Research Reviews, 92, 102125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2023.102125

Liu, P., Tang, W., Xiang, K., & Li, G. (2024). Pterostilbene in the treatment of inflammatory and oncological diseases. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 14, 1323377. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1323377

Martinez, S. E., Sayre, C. L., & Davies, N. M. (2013). Pharmacometrics of 3-Methoxypterostilbene: A Component of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Plants. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013(1), 261468. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/261468

McCormack D, McFadden D. A review of pterostilbene antioxidant activity and disease modification. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2013;2013:575482. doi: 10.1155/2013/575482. Epub 2013 Apr 4. PMID: 23691264; PMCID: PMC3649683.

Nagarajan, S., Mohandas, S., Ganesan, K., Xu, B., & Ramkumar, K. M. (2022). New Insights into Dietary Pterostilbene: Sources, Metabolism, and Health Promotion Effects. Molecules, 27(19), 6316. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27196316

Poulose SM, Thangthaeng N, Miller MG, Shukitt-Hale B. Effects of pterostilbene and resveratrol on brain and behavior. Neurochem Int. 2015 Oct;89:227-33. doi: 10.1016/j.neuint.2015.07.017. Epub 2015 Jul 26. PMID: 26212523.

“Pterostilbene: Why This Potent Antioxidant Might Be Better Than Resveratrol” from mindbodygreen, posted on October 15, 2019, viewed on February 21, 2025. 

Schmidt L, Baskaran S, Johansson P, Padhan N, Matuszewski D, Green LC, Elfineh L, Wee S, Häggblad M, Martens U, Westermark B, Forsberg-Nilsson K, Uhrbom L, Claesson-Welsh L, Andäng M, Sintorn IM, Lundgren B, Lönnstedt I, Krona C, Nelander S. Case-specific potentiation of glioblastoma drugs by pterostilbene. Oncotarget. 2016 Nov 8;7(45):73200-73215. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.12298. PMID: 27689322; PMCID: PMC5341973.