The New Ageless Ingredient: Formulating Pterostilbene Products and Supplements

Move over red wine and resveratrol—there’s a new dietary supplement in town: pterostilbene. This little-known compound has quickly become a popular ingredient in anti-aging products, frequently used alongside resveratrol.

Pterostilbene boasts robust pharmacodynamic features, an impressive bioavailability profile, and nutraceutical potential that might just outdo that of its vineyard-sourced cousin.

Below we discuss the fundamentals of pterostilbene, including its close relationship to resveratrol, pterostilbene benefits, and how product creators and formulators can overcome the obstacles associated with pterostilbene product development.

What Is Pterostilbene?

Pterostilbene is a naturally occurring stilbenoid chemically related to and a natural analog of resveratrol. Its primary function in plants is as a phytoalexin, providing defense against environmental stressors and pathogens such as bacteria and fungi.

Pterostilbene is predominantly found in berries and nuts, with readily available concentrations in blueberries, almonds, grape leaves and vines, heartwood (red sandalwood tree) bark, dark chocolate and cocoa powder, and peanuts.

Pterostilbene vs. Resveratrol

Both resveratrol and pterostilbene are monomeric stilbenes, which means they are single-unit compounds from the stilbene family, which have notable potential antioxidant and health-promoting properties.

Resveratrol has three hydroxyl (−OH) groups, while pterostilbene has one −OH and two methoxy (–OCH3) groups. Red grapes and red wines are the main dietary sources of resveratrol. Dietary pterostilbene is found in greater quantities in blueberries, nuts, and grape foliage.

Resveratrol and pterostilbene display pharmacological properties, primarily in the areas of antioxidant activity, anti-aging benefits, and inflammatory balance. Pterostilbene possesses different pharmacological properties than resveratrol due to its two –OCH3 groups, which make it more lipophilic for stronger membrane permeability and biological potency.

Pterostilbene may outperform resveratrol in several key areas. It exhibits higher bioavailability, better oral absorption, and greater stability than resveratrol. Animal studies indicate that pterostilbene has approximately 80 percent bioavailability, while resveratrol's bioavailability is around 20%.

What Are Pterostilbene’s Benefits?

Pterostilbene is recognized for its potential health benefits, including the following:

Antioxidant properties

Pterostilbene presents antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, promoting the neutralization of free radicals for reduced oxidative stress, which can lead to cellular damage. It has potential for pharmacological use in relation to cognitive decline, weight management, and general well-being.

Inflammatory Balance

Research indicates that pterostilbene may be able to modulate pathways associated with inflammation, which could result in a more balanced inflammatory response in many individuals.

Cardiovascular support

Animal studies involving blueberries added to the diet show promising results for cardiovascular health. Pterostilbene may impart supportby regulating vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and vascular endothelial cells (VECs).

Considerations for Formulating Pterostilbene Supplements

There are plenty of capsule formulations on the market that contain pterostilbene. Sunergetic, Jarrow, and StemRX all market capsules with anti-aging claims. Jarrow also sells it as a “statin activator.” 

Double Wood markets a pterostilbene product for cognitive function, while Swanson focuses on cardiovascular health. NatureBell sells a 2-in-1 product containing both pterostilbene and trans-resveratrol. Yet, considering the typical formulation methods in use, these products may not truly unlock the full potential of pterostilbene. 

This is because the commercialization of pterostilbene is plagued by water solubility issues. The common solution is to use ethanol as a co-solvent, but this can lead to unwanted after-effects or regulatory issues for products that cannot be inebriated. A solution is needed to avoid the water solubility issue without using ethanol as an ingredient.  

But, consumers can’t just turn to blueberries to up their daily intake. The levels of pterostilbene found in many food sources may not be adequate to deliver the many documented health benefits. 

A water-soluble, bioavailable pterostilbene supplement containing the pure compound is needed. 

Pterostilbene Supplement Upgrade with Spokes Sciences

The global pterostilbene market size was USD 4 million in 2023 and is projected to touch USD 8.36 million by 2032 (an increase of over 100%).

A formulators’ primary goal is to ensure their products offer the highest possible level of bioavailability. This can only happen with water-dispersible forms of pterostilbene, such as Spoke Sciences’ IsoCaps RES100, now known as Ageless.

Spoke’s nanoemulsion technology allows pterostilbene to be readily incorporated into the water phase of any formulation for greater pterostilbene density in functional beverages and other products, as well as improved taste, thanks to the removal of ethanol from the formulation process. But that doesn’t mean it cannot be incorporated into beverages containing alcohol.  Anyone thirsty for a healthier wine cooler or hard seltzer?

Contact us to learn more.