Pterostilbene on metabolic parameters: a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
PubMed 25057276 · doi:10.1155/2014/459165
What was done
Eighty adults with total cholesterol 200 mg/dL or higher and/or LDL 100 mg/dL or higher were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Participants were randomized to four groups for 6 to 8 weeks: pterostilbene 125 mg twice daily, pterostilbene 50 mg twice daily, pterostilbene 50 mg plus grape extract 100 mg twice daily, or matching placebo twice daily. Endpoints were changes in lipids, blood pressure, and weight, analyzed via linear mixed models adjusted for age, gender, and race.
What was found
Pterostilbene monotherapy increased LDL cholesterol by 17.1 mg/dL (P = 0.001), an effect not observed when combined with grape extract (P = 0.47) and attenuated by baseline cholesterol medication. High-dose pterostilbene significantly lowered systolic blood pressure by 7.8 mmHg (P < 0.01) and diastolic blood pressure by 7.3 mmHg (P < 0.001). Among participants not taking cholesterol medications (n = 51), pterostilbene was associated with a minor reduction in weight/BMI metric (-0.62 kg/m2; P = 0.012).
Why it matters
This study provides clinical trial evidence that pterostilbene can meaningfully lower blood pressure, but raises a safety signal regarding significant elevations in LDL cholesterol.
Limits
The total sample size was small (80 participants across four arms) and follow-up was limited to 6 to 8 weeks. Long-term cardiovascular outcomes and the mechanism underlying the LDL elevation were not assessed.
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