Pterostilbene shows diabetic support in mouse study

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Small administrations of pterostilbene and resveratrol were deemed useful in protecting mice from diabetic health problems, according to results of a recent study._¹ The data adds to a growing amount of research on the two ingredients and diabetes.

To assess the influence of the two compounds on diabetes sufferers, Turkish researchers induced mice with diabetes via the drug streptozotocin and then gave them varying oral doses of pterostilbene, resveratrol, a combination of both, or neither. A control group ate normal feed and was not induced with diabetes.

Reviewing a variety of health factors, the researchers saw improvements in body weight, insulin levels, and skeletal muscle structure when mice consumed either compound. Body weight and insulin are largely known to be health factors affected by diabetes, but skeletal muscle effects are less talked about outside of the scientific community, the researchers said. The researchers note that muscular atrophy and decreased muscle efficiency commonly occur with diabetes in animals and humans, and the effects can be “irreversible.”

In some cases, health parameters returned to almost normal levels with the use of pterostilbene, resveratrol, or the combination.

The researchers also compared the efficacy of each ingredient. They were motivated by a previous finding that pterostilbene is more bioavailable than resveratrol.

Researchers in the current study found that pterostilbene was more effective than resveratrol in managing almost all of the health endpoints that were measured in this latest study. Interestingly, pterostilbene was deemed most effective at a low dose of 10 mg/kg body weight. The finding is in line with previous scientific reports that both pterostilbene and resveratrol may become pro-oxidants at high doses.

While the results of this study are positive for natural products companies that work with these ingredients, future research is needed to support the latest findings. If continuously proven to be beneficial, the researchers note that “…these antioxidant treatments might have good therapeutic nutraceutical potential for some muscle diseases that coexist with diabetes.”

A variety of pterostilbene ingredients are available in today’s marketplace. They include natural extracts sourced from berries and other plants, as well as nature-identical forms. The pterostilbene used in this study was a natural pterostilbene extract sourced from the heartwood and bark of the Indian kino tree (Pterocarpus marsupium). The ingredient is called Silbinol and is manufactured by Sabinsa Corp. (East Windsor, NJ). Silbinol is available in a variety of strengths and backed by much of Sabinsa’s own clinical and preclinical research.

References:

1. Tastekin B et al. “Therapeutic potential of pterostilbene and resveratrol on biomechanic, biochemical, and histological parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rates.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Published online May 16, 2018.