Comparison
Pterostilbene vs Resveratrol: What Is the Difference?
Ad – we may earn a commission from links on this page. How we make money
We don't sell supplements; brands can't pay for placement; rankings use published testing and price per daily dose. How we rank
Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Commission never changes what we say. This is general information, not medical advice.
Pterostilbene and resveratrol are close chemical relatives, and sellers often describe pterostilbene as the better-absorbed one. This page explains what that rests on and what human trials show. For each in depth, see our pterostilbene guide and resveratrol guide, and for products see best resveratrol supplements.
Side by side
| Pterostilbene A close chemical relative of resveratrol | Resveratrol The better-known plant compound from red grape skins | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A polyphenol (plant chemical) and an analog of resveratrol, which means a very similar structure. | A plant polyphenol found in red grape skins that became famous after results in lab animals. |
| Absorption (animal data) | In rats, about 80% was bioavailable. Reviews of mostly lab data describe it as more stable in the body than resveratrol. | In the same rat study, about 20% was bioavailable. No human head-to-head comparison was found. |
| Human trials we found | Three small trials: 80 adults with raised cholesterol (6 to 8 weeks), 32 older adults taking it with NR, and a 30-man pilot (12 weeks). | Reviews of 30 and 10 trials, plus a 24-man trial of 1,500 mg a day for 4 weeks. |
| What those trials found | Blood pressure fell at the higher dose, LDL cholesterol rose with pterostilbene alone, and it did not improve muscle recovery when taken with NR. | Small improvements in some blood sugar markers in one review, no change in inflammation, cholesterol or blood pressure in another, and no metabolic benefit in the high-dose trial. |
| Evidence grade (our scale) | D: a handful of small, short human trials. | C: mixed, with little proof it does much for healthy aging in people. |
| Safety notes | LDL rose by about 17 mg/dL in one trial. Two other small trials reported it was safe or had no adverse events. | A 2020 review reports toxicity and side effects, limited long-term human data and little information on interactions. |
| Typical cost (our product data) | No pterostilbene-only product in our data. The only product containing it is a combination with NR (250 mg NR plus 50 mg pterostilbene), so we show no price per dose for pterostilbene. | From £0.044 to £0.504 (UK) or $0.100 to $0.475 (US) per 40 mg of trans-resveratrol, checked Nov 1 to 3, 2026. Capsule strengths range from 40 mg to 200 mg. |
| Who might prefer it | We found no evidence on who should choose it, so we make no claim. | Same: we found no evidence either way. |
Our verdict
We can't say which is better. The idea that pterostilbene is better absorbed comes from a rat study and reviews of mostly lab data, not from a head-to-head trial in people. The human trials of each are small or mixed, and the one pterostilbene trial that measured cholesterol saw LDL rise. Compare any product by the exact amount of each compound, the testing named and price per daily dose.
Where to buy
How they differ
Pterostilbene has a very similar structure to resveratrol. In a rat study, about 80% of pterostilbene was bioavailable compared with about 20% of resveratrol, meaning more reached the blood. Source: Kapetanovic IM et al., Cancer Chemother Pharmacol, 2011 (PubMed · DOI). A review of their metabolism also describes pterostilbene as more metabolically stable, based mostly on lab data. Source: Wang P et al., Biofactors, 2018 (PubMed · DOI).
Both sources are animal or lab data. We found no head-to-head human trial, and a higher blood level would not by itself show a health benefit.
What human trials show for each
Pterostilbene. In 80 adults with raised cholesterol (6 to 8 weeks), LDL cholesterol rose by 17.1 mg/dL with pterostilbene alone, and blood pressure fell at the higher dose. Source: Riche DM et al., Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2014 (PubMed · DOI). In 32 older adults, nicotinamide riboside plus pterostilbene was safe but did not improve recovery after muscle injury. Source: Jensen JB et al., JCI Insight, 2022 (PubMed · DOI).
Resveratrol. A review of 10 trials found no change in CRP (an inflammation marker), cholesterol, blood sugar or blood pressure; source: Sahebkar A et al., Int J Cardiol, 2015 (PubMed · DOI). In 24 obese men, 4 weeks at 1,500 mg a day did not improve insulin sensitivity, blood pressure or body fat; source: Poulsen MM et al., Diabetes, 2013 (PubMed · DOI).
The trials used different doses and people, so they can’t be lined up against each other.
Side effects
The LDL rise in the pterostilbene trial above is the main safety finding to know about. For resveratrol, a literature review reports toxicity and side effects, limited long-term human data and little information on interactions. Source: Shaito A et al., Int J Mol Sci, 2020 (PubMed · DOI). See each guide for who should check first.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start any supplement, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take prescription medicine, or have a health condition. Ask first if you have high cholesterol or take cholesterol or blood pressure medicine, because LDL rose and blood pressure fell in one pterostilbene trial.
FAQ
Pterostilbene vs resveratrol: which is better?
Nobody can say. Rat data suggest pterostilbene is better absorbed, but we found no head-to-head human trial. Each has only small or mixed human results.
Is pterostilbene better absorbed than resveratrol?
In rats, yes: about 80% against about 20%. We found no equivalent human comparison, so the result may not carry over to people.
Can you take pterostilbene and resveratrol together?
We found no trial testing the pairing, so we can’t say whether it adds anything. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.