Pterostilbene in blueberries may help muscles burn fat

Researchers at Shinshu University in Japan have identified a natural compound that may help muscle cells break down accumulated fat. The study, published in the journal Food Bioscience, focuses on pterostilbene, a polyphenol found in blueberries and grapes.

Led by lecturer Takakazu Mitani, the research addressed myosteatosis, a condition where excess fat accumulates in skeletal muscle, leading to insulin resistance and reduced metabolic flexibility. Testing on mouse muscle cells (C2C12) demonstrated that pterostilbene does not block fatty acids from entering cells; instead, it stimulates the breakdown of stored fats and the release of glycerol.

By stabilizing a key protein responsible for fatty acid oxidation, pterostilbene increases the availability of this protein within the cell, thereby enhancing the activity of genes involved in fat burning.