Researchers in Japan discovered that pterostilbene, a compound found in blueberries and grapes, reduces abnormal fat buildup in mouse muscle cells by promoting fat breakdown within the cells. Published on September 1 in Food Bioscience, this study suggests potential benefits against metabolic issues like insulin resistance. The lead researcher, Takakazu Mitani from Shinshu University, emphasized that future human studies are necessary to confirm these effects. Johannah Katz, a registered dietitian, noted that while the findings provide insight into fat metabolism, they do not definitively prove that consuming blueberries or taking pterostilbene supplements will reduce muscle fat in humans.
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Story summary
Researchers from Shinshu University in Japan discovered that pterostilbene, a natural compound found in blueberries and grapes, may help muscle cells break down stored fat. Published on September 1, 2023, in the journal *Food Bioscience*, their study involved laboratory experiments with mouse muscle cells, showing that pterostilbene reduced abnormal fat buildup by promoting the breakdown of existing fat stores within cells. This compound is an antioxidant linked to metabolic benefits but had not been extensively studied for its effects on skeletal muscle before this research. Excessive fat in muscle cells can interfere with glucose and fatty acid usage and contribute to insulin resistance, making pterostilbene a promising candidate for developing new functional foods and nutritional supplements targeting muscle fat metabolism.
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A natural compound found in blueberries and grapes may help muscle cells break down stored fat, new research suggests.
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research → find → fat
In laboratory experiments conducted in Japan, researchers found that the compound, called pterostilbene, reduced fat accumulation in cultured mouse muscle cells.
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compound → conduct → cells
Pterostilbene is a naturally occurring antioxidant found in blueberries, grapes and other types of berries.
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Pterostilbene → occur → berries
While previous research linked it to metabolic benefits, little was known about how it could affect skeletal muscle.
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it → link → muscle
The new findings, published Sept. 1 in the journal Food Bioscience, suggest that pterostilbene reduced abnormal fat buildup by encouraging cells to break down fat already stored in the cells.
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pterostilbene → publish → cells
Fat buildup can result from high-fat diets, inactivity and aging, according to a news release.
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buildup → result → release
Too much fat inside muscle cells can interfere with how the body uses glucose and fatty acids and may contribute to insulin resistance.
"Our findings establish a scientific framework for developing functional foods and nutritional supplements that target muscle fat metabolism," lead researcher Takakazu Mitani, an associate professor at Shinshu University, said in a statement.
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Mitani → interfere → statement
The team screened several food-derived compounds in the cells and found that pterostilbene caused the strongest reduction in fat accumulation without disrupting muscle growth.
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pterostilbene → screen → growth
It appeared to preserve a protein, PPAR-delta, that helps regulate how cells process fat, according to the study.
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cells → appear → study
The research also provides an "experimental framework" for identifying other natural compounds that protect PPAR-delta, Mitani added.
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Mitani → provide → delta
While the findings provide a starting point for studying dietary approaches that could one day help address obesity, type 2 diabetes and age-related metabolic decline, future studies in humans and animals are needed to determine whether the effect translates beyond lab-grown cells.
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effect → provide → cells
Using a cell model "strips away the complexity of human metabolism," Johannah Katz, a registered dietitian from Florida, told Fox News Digital.
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Katz → use → Digital
"In people, pterostilbene has to be digested, absorbed, metabolized, circulated and actually reach muscle tissue at an effective dose," she said.
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she → have → dose
"We also can't assume mouse muscle cells will respond exactly like human muscle.
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cells → assume → muscle
While the study identified a potential mechanism that may help explain reduced fat accumulation in cells, that is different from showing that eating blueberries or taking pterostilbene supplements directly leads to fat loss, Katz added.
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Katz → identify → loss
"Blueberries and grapes are nutritious foods for many reasons, but this study alone doesn't show that eating more of them will reduce fat buildup in human muscle," she said.
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she → show → muscle
Fox News Digital reached out to the study authors for comment.
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Digital → reach → comment
