Loading Curie Briefs...
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
A natural compound found in blueberries and grapes could help muscle cells burn off excess stored fat. Japanese researchers found that pterostilbene reduces fat buildup in muscle cells by stabilizing a key protein involved in fat metabolism — without disrupting normal muscle growth. The findings could open new doors for dietary approaches to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and age-related metabolic decline.
Excess fat stored inside skeletal muscle — a condition called myosteatosis — is a growing metabolic health concern linked to high-fat diets, physical inactivity, and aging. It can impair how the body uses glucose and fatty acids, eventually contributing to insulin resistance. Researchers at Shinshu University in Japan have now identified pterostilbene, a natural polyphenol found in blueberries and grapes, as a promising dietary compound that may help muscle cells clear away this excess fat.
In lab experiments using cultured mouse muscle cells, pterostilbene outperformed other food-derived compounds in reducing intracellular fat accumulation — all while leaving normal muscle development intact. The compound worked not by blocking fat from entering cells, but by boosting fat breakdown and stabilizing PPARδ, a key protein that drives fatty acid oxidation. Crucially, it did this by slowing PPARδ's degradation rather than directly activating it — a novel mechanism.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: With no approved treatments specifically targeting muscle fat accumulation, these findings offer a scientific framework for developing functional foods or supplements aimed at metabolic health — potentially benefiting people at risk for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and age-related metabolic decline.
