Compound in blueberries may help muscles burn fat, study finds

( NewsNation ) — A natural compound found in blueberries, grapes and other berries could help muscles burn excess fat instead of storing it

Researchers in Japan identified the compound, called pterostilbene, and found that it reduced fat buildup by increasing the breakdown of stored fat in laboratory tests using mouse muscle cells.

Pterostilbene works by protecting PPARδ, or PPAR-delta, a protein that helps cells burn fatty acids for energy. By preventing PPARδ from breaking down, the compound boosts the activity of genes involved in converting fat into energy.

“Our findings establish a scientific framework for developing functional foods and nutritional supplements that target muscle fat metabolism,” Associate Professor Takakazu Mitani said in a release from Shinshu University .

Researchers said the findings could help guide the development of foods, supplements and treatments aimed at reducing fat accumulation in muscle tissue.

Excess fat inside muscle cells can interfere with how the body processes glucose and fatty acids, a problem linked to obesity, insulin resistance , Type 2 diabetes and aging.

So far, the research has only been conducted on lab-grown mouse muscle cells.

Scientists have not yet studied the effects in humans or other animals with more complex metabolisms, so it remains unclear whether the compound will produce similar results outside the laboratory.

The findings were published earlier this month in the journal Food Bioscience .