Natural compound in blueberries and grapes may unlock fat-burning process in muscle cells

A natural compound found in blueberries and grapes may help muscle cells break down stored fat, new research suggests.

In laboratory experiments conducted in Japan, researchers found that the compound, called pterostilbene, reduced fat accumulation in cultured mouse muscle cells.

Pterostilbene is a naturally occurring antioxidant found in blueberries, grapes and other types of berries.

While previous research linked it to metabolic benefits, little was known about how it could affect skeletal muscle.

POPULAR SUMMER FRUIT HAS AN EDIBLE PART MOST PEOPLE THROW AWAY, USDA REVEALS 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.

Fat buildup can result from high-fat diets, inactivity and aging, according to a news 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.

SEAWEED-BASED COATING COULD KEEP STRAWBERRIES FRESH FOR DAYS WITHOUT REFRIGERATION, STUDY FINDS 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.

It appeared to preserve a protein, PPAR-delta, that helps regulate how cells process fat, according to the study.

The research also provides an "experimental framework" for identifying other natural compounds that protect PPAR-delta, Mitani added.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ 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.

Using a cell model "strips away the complexity of human metabolism," Johannah Katz, a registered dietitian from Florida, told Fox News Digital.