Spermidine: where to find & how it helps in antiaging, longevity and diseases!

Healthy aging is perhaps everyone’s greatest wish! “Health over all” people say and it is no coincidence that this saying has been established over the years in our culture.

Many diseases that occur with age, e.g. cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer’s), autoimmune, etc. are of great concern to experts, resulting in the search for new ways that can help!

What is spermidine?

In recent years, attention has been drawn to spermidine, a polyamine, which plays an important role in the function and survival of cells. Ηowever, its concentration decreases in cells over the years.[1]

In general, polyamines appear to function similarly to growth factors in cell division. For this reason, spermidine – as a polyamine – is important for healthy tissue growth and function! [2]

More specifically, spermidine is characterized by anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidant activity and enhancing the metabolism of mitochondria (the energy factories of cells). Fuerthermore, its antiaging action is linked to its ability to promote cytoprotective autophagy! [1]

What is autophagy?

Autophagy is an important cellular mechanism that breaks down damaged or defective mitochondria and removes waste products – it actually does cellular recycling!

This way, we have degradation of potentially toxic and harmful organelles, which would otherwise accumulate with aging and burden the organism!

Spermidine therefore has the ability to enhance autophagy, thus delaying diseases related to aging [3]!

Spermidine: where is it found?

The most basic foods with spermidine are [2]:

• wheat germ, whole grains
• aged cheese
• soy products
• legumes (eg chickpeas)
• mushrooms (e.g. shiitake)
• chicken liver
• red wine
• rice bran
• amaranth
• grapefruit, orange
• broccoli, cauliflower
• green tea
• green peppers

It is no coincidence that many foods with spermidine characterize the Mediterranean diet, which most likely explains the existence of the blue zones – the areas i.e. those that stand out for the longevity of their inhabitants!

In addition, spermidine can also be produced by the gut microflora by taking the right probiotics! [2] Nowadays, dietary supplements with spermidine are also available, making it easier to take it in the desired amount.

Spermidine: benefits

As mentioned above, spermidine plays a role in autophagy, the increase of which, according to research, seems to contribute to the delay of many diseases associated with aging.

Antiaging and longevity

Initial research was done in organisms such as yeast, flies and mice, in which spermidine was shown to extend lifespan! [4]

Recent epidemiological studies in humans suggest that when one consumes foods rich in spermidine, overall mortality related to cardiovascular and degenerative diseases is reduced. [4]

A sensational 15-year study involving 829 people aged 45-84, who were divided into groups based on dietary spermidine intake.

The difference in mortality risk between the groups consuming the most and least spermidine was similar with people 5.7 years younger! [5]

Cardioprotective action

Important is the protective effect of spermidine on the heart, through the enhancement of autophagy. High dietary intake of spermidine is associated with a reduction in [6,7]:

• arterial pressure
• risk of cardiovascular disease
• risk of death from cardiovascular disease
• cardiac hypertrophy
• progression of heart failure

Brain function & Neurodegenerative diseases

Nowadays, the prevalence of dementia worldwide is estimated at 36.5 million people, a number that is expected to reach 115 million by 2050! This creates the need both for early diagnosis and for therapeutic approaches that relieve or even reverse the disease!

According to studies, spermidine has the ability to trigger the breakdown of beta-amyloid plaques – these are toxic plaques that form in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients! [8]

In addition, dietary intervention with spermidine was shown to be able to prevent memory loss in aged organisms. [8]

In fact, in a double-blind study involving 85 people aged 60-96 years who received a spermidine supplement, an improvement in cognitive function was observed in people with mild and moderate dementia, in the group receiving the highest dose.[8]

In contrast, the group with the lowest spermidine intake had stable or declining cognitive performance. The participants went through 7 specialized tests of cognitive function [8].

In general, spermidine appears to improve symptoms in other neurodegenerative diseases as well. In addition to Alzheimer’s, its effect has also been studied in organisms with Parkinson’s, where neuron rescue and improvement of motor dysfunction are observed. [9]

The above is likely to be related to protection from oxidative stress, as well as DNA repair, due to the action of spermidine![9] However, more research is needed in this direction.

Anti-inflammatory action

Spermidine appears to suppress inflammation, which is linked to a multitude of diseases, including obesity. Chronic inflammation prevents the regeneration of new tissues, “blocks” the immune system and accelerates cellular aging.[2] Spermidine, according to studies, helps reduce this chronic inflammation. [2]

Spermidine: fasting mimic

The caloric restriction that characterizes fasting has been shown by many studies to maximize health benefits and extend lifespan [2]. However, there are few who can and know how to fast properly.

Spermidine has been shown to mimic many of the mechanisms of fasting, such as autophagy and protein deacetylation [2]

Its role in obesity

According to several studies (in animal models), the protective role of spermidine against diet-induced obesity has been demonstrated.[10]

More specifically, spermidine supplementation reduced fat mass and regulated lipid metabolism and thermogenesis. At the same time, the function of the intestinal barrier was strengthened, while the inflammation in the adipose tissue was reduced![11]

Spermidine: side effects

Many will wonder if spermidine is safe or has any side effects. Since it is naturally present in food and in our body (found in semen), it is considered safe and well tolerated.

According to the studies so far, no side effects have been observed. The same applies to dietary supplements with spermidine. [2]

In general, the mechanism by which spermidine has this broad effect on health has not been fully elucidated. Based on the data so far, it has the ability to slow down the aging clock, affecting all diseases related to aging![3]

At Vita4you.gr you will find food supplements with spermidine!

Sources

1. Spermidine in health and disease
2. What is Spermidine? A Summary of Spermidine
3. Spermidine delays aging in humans
4. Spermidine: a physiological autophagy inducer acting as an anti-aging vitamin in humans?
5. Higher spermidine intake is linked to lower mortality: a prospective population-based study
6. Dietary spermidine for lowering high blood pressure
7. Cardioprotection and lifespan extension by the natural polyamine spermidine
8. The positive effect of spermidine in older adults suffering from dementia
9. Spermidine inhibits neurodegeneration and delays aging via the PINK1-PDR1-dependent mitophagy pathway in C. elegans
10. The metabolic role of spermidine in obesity: Evidence from cells to community
11. Spermidine ameliorates high-fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis and adipose tissue inflammation in preexisting obese mice