Spermidine is a “polyamine” compound originally isolated in sperm but is now sourced from wheat germ, lentils, soybeans, and other vegetables. It is also found in certain cheeses and meat sources, including chicken liver.
Like berberine, spermidine is considered a “longevity agent” due to several mechanisms. These include activation of AMPK and autophagy, anti-inflammatory effects, and healthy lipid metabolism. Spermidine also regulates cell growth and proliferation.
Spermidine helps diminish diet-induced obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and inflammatory bowel disease in mice. The mechanism appears to be associated with the activation of autophagy and the modulation of the gut microbiome. It holds promise in ameliorating aging-related diseases in humans by helping to reduce body weight, improve glucose tolerance, enhance insulin sensitivity, and decrease serum lipid levels.
Autophagy is one of the most important processes during the progression of aging-related and metabolic diseases. Spermidine activates autophagy in several tissues in the body, including the liver and colon, thereby protecting the intestinal barrier and promoting a healthy gut microbiome. All of these actions support healthy longevity.
Spermidine has positive health effects similar to caloric restriction, which has been shown promote health and longevity in a variety of organisms, including rodents and nonhuman primates.
For this reason, it is known as a caloric restriction mimetic, or CRM. It also targets a variety of molecular, age-related processes. These include inflammation, oxidative cellular damage, and dysfunction of mitochondria, which are the energy-producing machines inside our calls.
Many of the anti-aging effects of spermidine are related to stimulation of autophagy, the degradation of damaged, potentially toxin producing cells that would otherwise accumulate during aging. Since spermidine decreases in the body as we age, it may be recommended as a pro-longevity supplement.
In laboratory animals, spermidine reduces age-related memory loss, protects against neuron damage in a multiple sclerosis model, and counter-acts age-related cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cancer.
Spermidine has an excellent safety profile – it is without known, significant side effects.
Note: Although I am a physician, the content in this article is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent illness or disease in the reader – it is for educational purposes only.
References
- Ni Y, Zheng L, Zhang L, et al. Spermidine activates adipose tissue thermogenesis through autophagy and fibroblast growth factor 21. J Nutr Biochem 2024, 109569.
- Madeo F, Eisenberg T, Pietrocola F, Kroemer G. Spermidine in health and disease. Science 2018, 359 (6374).
- Soda K, Dobashi Y, Kano Y, et al. Polyamine-rich food decreases age-associated pathologyand mortality in aged mice. Exp. Gerontol 2009;44:727–732
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