SPERMIDINE: HOW THE NATURAL SUBSTANCE SUPPORTS OUR BODY CELLS
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Table of contents
- What is spermidine?
- Spermidine: this is the effect
- What research says about spermidine
- Where is spermidine found?
1. WHAT IS SPERMIDINE? A PORTRAIT OF THE MICRONUTRIENT
Spermidine is a natural substance that is chemically classified as a biogenic polyamine. It is contained in all human body cells, but is also found in various foods. The body itself produces the polyamine with the help of various intestinal bacteria, for example. However, it cannot cover the entire requirement in this way - we should therefore also regularly consume the substance through our diet. One alternative is to buy spermidine as a dietary supplement. Incidentally, the name "spermidine" actually refers to the original place where the substance was first found - namely the seminal fluid.
2. SPERMIDINE: THIS IS THE EFFECT
The vital substance is involved in many relevant processes in the human body. The messenger substance is fundamentally important for cell growth and healthy cell functions, such as cell division. For example, it significantly supports autophagy - important cleansing processes within the cells. Damaged cell material is removed and/or repaired and potentially harmful material is disposed of. If the self-cleaning process is disrupted, for example due to an incorrect diet, old and harmful cell components can accumulate in the body, become toxic and lead to many different diseases.
In 2016, the Japanese scientist Yoshinori Ohsumi was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work demonstrating how important autophagy is for the body. Since then, this process has increasingly become the focus of research and new therapeutic approaches are being developed.
Autophagy is the basis for a fit and resilient body. A spermidine-rich diet can support the body in cell cleansing and cell renewal.
Spermidine: a new miracle cure?
It could hardly be said more discreetly: spermidine is now regarded as a real miracle cure - at least if you believe the many assumptions and claims that say the substance has amazing effects within the human body. The older a person gets, the less spermidine their cells contain and the vitality of the cells decreases. Accordingly, it is now assumed that the polyamine can help to stop natural cell ageing. One possible consequence of these delayed ageing processes: Typical age-related diseases, including Alzheimer's, dementia and Parkinson's as well as many cardiovascular diseases, could possibly be prevented in this way.
In 2016, the Japanese scientist Yoshinori Ohsumi was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work demonstrating how important autophagy is for the body. Since then, this process has increasingly become the focus of research and new therapeutic approaches are being developed.
Autophagy is the basis for a fit and resilient body. A spermidine-rich diet can support the body in cell cleansing and cell renewal.
Spermidine: a new miracle cure?
It could hardly be said more discreetly: spermidine is now regarded as a real miracle cure - at least if you believe the many assumptions and claims that say the substance has amazing effects within the human body. The older a person gets, the less spermidine their cells contain and the vitality of the cells decreases. Accordingly, it is now assumed that the polyamine can help to stop natural cell ageing. One possible consequence of these delayed ageing processes: Typical age-related diseases, including Alzheimer's, dementia and Parkinson's as well as many cardiovascular diseases, could possibly be prevented in this way.
3. WHAT RESEARCH SAYS ABOUT SPERMIDINE
To put it briefly: according to current knowledge, many of the health claims made about spermidine are not yet tenable. For example, according to some studies, the messenger substance is said to have a positive effect on life expectancy. It is also possible that the longer life expectancy of people who eat a spermidine-rich diet could also be due to a healthy diet in general. However, the fact that the substance can stimulate cellular autophagy in the body is certainly promising for medical research.
A study by the Charité hospital in Berlin has produced promising results in the fight against diseases such as dementia: based on the assumption that spermidine can have a positive effect on the function of nerve cells and mental abilities, the participants were regularly given additional spermidine in capsule form. The preliminary study showed a tendency towards improvements in the participants' memory performance - possibly an approach for future dementia therapy (Flöel, 2017)1.
A study by the Charité hospital in Berlin has produced promising results in the fight against diseases such as dementia: based on the assumption that spermidine can have a positive effect on the function of nerve cells and mental abilities, the participants were regularly given additional spermidine in capsule form. The preliminary study showed a tendency towards improvements in the participants' memory performance - possibly an approach for future dementia therapy (Flöel, 2017)1.
4. WHERE IS SPERMIDINE CONTAINED?
Spermidine is important for the human organism. As the body only produces about a third of what it needs, it is advisable to take additional supplements. In addition to practical food supplements, various foods are also recommended as a source. These foods contain particularly large amounts:
- Wheat germ
- Pulses, such as soybeans, peas, lentils or chickpeas
- Mature cheese, for example parmesan or cheddar
- Mushrooms
- Pumpkin seeds
- Chicken liver
- Minced beef
- Fruit such as melon or mango
- Vegetables such as celery, corn, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce or spinach
- hazelnuts
- wholemeal bread
Spermidine is generally considered to be very well tolerated - no wonder, since it is an endogenous substance. A corresponding study found no problems when taking 1.2 mg spermidine per day. (Consumer advice center, 2020). Incidentally, it is not only foods rich in spermidine or the intake of appropriate dietary supplements that can cover the requirement - a healthy lifestyle can also help: For example, the amount of the nutrient in the body can be increased through exercise or fasting or a significant reduction in calorie intake. (As of December 2021)
Sources:
1Flöel, Agnes et al. (29.3.2017): Polyamine-enriched Diet in Elderly Individuals With Subjective Cognitive Decline (SmartAge).https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03094546(retrieved 9.12.2020)
Smollich, Martin (2020): Charité study: With spermidine against COVID-19.https://www.ernaehrungsmedizin.blog/2020/04/23/charite-studie-mit-spermidin-gegen-covid-19/(retrieved 9.12.2020)
- Wheat germ
- Pulses, such as soybeans, peas, lentils or chickpeas
- Mature cheese, for example parmesan or cheddar
- Mushrooms
- Pumpkin seeds
- Chicken liver
- Minced beef
- Fruit such as melon or mango
- Vegetables such as celery, corn, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce or spinach
- hazelnuts
- wholemeal bread
Spermidine is generally considered to be very well tolerated - no wonder, since it is an endogenous substance. A corresponding study found no problems when taking 1.2 mg spermidine per day. (Consumer advice center, 2020). Incidentally, it is not only foods rich in spermidine or the intake of appropriate dietary supplements that can cover the requirement - a healthy lifestyle can also help: For example, the amount of the nutrient in the body can be increased through exercise or fasting or a significant reduction in calorie intake. (As of December 2021)
Sources:
1Flöel, Agnes et al. (29.3.2017): Polyamine-enriched Diet in Elderly Individuals With Subjective Cognitive Decline (SmartAge).https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03094546(retrieved 9.12.2020)
Smollich, Martin (2020): Charité study: With spermidine against COVID-19.https://www.ernaehrungsmedizin.blog/2020/04/23/charite-studie-mit-spermidin-gegen-covid-19/(retrieved 9.12.2020)