What is spermidine? First things first: everyone is talking about it, but it's nothing naughty! Even though the active ingredient is found in high concentrations in seminal fluids, it can also be found in food and other products. Spermidine is currently particularly popular as an anti-ageing agent, which is why more and more people are interested in the active ingredient and why more and more scientists are studying it.
In this article you will find out everything you need to know about spermidine - from the definition, effects and corresponding studies to the products that contain the active ingredient.
What is spermidine?
Spermidine (or monoaminopropylputrescine) is a component of all living organisms and is crucial for cell growth. Over the course of our lives, the spermidine content in our body cells gradually decreases. This is another reason why we age. However, spermidine is one of the few substances that stimulate autophagy - the self-cleaning process of the cells in the body. This means that our body cells basically rejuvenate themselves thanks to the active ingredient.₁
Health effects and applications of spermidine
In the meantime, many research groups have investigated the effect of spermidine in our body. Several (long-term) studies have given the active ingredient a Life-prolonging effect certified. The connection with the body's own processes was repeatedly established, in which our body separates itself from components that are no longer needed, which are then recycled and stimulate the metabolism of the respective cell. As already mentioned, this is a process called autophagy - which also takes place in a very similar way in the body of animals.
Spermidine acts in the following Application areas:
- Diabetes type 2
- Liver Cancer & Cirrhosis
- Cardiovascular system
- Weight loss
- Anti-aging effect
- Dementia
- …
So far, there are no known side effects. On the contrary: as coronaviruses, for example, inhibit the cell cleansing promoted by spermidine, a higher intake of the active ingredient can even help to prevent viruses from spreading as quickly.₂
Tip: I have given you under Corona - Conclusions for the future wrote an article about what we should all learn from this virus.
Spermidine studies
If you want to know more about the scientific research and background, these studies on the active ingredient spermidine will help you:
- Spermidine in health and disease, F. Madeo, T. Eisenberg, F. Pietrocola, G. Kroemer, January 26, 2018.
- Higher spermidine intake is linked to lower mortality: Prospective population-based study, S. Kiechl, R. Pechlaner, P. Willeit, et al, June 28, 2018.
- Cardioprotection and lifespan extension by the natural polyamine spermidine, T. Eisenberg, M. Abdellatif, F. Madeo, November 14, 2016.
- Polyamines in foods: development of a food database., M. A. Ali, Karolinska Institutet, January 14, 2011.
- Analysis of SARS-CoV-2-controlled autophagy reveals spermidine, MK-2206, and niclosamide as putative antiviral therapeutics., C. Drosten, N. C. Gassen, Jan Papies, et al, April 2020.
Do you know of any other meaningful studies on the active ingredient spermidine? Then feel free to write me a comment.
Products with spermidine
Now we know a lot about the substance itself and how it works in our body. But how can we absorb spermidine? The answer is: mainly through our food! Here I'll give you a suitable list and also show you what other alternatives are available to you.
Food with spermidine
On average, we humans take about 7 to 15 mg spermidine per day through our diet. If you eat more of it, you can keep the spermidine content in your own body cells at a high level even during the ageing process.₃ The active ingredient is mainly hidden in wholegrain products and products based on wheat germ. But you can also find it in cheese, pulses, mushrooms and soy products. As promised at the beginning of this article, you can find a detailed list of foods with spermidine₄ here:
- Wheat germ (raw, 243 mg/kg)
- Soybeans (207 mg/kg (Japan) and 128 mg/kg (Germany))
- Cheddar cheese (raw, 199 mg/kg)
- Pumpkin seeds (104 mg/kg)
- Mushrooms (89 mg/kg)
- Rice bran (50 mg/kg)
- Peas (46 mg/kg)
- Mango (raw, 30 mg/kg)
- Chickpeas (29 mg/kg, see also Chickpeas healthy)
- Cauliflower (25 mg/kg)
- Broccoli (25 mg/kg)
- …
The list is almost endless. But also through industrially processed products, such as for example this wheat germ oil*, you can supply your body with spermidine.
Can you think of any other products with spermidine? Then write me, as always, happy to comment below the post.
Spermidine capsules
As already announced, there is another way to absorb spermidine: as a Food supplements in capsule form. Due to its rejuvenating effect, the demand for the active ingredient spermidine has increased dramatically over the years. Accordingly, there are also some black sheep on the market. With spermidin-plus.com but there is definitely a very trustworthy supplier of spermidine capsules that I can recommend to you.
Spermidine - The anti-aging active ingredient of the future?
According to science, spermidine is definitely beneficial for the autophagy process in our body. This means that we age more slowly. Spermidine therefore acts like a fountain of youth for our body - and should be a conscious part of our diet.
What do you think of the active ingredient? And have you already had experience with the capsules? Then please write me a comment.
Stay healthy,
PS.: Health is the most important thing in life. Besides spermidine can also be the Regular time spent in nature help you stay fit and healthy for as long as possible. You can find out why in the linked article.
References:
₁ N. Horchler (2018): Not only in sperm: Spermidine keeps you young, say researchers, available at https://kurier.at/leben/nicht-nur-im-sperma-spermidin-haelt-jung-sagen-forscher/400060289. [14.05.2020].
₂ A. Flöel (2020): Spermidine - New hope for corona?, available at https://www.apotheken-umschau.de/Coronavirus/Spermidin-Neuer-Hoffnungstraeger-bei-Corona-558501.html. [14.05.2020].
₃ J. Wild (2019): Eternally young thanks to spermidine?, available at https://www.netdoktor.at/magazin/spermidin-7597351. [14.05.2020].
₄ R. Strömberg, A. Yngve, E. Poortvliet; et al. (2011): Polyamines in foods - development of a food database, available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21249159?dopt=Abstract. [14.05.2020].
