Discover the potential of spermidine - the molecule that supports your health and vitality!

Greetings, Sys! My name is Martina and in this article, we will focus on a substance called spermidine. It is not yet very famous, but definitely deserves our attention! Its specific properties allow it to act on several different levels in the body and make it a gem that should not be missing in your “collection” of supplements. It can help protect your cells against oxidative stress and improve stress resistance, while at the same time it can harmonise hormone levels and kick off a “cleaning process” in your cells, thereby slowing the ageing process. However, there are many more beneficial effects of spermidine on the human body. Let’s have a look at what it can do. 🙂

First, a little introduction…

Spermidine is classified among polyamines, organic substances that our body can produce itself. Together with putrescine and spermine, spermidine forms part of a very strictly regulated polyamine metabolic pathway, derived from the amino acids arginine, ornithine, and methionine (1). To put it very simply, within this pathway, putrescine is converted to spermidine, which is in turn converted to spermine. Spermine and spermidine were discovered in human sperm and first isolated by the Dutch microbiologist van Leeuwenhoek. They are indispensable for reproduction, since they play a crucial role in spermatogenesis, oogenesis, embryogenesis, and, to a large extent, in parturition, lactation, and postnatal development (2). 

How can spermidine help you?

Even though polyamines are structurally small molecules, they are very important substances (3, 4). As they are positively charged, they can bind to negatively charged molecules in the body (DNA, RNA, lipids, and others), thus affecting a broad spectrum of physiological processes in all organisms (5). 

As per spermidine, there exists a whole range of processes that it modulates and affects in a specific way. It promotes tissue regeneration, stabilises DNA and RNA, modulates the activity of many enzymes, including the translation process (protein synthesis). It also shows significant cardioprotective effects (6), increases the metabolic function of mitochondria, and has antiinflammatory properties (3, 5). It prevents ageing of stem cells, thus affecting the overall ageing process (4, 5).

That is not all, however. We have saved the best for last…

One of the most important effects of spermidine is its ability to induce autophagy (7). This is a process of cellular recycling and detoxification that allows cells to dispose of unnecessary or damaged molecules, or repair and reuse them. This basically means a cleaning and restoration process within cells, which keeps them in good shape, rejuvenates them, and extends their life cycle. In this way, spermidine significantly contributes to maintaining the health of cells and tissues, slows down ageing, promotes longevity, and helps reduce the risk of developing degenerative and chronic diseases. One of the mechanisms it uses to stimulate autophagy is the inhibition of activity of several acetyl transferases (7), including the main autophagy inhibitor EP300 (3, 8).

“Spermidine can therefore be viewed as a natural rejuvenating elixir that helps us in the fight against ageing.”

Thanks to its antioxidant effects it can neutralise free radicals that can damage cells and cause inflammation. Thus it helps protect the body against oxidative stress which can lead to the development of inflammatory processes that are associated with various chronic diseases (4). In addition, it is being shown that the antioxidant activity of polyamines is even stronger than that of some antioxidant vitamins (9). 

Last but not least, we must mention its effect on hormonal imbalance and fertility in both men and women. Some studies show that spermidine can affect the production and metabolism of hormones. In women, it can raise the levels of estradiol and progesterone, improve the oestrogen to progesterone ratio, and significantly reduce the symptoms associated with hormonal fluctuation (irritability, mood swings, tiredness) (9). Moreover, spermidine also increases our resistance to stress (1) and has beneficial effects on cortisol levels - a stress hormone whose increased levels can have negative effects on fertility and lead to the onset of a number of pathologies (9). At the same time, its antioxidative effects can help protect eggs (oocytes) against oxidative damage and ageing (10). 

How can you support your spermidine levels?

• First and foremost through diet and the gut microbiome

 In addition to the process of synthesis in which our body produces its own spermidine, we can also get it from food. Certain foods, such as wheat sprouts, natto (fermented soybeans), mature cheeses, shiitake mushrooms, amaranth grain, durian, cauliflower, broccoli, or green tea, contain a lot of it. It turns out that the Mediterranean diet is abundant in spermidine, which might be one of the reasons why it is so beneficial to human health (11).

Just to give you an idea, the average daily spermidine intake from food in European countries is about 10-15 mg. However, spermidine is also produced by the commensal bacteria in our intestines (the gut bacteria that live in harmony with their host), where it can be reabsorbed by the intestinal epithelial cells and distributed by blood to its target site (1, 5, 6). Thus it turns out that the gut microbiome can regulate the concentration of this polyamine in the human body. The synthesis of spermidine in the intestine can be supported by an increased consumption of foods rich in arginine (an essential amino acid from which spermidine is derived) which acts as a prebiotic here (3).

Unfortunately, the levels of polyamines, i.e. spermidine, among others, decrease with age (1). It is evident that a diet rich in spermidine significantly promotes longevity (12), and it is therefore convenient from a certain age (35+) to start focusing on maintaining the levels of this polyamine, ideally from food sources.

• Supplementation, another way of increasing spermidine levels

The good news is that you can also increase your spermidine levels through supplementation. That is why we have selected Spermidine CellImmun® for you. In addition to spermidine extracted from soybeans, it also contains zinc and astaxanthin isolated from algae. This powerful combo will support not only the youthfulness of your cells, but also your immune system. Astaxanthin is a strong antioxidant and, together with spermidine, helps protect your cells against oxidative stress. Since spermidine is a substance that naturally occurs in the body and forms part of our diet, its supplementation is safe. Toxicity and a hypothetical disruption of the cellular homeostasis could occur in the case of “overdose” if we reached supraphysiological concentration (3).

What about dosage?

According to the most recent study (13), supplementing 15 mg of spermidine per day over a period of 5 days did not affect the levels of spermidine or putrescine, but significantly increased plasma spermine levels. These findings suggest that spermidine is converted to spermine which is then found in the bloodstream. We can therefore assume that its metabolite, spermine, is responsible for a number of the health benefits of spermidine - at least partially. Doses exceeding 15 mg/day did not have any effects. For maintaining optimal spermidine levels, it is therefore advisable to take spermidine in smaller doses. 

So, what do you think? Is it worth a try?

I think it most definitely is! Try it with me and share the effects of spermidine on your body with us!

Martina Parisova

Bibliography:

1. Polyamines in aging and disease, DOI: 10.18632/aging.100361
2. Polyamines on the Reproductive Landscape. https://doi.org/10.1210/er.2011-0012
3. Spermidine: a physiological autophagy inducer acting as an anti-aging vitamin in humans? DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2018.1530929 
4. Spermidine in health and disease. DOI: 10.1126/science.aan2788
5. Molecular Basis of the ‘Anti-Aging' Effect of Spermidine and Other Natural Polyamines - A Mini-Review. https://doi.org/10.1159/000356748
6. Cardioprotection and lifespan extension by the natural polyamine spermidine. DOI: 10.1038/nm.4222
7. Induction of autophagy by spermidine promotes longevity. DOI: 10.1038/ncb1975
8. Spermidine induces autophagy by inhibiting the acetyltransferase EP300. DOI: 10.1038/cdd.2014.215 
9. The Regulatory Effect of Biogenic Polyamines Spermine and Spermidine in Men and Women. DOI: 10.4236/ojemd.2019.93004
10. Exploration of the Antioxidant Effect of Spermidine on the Ovary and Screening and Identification of Differentially Expressed Proteins. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24065793
11. Dietary polyamines in Mediterranean diet and their health benefits. DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/NDS.S116151
12. Higher spermidine intake is linked to lower mortality: a prospective population-based study. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqy102
13. High-Dose Spermidine Supplementation Does Not Increase Spermidine Levels in Blood Plasma and Saliva of Healthy Adults: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Pharmacokinetic and Metabolomic Study. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15081852