Spermidine
The natural polyamine that induces autophagy and extends lifespan in animal models
Definition
Spermidine is a natural polyamine present in all living cells and abundant in foods such as wheat germ, fermented soy (natto), aged cheese, mushrooms, and seeds. It is one of the few compounds shown to extend lifespan in yeast, worms, flies, and mice, mainly by activating autophagy — the cellular quality-control mechanism described by Yoshinori Ohsumi. Its endogenous production declines with age, and supplementation is an active longevity strategy.
Detailed explanation
Frank Madeo (University of Graz) has led modern research. The Bruneck observational study (Italy, n=829, 20-year follow-up) published in Nature Medicine (2018) showed a robust inverse association between dietary spermidine intake and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality: people in the top tertile of intake lived on average 5.7 years longer than those in the bottom tertile.
Confirmed mechanisms: autophagy induction (especially mitophagy — elimination of damaged mitochondria), histone hypoacetylation (favourable epigenetic change), reduction of cardiac oxidative stress, improved vascular endothelial function, and cardioprotective effects in hypertrophy models.
Dosing: 1-5 mg/day as supplement (wheat germ extract titrated to 5-7% is the most used), or active dietary incorporation (a handful of aged cheese daily provides ~1 mg). Human clinical effects are still under investigation; the SmartAge trial (Berlin) is evaluating effects in mild cognitive impairment. Excellent safety profile, with no significant adverse effects at nutritional or supplementary doses.
Scientific sources
Related terms
Interested in related treatments?
Generate My Protocol