Spermidine: a physiological autophagy inducer acting as an anti-aging vitamin inhumans?

My wife and I eat natto (fermented soybeans) daily which contains a relatively large amount of spermidine.

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Spermidine: a physiological autophagy inducer acting as an anti-aging vitamin inhumans?

Autophagy. 2019; 15(1): 165–168.

Published online 2018 Oct 11. doi: 10.1080/15548627.2018.1530929

ABSTRACT

Spermidine is a natural polyamine that stimulates cytoprotective macroautophagy/autophagy. External supplementation of spermidine extends lifespan and health span across species, including in yeast, nematodes, flies and mice. In humans, spermidine levels decline with aging, and a possible connection between reduced endogenous spermidine concentrations and age-related deterioration has been suggested. Recent epidemiological data support this notion, showing that an increased uptake of this polyamine with spermidine-rich food diminishes overall mortality associated with cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Here, we discuss nutritional and other possible routes to counteract the age-mediated decline of spermidine levels.

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Another article:

Cardioprotection and lifespan extension by the natural polyamine spermidine

Nat Med. 2016 December ; 22(12): 1428–1438. doi:10.1038/nm.4222.

AbstractAging is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death. Here we show that oral supplementation of the natural polyamine spermidine extends the lifespan of mice and exerts cardioprotective effects, reducing cardiac hypertrophy and preserving diastolic function in old mice. Spermidine feeding enhanced cardiac autophagy, mitophagy and mitochondrial respiration, and it also improved the mechano-elastical properties of cardiomyocytes in vivo, coinciding with increased titin phosphorylation and suppressed subclinical inflammation. Spermidine feeding failed to provide cardioprotection in mice that lack the autophagy-related protein Atg5 in cardiomyocytes. In Dahl salt-sensitive rats that were fed a high-salt diet, a model for hypertension-induced congestive heart failure, spermidine feeding reduced systemic blood pressure, increased titin phosphorylation and prevented cardiac hypertrophy and a decline in diastolic function, thus delaying the progression to heart failure. In humans, high levels of dietary spermidine, as assessed from food questionnaires, correlated with reduced blood pressure and a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease. Our results suggest a new and feasible strategy for the protection from cardiovascular disease

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  • It looks like getting 12mg per day of spermidine from a supplement would exceed my budget. 

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    • Donald Slowik I agree that $.02 per mg is quite cheap. I cant find any rationale for that figure, though. If you could link to any articles or analysis of cold pressed wheat germ oil that shows the amount of spermidine per gram, that would be a basis for estimating the cost per mg. 

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    • Donald Slowik 30 grams of raw wheat germ is a reasonably priced source of 12 mg spermidine, whereas the capsules are all too costly.

      I believe the trick will be to find a recipe that tastes good and doesnt require cooking at a high temperature. I'm going to try mixing into a smoothie (along with my creatine, Ca-AKG and protein).

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      • MAC.
      • MAC2
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      chuck stanley Rethinking, 1mg/day is indeed quite low AND the cost of the supplements. So I took a closer look at other Spermidine intake options, specifically food sourced. Besides wheat germ, Natto and Tempeh (Tempeh and wheat germ I wouldn't consume, full of carbs, I am ketogenic) and 1yr old cheddar are super content high food sources. I don't regularly eat soy products, but I do regularly eat hard cheese. So I bought myself some high quality Natto (comes in 50 g servings, readily consumable with a meal, approx 35 mg Spermidine), and some 18 month old cheddar (say 25 g serving, approx 50 mg Spermidine). Between these two readily added dietary inputs, I'd be taking in approx 85mg/day (+/-) JUST of Spermidine. But these foods deliver a huge spectrum of other polyamines (Spermine, Putriscine), as well as other super vitamins/nutrients. Ditching my supplement! I also eat many other high spermidine foods such as mushrooms. So I might be taking in near to 100 mg/day Spermidine with my whole foods diet. And you wonder why Japanese/Sardinians/Cretans live so long...high fermented soy and/or hard (ie fermented) cheese eaters.

      • MAC.
      • MAC2
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      MAC. Higher spermidine intake is linked to lower mortality: a prospective population-based study

      https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/108/2/371/5046172

      "The difference in mortality risk between the top and bottom third of spermidine intakes was similar to that associated with a 5.7-y younger age"

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    • @MAC.  thanks for the analysis. The 18 month cheddar sounds like a tasty solution! I've never had Natto, so I dont know if I'd like it. I'll post a recipe for a wheat germ smoothie if I come up with something worth sharing. I would like to see how your culinary adventure turns out.

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      • MAC.
      • MAC2
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      chuck stanley Natto is normally nasty...taste is not too difficult, but room temperature Natto odour (it comes frozen) is VERY strong. I let it defrost a bit, no palatability problem. Hard cheese is one of my favourite foods...and I've found some local sources of 4-5 yr old cheddar! This isn't much of a food "adventure", all readily adaptable to my daily diet protocol. Get the oldest orange cheese you can find. Wheat germ is high spermidine, but full of carbs/gluten, I avoid on my strict keto diet, and wonder if the heavy insoluble fibre load might create some gastro issues. But good luck! 

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    • MAC. My favourite food for increasing my intake of spermidine is mango. 150 gr Mango give me approx 5 mg spermidine. Broccoli is another good source (for me). A couple of mangos each week + plenty of broccoli and green peas in the diet should give me a reasonable intake of spermidine.  

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      • MAC.
      • MAC2
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Staffan Olsson Do you eat mushrooms, especially some of the more exotic varieties? They have the highest Spermidine levels of plant origin, save for wheat germ. Cooking does reduce the Spermidine level, so make sure you don't throw anything away! Buying dried exotic mushrooms, and adding to food, and ensuring you consume entire meal contents (Spermidine will be extracted in any liquid), is excellent way to spike Spermidine and flavour of course. 

    • MAC. I often eat dried shiitake, (usually in soups). But I don't know the spermidine content in shiitake or different kinds of mushrooms. 

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    • MAC. I have an easily accessible Japanese supermarket in town and get Natto there for Spermidine and Vitamin K. Not saying I love it, but then it isn't so bad either. Try to eat Natto once or twice a week, and these wheatgerm supplements on other days. Also foods like green peppers and broccoli. Did get the impression my hair got a bit darker and sprouted a few hairs when I specifically introduced Spermidine to my diet.

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      • MAC.
      • MAC2
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Staffan Olsson 

      Investigation of biologically active amines in some selected edible mushrooms

      https://sci-hub.se/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2019.103375

      See attached. Please note in far right column, it's mg/100g, not mg/kg.

      There are some higher Spermidine species.

    • MAC. Many thanks :)

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      • MAC.
      • MAC2
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Jack Black Yeah, Natto isn't so bad. I've had it 2 days in a row now, easily adaptable to diet. Darker hair, great! Nutrient dense whole foods rock. 

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      • brad
      • brad.1
      • 1 yr ago
      • Reported - view

      chuck stanley I eat it straight with cacao nibs.  For every two - three tablespoons of wheat germ, I add a tablespoon of cacao nibs. Since I eat that twice a day, it's pretty easy to get greater than 6 tablespoons of wheat germ per day.  I also like the taste, so it's an easy addition for me.

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    • brad Since the wheat germ didnt work out for me as a smoothie additive, I still have it hanging around. I've never had cacao nibs. Its described as bitter... makes it sound sort of unappetizing. Is there common agreement that your wheat germ cacao mixture is a tasty solution? I wouldnt want to add a bag of nibs to the hanging around section of my kitchen. 

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      • brad
      • brad.1
      • 1 yr ago
      • Reported - view

      chuck stanley Ha.  It would likely be just another product hanging around. It is bitter.  I have gotten into the habit of eating it straight over the years. You  could likely fix the issue by throwing some type of sweetener into the mixture.  Though I suppose whatever sweetener you may use might have health detriments or benefits depending upon what it is and what you believe. 

      I  eat fruit, but I pretty much dropped all sweetening additives including natural ones except for getting a dessert one every six months or so that contains regular sugar.

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  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spermidine#Sources list wheat germ at 243mg / kg. So $4.50 of wheat germ is 12oz = .34kg = 83mg of spermidine.

    Here's an article pointing out the apparently ridiculous prices for spermidine supplements: https://www.t-nation.com/alpha-life/the-nutrient-with-the-embarrassing-name/

    I have not found information on spermidine content of wheat germ oil. I assume that, per gm, it would be higher than the wheat germ as it is an extract. So 0.5kg of Swanson oil sells for $14.30 on amazon. Also, wondering the Kretschmer Original Toasted Wheat Germ is toasted at what temp and does that destroy Spermidine? their oil is cold processed so may be better?

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      • brad
      • brad.1
      • 1 yr ago
      • Reported - view

      Donald Slowik  I have heard that spermidine is heat resistant.  Maybe Dr. Brad Stanfield said that. I can't recall who it was.  Anyway, cooking green beans appears to boost spermidine content in the beans.  I posted a link to a study in reply to another comment here.

       

      I can repeat it here though:

      "All cooking processes employed induced putrescine losses, either in organic or conventional vegetables, whereas the organic green beans had increased its spermidine content after cooking."

      See:HOW COOKING PROCESS CAN INFLUENCE POLYAMINES CONTENT IN FOODS?

      • August 2014

      DOI:10.13140/2.1.2910.6568

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    • Michael
    • Michael.1
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Spermidine. So, we now know why females outlast their male counterparts.

    What's next? Dingleberrydine?

    I love this community - just, not that much. 

     JC

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  • In terms of supplements is there a reason that some people have chosen to not go the Swanson route? Just trying to understand what I'm missing.

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    • Hello World meant to ask you the question if there was a daily amount of spermidine that you wanted to consume.

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  • Hello World  I’m going the Swanson route with their Viobin cold processed wheat germ oil is even cheaper than the capsules. Plus some Kretchmers cereal. So also interested in answers to your question.

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  • I've found that raw wheat germ is cheap, neutral tasting, and easily mixed into a smoothie.

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  • I enjoy the taste of both the wheat germ cereal and their oil.

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    • Donald Slowik was there a daily amount of spermidine that you wanted to consume? How much do you think you are getting from the oil and the cereal?

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