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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    • JGC
    • Retired Professor of Physics
    • JGC
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

        I've been looking into obtaining a Spermidine supplement on the Internet.  (I had previously bought a rather expensive one that doesn't actually state how much Spermidine is in it.)  I have tabulated my search results on the following spreadsheet, where "Conc" means Spermidine content of one capsule:

    Brand Product # mg Conc (mg) Price
    SuperSmart Spermidine 60 150 1.50 $89.00
    Lekithos Spermidine 120 525 0.18 $59.99
    Primeadine Spermidine 90 300 0.33 $95.00
    Swanson Wheat Germ Oil 60 1130 3.28 $4.83

        Swanson does not promote the Spermidine concentration of their Wheat Germ Oil supplement, but after consulting with their Customer Support group, I concluded that it should be about 3.3 mg per cap.  I just ordered 5 bottles.

    Like 2
    • JGC John, why not buy the synthetic pure grade spermidine so you know exactly how much you are getting. I have been using it for months and it is much more effective than the wheat germ extract, my skin is noticeably better, mentally you can feel it and less inflammation, very effective and I am only taking 1 per day.

      5mg, 120 capsules, $36

      https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NP4MPQB/

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      • JGC
      • Retired Professor of Physics
      • JGC
      • 1 yr ago
      • Reported - view

      Fred Cloud 

          Good suggestion!  The price comes to $0.03/mg of spermidine trihydrochloride.   This was not available when I made the table that is on this thread.  Anyhow, I just ordered two bottles.

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      • JGC
      • Retired Professor of Physics
      • JGC
      • 1 yr ago
      • Reported - view

      Fred Cloud 

          Actually, it's $0.06 per mg, because the caps only contain 5 mg of spermidine hydrochloride, with a "serving size" of two caps.  I really object to the serving-size games these supplement guys play.  It's deceptive advertising that ought to be illegal.

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    • JGC I agree, the serving size is a game, but the serving size is 10mg, so it is 5mg per cap. That is why I said 5mg per cap because it is confusing. Either way, just try the product, it works much better than the wheat germ. I havent even tried the 10mg per day yet because the 5mg is so effective.

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    • Fred Cloud  I use this brand

      Spermidine - Pure NMN and Resveratrol anti-aging Supplements (hansensupplements.com)

       

      (Pure spermidine 5% and cellulose 95%). 100 mg powder equals to 5 mg spermidine)

       

      I alos buy apigenin from them. I am happy so far. 

      Like 1
    • Staffan Olsson thanks for the link. Since cellulose doesnt readily dissolve, what have you found to be a convenient way to take the spermidine? How about the apigenin?

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    • chuck stanley I take the spermidine ( and apigenin) on a small measuring spoon and then I put it straight into my mouth and I also have some water water with it. 

      Like 1
    • Jimmy2
    • Jimmy2
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    I'm taking 4 tablespoons of wheat germ.  On the bag it says 1 tablespoon is 15g.  So the math says I am taking 3.645mg of spermidine per tablespoon of wheat germ for a total of 14.58mg per day.  I feel fine? 😆 

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    • Jimmy2
    • Jimmy2
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    I've been taking in wheat germ for about a year.  I haven't felt any side effects or seen any beneficial effects.  However, something happened over the weekend.  I went on a 10 mile hike with 2500ft of elevation change.  The hike was about 7 hours and it was hot for half of it (about 80-85F degrees in the sun.)  I was wearing a hat that covered my entire face in shade and also had 30 SPF sunscreen on.  So the next day I look at my face in the mirror, and it seemed that my annoying acne scars on my forehead lightened significantly enough for me to notice!  I was expecting my forehead to look even more scarred because the potential sun penetrating the hat, the thin layer of sunscreen, and my skin, which would produce melanin and darken the scars.  Instead, the opposite happened.   Did the spermidine in combination with a grueling hike contribute to enhanced autophagy in the face?  I'm just wondering if anyone had a similar experience.  By the way, in the morning I ate a keto bar with 0g of sugar and 15g of carbs and 2 soft boiled eggs.   At the top of the mountain, I had about 26g of carbs (from a mixture of hashbrown, eggs, and sausage), turkey meat, and some 0 carb cheese crisps.  So it was somewhat low carb and my body was probably burning a lot of fat.

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    • Joseph M
    • joseph_mikhael
    • 2 yrs ago
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      • JGC
      • Retired Professor of Physics
      • JGC
      • 2 yrs ago
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      joseph mikhael 

          I'm not impressed with the Yurth interview.  She says you should get spermidine from wheat germ oil only if it is from non-GMO wheat.  That sounds like eco-superstitious BS to me.  Also, she does not make any distinction between cold-pressed wheat germ oil vs. other extraction methods.  Swanson's is cold-pressed, which I think is important because spermidine is highly soluble in water and easily washed away.

      Like 2
    • JGC Actually, there is no such thing as GMO wheat even available. 

      I am sure they are working on it, but as of now, there is no genetically modified wheat currently commercialized anywhere in the world.

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      • JGC
      • Retired Professor of Physics
      • JGC
      • 2 yrs ago
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      Fred Cloud 

          After they develop it, Yurth will ban it.

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  • looks like this is having an effect on someones bottom line - cannot buy Swanson wheat germ oil now on Amazon!

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  • I am wondering how spermidine compares to rapamycin? Does it do the same thing, is it a substitute or replacement for rapamycin, or does it offer benefits that rapamycin doesnt?

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  • In case you missed it, this spermidine video was aired this morning by Michael Lustgarten. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7lqncPch8c.

     He summarizes the studies that support the conclusion that it is primarily spermidine  which is the polyamine responsible for the beneficial cognitive and longevity benefits that have been demonstrated, and that spermidine is sufficient. Amounts of 1 mg/d are associated with cognitive benefits. The amount associated with life extension is about 12 mg per day. This amount could be obtained from 30 grams of wheat germ. I havent tried it, but that might be a little much to mix into a smoothie.

    Since spermidine is significantly reduced by cooking at higher temperatures, I'm still looking for a simple way to get 12 mg/d from natural sources.

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

      chuck stanley  I would guess that cooking may increase spermidine, at least in some instances:

      "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. "

      Source: HOW COOKING PROCESS CAN INFLUENCE POLYAMINES CONTENT IN FOODS? August 2014 Conference: Third International Conference on Polyamines: Biochemical, Physiological and Clinical Perspectives

      Like 1
    • MAC.
    • MAC2
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    I've been taking this Spermidine product for a couple of years now. https://lzrlabs.net/home-page

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    • MAC. any idea how much spermidine is in this product?

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

    This is what I have on file from vendor: 

    "One serving yields 1mg spermidine (some customers take up to 3 per day). Our matrix also contains several extracts from natural sources that act to support the autophagy or cell turnover promoted by spermidine and other senolytics. This greatly increases the positive effects of spermidine. Our goal with 1mg per capsule is to help people increase their daily Spermidine intake by ~15% without consuming excess calories to reach that level because maintaining a long term caloric surplus can accelerate aging drastically (exactly the opposite of what we're trying to do)."

    Like 1
  • JFYI today I ordered some 3mg caps from these guys; spermidinepro.com . Reason being the prior vendor I was using only had about 0.3 per cap for 2/3 the price! Will see what they're like when delivered.

    Like 1
  • It looks like getting 12mg per day of spermidine from a supplement would exceed my budget. 

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    • chuck stanley chuck stanley chuck stanley ?? At 0.02$ per mg (see JGC post above) it's pretty cheap. why are some sources so much more expensive? A 12oz bottle of Kretschmer wheat germ is 4.5$ iis good for > 10 days at 12mg per day.

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