What Is Spermidine?

The effects of aging are coming more into the mainstream and targeted by a slew of products, exercises, diets, and more.

More and more preventative steps are being taken to combat cognitive decline and promote anti-aging even amongst young people.

There are many many options out there when it comes to diets, supplements, and vitamins, especially when it comes to the topic of aging and longevity.

Even cosmetics take part in this longevity quest, though they don’t have any long-lasting internal benefits.

Collagen, Omega-3, Vitamin C, Curcumin, and Biotin are just some of the common ingredient examples found at the front of the anti-aging shelves.

Spermidine is one of the lesser-known options.

It’s a naturally occurring chemical compound found in our bodies, plants, and the food we eat.

Though Spermidine supplements may not be the most obvious option, I want to share more about this generative compound and its potentially profound impacts on our health.

So what is Spermidine, and how can it help us?

What Is Spermidine?

Spermidine is a naturally occurring polyamine in the body and our diet and is critical for regulating various biological processes.

A polyamine is an organic compound having more than two amino groups. (Source)

This compound is known for its process of binding DNA, restoring growth in cells, and promoting healthy cell proliferation.

As a polyamine, spermidine's main target is autophagy. (Source)

Breaking down the name literally, autophagy means “self-eating”.

This process aids cells in removing cellular “waste” and other undesirable properties.

This is how spermidine gets its reputation for its anti-aging qualities.

Originally discovered in the 17th century, its observed benefits are still fighting for the limelight in the fields of biochemistry and cell biology.

Initially, spermidine was found abundantly in human semen.

This goes to show how the process of growth and longevity comes into play.

In truth, this is just an isolated chemical compound found naturally in our bodies, in various plants, and other dietary sources.

In the 20th century, scientists understood spermidine’s structure, function, and overall process.

This marked the next big step towards better understanding and implementing this chemical's potential benefits.

Spermidine is best understood to promote cell survival, function, and growth. Its properties make for an interesting case for fighting back against the unwanted effects of aging, cognitive decline, and cancer.

Studies have covered spermidine’s potential for improving our memory and attempting to combat cognitive diseases like dementia.

Claims of cancer treatment and increased longevity are big topics that scientists and ourselves should further inspect.

But there seems to be a show of promise with the ongoing investigations.

More and more, spermidine is being researched in the modern era.

And with each discovery, the benefits of spermidine rise to the surface.

So what is spermidine really?

And how can we benefit from it?

Let’s take a deeper look at these potentially life-changing benefits and explain how each quality impacts our health and well-being.

Spermidine Benefits

From anti-aging to improved cognition, spermidine has a lot of potentials.

Though not yet as well studied as other supplements, it’s still rich in benefits from what we do know.

Ongoing studies have been emerging around spermidine, making it a notable resource in the realm of longevity, cognitive function, and cancer treatments.

Since spermidine has been known for a few hundred years, not a lot of scientific work has been done on its effects on humans.

But more research is now being done using ourselves as the testing subjects, as well as plants and animals.

Since there is more work to be done in studying this chemical compound, not all benefits are necessarily guaranteed, though there are possible chances of them.

Let’s take a look at the key factors that make it worth checking out.

Longevity

Probably one of the most popular to date, anti-aging has soared in several markets.

This just goes to show how in-demand longevity properties are.

Spermidine is best known for this component.

So how does this chemical compound contribute to a longer lifespan?

Spermidine is a natural polyamine present in all living organisms that is critically involved in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis.

This chemical affects numerous biological processes, including cell growth and proliferation, tissue regeneration, DNA and RNA stabilization, enzymatic modulation, and regulation of translation, among others. (Source)

Essentially, spermidine is a powerful chemical that promotes the growth, regeneration, and regulation of several aspects of our bodies.

These processes are vital when it comes to longevity.

It is said that spermidine aids in delaying aging in other organisms as well, including the notorious rat.

As mentioned before, spermidine and the process of autophagy go hand in hand.

Since autophagy’s primary function is to eliminate unhelpful properties in cellular structures, spermidine contributes greatly to keeping only the best of the best compounds found within cells.

Related: Check out Best NMN Supplements

Anti-Inflammatory

Though inflammation itself is helpful in some cases, such as healing wounds, the inflammation that comes with aging can do more harm than good.

Spermidine specifically has to do with the latter process.

Spermidine suppresses the production of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines by reducing the expression of their encoding genes.

Thus, the results support that spermidine is a promising target for inhibiting early steps in inflammatory pathways. (Source)

The difference between general inflammation and chronic inflammation is with the notion of aging.

With chronic inflammation, healthy regenerative processes weaken and can become less effective.

Because spermidine targets this process within the body, cells become stronger and more resilient, and ultimately the process of cellular deterioration.

Spermidine doesn’t necessarily get rid of inflammation, rather, it downregulates the ongoing process.

When an internal stressor threatens our immune system, it acts as an antioxidant that helps prevent overloading these stressed-out cells.

Improved Cognition

As we age, many of us experience a decline in our cognitive function.

This can manifest in cases like dementia, where memory loss is the most prevalent factor.

Though more research is needed in this area, studies have shown that decreased inflammation from aging coincides with improved verbal memory, according to this scientific trial aimed at exploring its effects on cognition.

Spermidine supplementation has shown beneficial effects on cognitive health in animal models, and there have been preliminary evidence of memory improvement in individuals with subjective cognitive decline. (Source)

The use of spermidine for cognitive health has been observed and tested in animals.

Because of this, emerging curiosity for the effect it could have on humans have become more prevalent among the scientific community.

As mentioned earlier, autophagy plays a big role in this process, as it eats away at unuseful cell compounds and promotes healthy cells.

With this in mind, certain degenerative cognitive processes can begin to slow down the unwanted aspects of aging.

Cancer Therapy

Mentioning possible new forms of cancer treatment is not always received well, given the complexity of each type and its cure.

Treating cancer is not necessarily a one-and-done method.

Many possibilities have already been and have yet to be discovered.

Surgery is one of the most common primary treatments for cancer patients, as chemo or radiation therapy can be too strenuous depending on the individual.

Either one is invasive and impactful in its own way but does prove to have optimal success.

So by mentioning something like spermidine, it can be questionable territory.

But, alongside chemotherapy, spermidine has the real potential to help reverse the degenerative components of cancer.

Because of spermidine’s quality of regulating cell waste through autophagy, there is potential to decrease the size of cancerous tumors.

Through this process of cell regulation, stressed-out cells are filtered out while the healthy ones continue to regenerate and take over.

The possible mechanisms between spermidine and cancer development may be related to the precise regulation of polyamine metabolism, anti-cancer immunosurveillance, autophagy, and apoptosis.

Increased polyamine intake suppresses tumorigenesis but accelerates established tumors' growth.

Based on these observations and the absolute requirement for polyamines in tumor growth, spermidine could be a rational target for chemoprevention and clinical therapeutics of cancers. (Source)

Polyamines are vital when it comes to cancer cell biology.

They provide a non-invasive component to regulate these damaged cellular structures, which boosts your immune system’s natural defense system.

There is still more testing to be done, though, on how they act and need to be regulated for effective treatment.

This method has potential, but more research is needed to ensure its success rate.

In any case, given what we do know, it could still be an effective treatment alongside mainstream cancer therapies and treatments.

Spermidine Side Effects

Though more studies need to be done on this compound, it has already been shown to have no known side effects.

Though with anything you put in your body, it’s important to know the potential side effects anyways.

Fortunately, spermidine is safe since it occurs naturally in both our bodies and our food.

As always, consult with a specialist to ensure it’s a good option for you and your treatment process.

Spermidine Foods

Spermidine is found naturally in a wide variety of foods.

Including these foods in your diet gives you all the same benefits as taking a pill or powdered form.

There are many dietary sources of spermidine, including grapefruit, soy products, legumes, corn, whole grain, chickpeas, peas, green peppers, broccoli, oranges, green tea, rice bran, and fresh green pepper.

It can also be found in shiitake mushrooms, amaranth grain, wheat germ, cauliflower, a variety of mature cheeses, and durian.

The Mediterranean diet is a popular option for those who want to prevent cardiovascular disease, increase their longevity, and age healthier — all the same components that spermidine targets.

Sourced from modern-day Greece and Italy, we can see that this eating pattern is great for those trying to combat aging and improve their health.

This diet is primarily plant-based and is rich in healthy fats such as olive oil.

Animal proteins are consumed less frequently, and typically fish is the preferred option.

I am drinking a lot of water with an occasional glass of wine and prioritizing daily physical activities for exercise.

This diet is not necessarily a cure but can be paired with either food that has spermidine in them or taking a supplement alongside it.

If including most of these foods isn’t working out, you can find spermidine in capsule form.

It is not necessarily a replacement for these foods but rather an added boost to ensure you’re getting what you need.

What Is Spermidine? Closing Thoughts

It seems spermidine is the ultimate firefighter when it comes to snuffing out unuseful cellular components.

This superpower makes spermidine a curious compound, hinting at possibilities we’re just now scratching the surface of.

Spermidine is rising into the public sphere as an emerging tool for anti-aging, treating aging-related inflammation, and potentially impacting cognitive function and memory.

More studies are needed for there to be a concrete consensus among professionals, though benefits have been observed throughout.

Perhaps one day, we will have spermicide as an effective cancer treatment in the mainstream.

Maybe we can soak up healthier years than we had previously anticipated.

Polyamines are primordial and have existed long before us.

If we can isolate something this small and specific and experiment with it, anything is possible.

The fortunate aspect of this ongoing discovery is that there are no known side effects, and it’s perfectly safe to use.

If you’re curious about implementing this supplement into your wellness routine, it’s always a good idea to consult with your healthcare provider, just in case.

Though it’s unlikely that you will have negative effects, we’ve seen cases where this actually has an impact on people, so why not take the chance to try it out?