The spermidine effect explained: How the miracle cure works

The spermidine effect is just a hot topic among researchers. Protection against diseases such as diabetes, dementia, cancer and even corona is said to be the substance. But what is really true? With the wealth of information, this is often not so easy to say.

We have therefore researched and summarized all information about the spermidine effect.

So, how exactly does spermidine work?

Well, to understand this, we first have to look at what spermidine is in the first place.

What exactly is spermidine and where does it occur?

Monoaminopropylputrescin. Well, what rings at the term what? Admittedly, probably only a few can do anything with it. The substance is much more well known under the name
spermidine
.

Spermidine belongs to the so-called polyamines and as such is an important component of cells. So one should not be deceived by the name: When the substance was first described scientifically, it was isolated from the eponymous seminal fluid, but in reality spermidine is found in all body cells of all living organisms. There, it has important functions around cell growth.

Exactly what the spermidine does in the cells is not yet 100 percent clear. However, it is known that certain circumstances, such as a slowed metabolism or increased age, reduce the concentration of spermidine in the body.

Similarly, the spermidine content increases during the growth phases of the body, during pregnancy or when muscles are regenerated after exercise. All these processes are ultimately based on the growth or regeneration of cells.

The spermidine effect: miracle cure or just hype?

The effect of spermidine is actually explained relatively simply.

Wikipedia tries it, for example, with this beautiful paragraph:

“According to previous findings, spermidine inhibits the neural NO synthase, binds and precipitates DNA, stimulates the activity of T4 polynucleotide kinase and contributes to the improvement of coating with DNA in the ammunition of the gene cannon.”

NO synthase, precipitated DNA and then a gene cannon!? Sounds totally logical, doesn’t it?

But fun aside: If you deal with spermidine, you will quickly find that the subject area is quite complex and often difficult to see through as a layman. No wonder even science has not yet been able to agree on the effect of the substance.

So here is our attempt at an explanation, which I hope will be a little easier to digest:

This makes spermidine in our cells

As described above, spermidine is closely linked to cell growth. It is involved, for example:

• Cells to regenerate
• to form new cells
• Excrete waste products from cells

Incidentally, this has nothing to do with the gene cannon. Behind this lies the name of a device that is used in science when working with DNA.

Nevertheless, if you have the chance to do so, you should include the term in an article. Because let’s be honest: the word is just cool. Genkanone.

But back to the topic: Why is the spermidine effect so interesting for science? And why do you keep reading that the substance can protect against certain diseases or even prolong life?

The answer: Spermidine has a strengthening effect on the so-called
autophagy
due to its properties.

So why is this so interesting?

Make new from old: The effect of autophagy

Autophagy is, in a way, something like an engine that keeps our cells running. In the first place, the process degrades cell components that are no longer needed or are defective. But not only that: the superfluous components are recycled in autophagy, which creates new cell building blocks.

And the kicker: It is assumed that the pulps degraded during autophagy can cause a number of age-related diseases.

It is therefore important to keep this cell metabolism as active as possible.

The prevailing theory is that if the process of autophagy can be stimulated in old age, it may be possible to prevent typical old-age diseases such as heart problems, dementia or even cancer. And that sounds really good, doesn’t it?

So the hype currently being around spermidine is not entirely unfounded.

But how exactly can this be applied? Let’s look at what experiments on spermidine show from practice.

Spermidine in practice: effect, experience, studies

The results of the first animal experiments speak for themselves:

In 2013, for example, a trial of fruit flies showed that the intake of spermidine-rich food can counteract age-related dementia.

Results of a study published in Austria in 2016 showed that spermidine in laboratory mice can protect against diseases of the cardiovascular system and thus prolong the lives of animals.

But there are also promising results for human subjects:

The most famous example of this is probably a long-term study of 829 participants over a period of 20 years. The international team of researchers investigated whether there is a possible link between spermidine uptake and mortality.

The result: The subjects who took more spermidine through the diet had the lowest mortality rate on average during the period. In addition, the increased intake of spermidine via diet remained largely free of side effects.

An additional indication of the positive effect of spermidine.

The ability of spermidine to trigger autophagy is also used in the fight against coronavirus.

For example, a research group led by the well-known virologist Christian Drosten discovered that the autophagy of lung cells suffering from the disease was inhibited. The administration of spermidine into the cells finally significantly reduced the viral load.

However, it is doubtfulthat oral intake of spermidine can protect against corona or even combat an existing infection.

And yet: prolonged life, protection against diseases and possible use in the event of corona infection. That sounds somehow all too good to be true.

So is spermidine really the miracle cure par excellence?

Initial studies on the effects of spermidine yielded promising results. The big catch right now is that there is still too little data on the effect of spermidine on humans to really call the substance a miracle cure.

In addition, positive results from an animal experiment cannot automatically be insinuated to have the same results in humans.

However, researchers are convinced of the potential of polyamine. To what extent a therapeutic treatment with spermidine makes sense, they now have to clarify even more precisely.

With the hype currently happening around spermidine, however, it is only a matter of time before science deciphers the mystery surrounding the supposed fountain of youth.