Spermidine is a biogenic amine in chemistry. The micronutrient is a source of hope for longevity research. For us, spermidine can be a way to take the healthy future into our own hands. Of all the things spermidine can be, one thing it isn't is new. Quite the opposite. As early as 1870, Philipp Schreiner isolated the base spermine from male semen. This is where the somewhat bizarre name of the molecule comes from. Even though we now know that spermidine occurs naturally in every cell and in every organism, the original name has stuck.
Occurrence of spermidine
Our body can produce spermidine itself in moderation. If the metabolism accelerates (e.g.b: during exercise) the production of spermidine in the body is stimulated. Conversely, the concentration decreases when metabolism slows down. However, the amount produced by the body is not enough to cover the needs. The cells here depend on the supply of food. Spermidine is mainly found in whole grains or Wheat germ, soybeans (about 200 mg/kg) or legumes. Mushrooms and aged cheese are also rich in the molecule. For comparison: the spermidine content in the eponymous human ejaculate is on average 31 mg/L.
The good news for everyone who immediately suspects something bad: spermidine-containing dietary supplements are not made from human or animal sperm, but from wheat germ or soy products. In contrast to wheat germ origin, soy-based spermidine is also gluten-free.
What does spermidine do?
The effect attributed to the body's own substance is not only useful, but has even been noble-important for several years. In 2016, the Japanese professor Dr. Yoshinori Ohsumi the Nobel Prize in Medicine for basic research on autophagy.
What do you understand by this term, which has its origins in ancient Greece?
Autophagy – the cell's own waste disposal
When cells break down their own components, this is called autophagy or autophagocytosis. Colloquially, we like to talk about self-digestion. This should not be confused with phagocytosis, where substances from outside are absorbed (“eaten”) into the cell and digested.
Self-digestion is particularly important because cell metabolism constantly produces by-products that are unnecessary or damaged. With the process of autophagy, these can now either be disposed of or, even better, reused. However, not only metabolic products are autophaged, but also entire cell organelles - for example the mitochondria. Be it damage, aging, or even planned loss – sooner or later our cell power plants start to falter. To ensure that this does not have a negative impact on the performance of the entire cell, the mitochondrion is simply digested within the cell. All the more beneficial is the fact that new power plants are being formed from the individual parts. Essentially, autophagy is the cell's own waste disposal and recycling station in one.
The process will be Prof. According to Ohsumi, it is always stimulated when the conditions for our cells are unfavorable. For example, if there is a lack of nitrogen or food, this is a start signal for the autophagy machinery. But even the best system runs out of steam at some point. As we age, both the spermidine concentration and the activity of our self-cleaning program decrease.
Such functional disorders can, according to studies, lead to metabolic diseases, infections or even neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's). In the latter case, disease-relevant protein deposits occur in cells. This underlines once again how important it is to maintain this ability.
Fasting brings it
In addition to spermidine, Fasting can also get our recycling system going. The most common rule of thumb here is 16:8 – fast for 16 hours and eat for 8 hours. The principle behind it is as simple as it is logical: if nothing new comes along, the old is reused. In addition, the body is not constantly busy breaking down new food, but can use the time to clean up. If only we were as consistent when cleaning in everyday life.
The benefits of fasting range from positive effects on cardiovascular diseases to increased performance. In this case, less is actually more. Unfortunately, this does not apply to apartment cleaning.
Summary
At the end we want to hit the nail on the head again. The theories surrounding spermidine can be summarized as follows: The molecule is intended to suggest a fasting state to our body and thus make the advantages of fasting, i.e. increased autophagy, usable without actually abstaining from food. A spermidine-rich diet has been associated with a longer lifespan in studies.
