They say every day is a school day, and we had to learn about this so now you do too.
You're welcome. Spermidine - yes, it's exactly what is sounds like - is being hailed as a medical marvel and the key to human longevity.
The substance has been described as 'groundbreaking' for health and longevity, and can improve your brain health and general immunity as well as helping your heart.
It's a naturally occurring compound found in sperm, breastmilk and some foods.
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Soy beans, wheatgerm and mature cheese and mushrooms all contain it.
Leslie Kenny is the founder of Oxford Health Span and co-founder of the Oxford Longevity Project, and said "Spermidine is the Swiss army knife of longevity."
It can remove damaged cell parts, and help with anti-aging too.
Anti-ageing
The clue is in the name of where it's mostly found, with Kenny explaining: "It’s in huge amounts in semen, and it's in the endosperm of all seeds to ensure the survival of the next plant generation. It’s made in our tissues and our gut biome for a reason, and plants are making it for a reason too.”
As we age, our natural supply of it dwindles.
Experts now believe we can boost our health by eating foods rich in the substance or by taking supplements.
Kenny found out about spermidine when she dealt with arthritis and immune conditions in her 30s.
“If the immune system works, it can protect us from cancer, pathogens and an autoimmune attack. Spermidine is helpful for autoimmune patients because it’s very anti-inflammatory,” she explained
Clinical studies
Research shows it can hugely reduce inflammation, which can help to prevent many serious health conditions.
Tests on mice in 2023 found it improved egg quality in older mice, meaning it could be a gamechanger for the fertility world.
It can also help with stress levels too.
All test subjects found their cortisol levels plummeted, while in male participants their testosterone shot up by 50% levels of the stress hormone cortisol dropped dramatically, and in male participants, testosterone increased by 50%, while female testers found their progesterone, estrogen and testosterone increased.
Kenny added: “Some of the women actually reported that their incontinence, that urgency to go to the bathroom, significantly reduced. I think the reason why is that faster cell turnover helps the lining of the bladder.”
Beauty
It can also help with hair and skin.
As we age, melanin supplies reduce and we make less, which is why our hair turns grey or white.
Researchers found that spermidine lengthens the growth phase of the hair follicle.
This leads to thicker and longer hair with fewer greys coming through.
Kenny added: “Spermidine is the trash man. If you aren’t taking the trash out, it just accumulates, nothing functions, and that’s how it is with the brain.
“We have these cells called cardiomyocytes that govern the rhythm of the heart, and they don’t replenish very easily, said Kenny.
It is also helping with pre-diabetes and some forms of fatty liver disease.
“It’s improving metabolic function and reducing triglycerides, and it seems to help with LDL cholesterol as well,” she said.
How much do we need?
You need at least one milligram a day, which doesn't sound like much but is hard to achieve through food alone.
“It’s hard to guarantee that you get that amount from food sources, but supplementation guarantees you’re getting the right amount to help with memory and cognition. But I still want people to turn to plants if they can, because the fiber is really valuable,” said Kenny.
Aged cheese and mushrooms are some of the best sources.
It also is found in sperm, but Kenny warns that the amount varies based on their overall health.
However, if they are in good condition and healthy, she dubbed it the 'fountain of youth'.
“It’s the fountain of youth! From a healthy man, you’d get a lot, and it would be, in my opinion, very beneficial.”
Topics: Health, Women's Health, Science
Jen Thomas