What is Spermidine?

Spermidine is a polyamine, meaning it has two or more primary amino groups. It occurs in ribosomes and living tissues everywhere.

Spermidine plays a critical role in cell function and survival. Spermidine can also delay neurodegeneration,

Spermidine was discovered in human sperm by Dutch scientist Anton Van Leeuwenhoek.

Spermidine comes from its precursor putrescine. It is the precursor for another polyamine called spermine, which is also vital for cellular function.

Spermidine and putrescine are known to stimulate autophagy. A system that breaks down waste inside cells and recycles cellular components.

Autophagy allows damaged or defective mitochondria to be broken down and removed.

There have been two prospective population-based studies (summarized in the same paper) report for the first time that spermidine supplements reduced overall, cardiovascular and cancer-related mortality in humans.