This natural substance can help us live longer

The search for means to prolong life has occupied mankind for centuries. Thanks to scientific and medical advances, average life expectancy continues to rise.

But for some, that’s not enough: they want to get older. As companies explore how to artificially extend life, some people are turning to a natural remedy.

Spermidine is one of the components of semen. However, it occurs in every cell of the body and can also be formed by certain gut bacteria. The messenger substance plays an important role in cell metabolism: it is closely linked to cell growth and can stimulate autophagy, ie the self-cleaning of the cells. This allows older cells to function longer.

However, with age, the spermidine concentration in the body decreases. As a result, the cells can no longer regenerate as efficiently, leading to “disease-related deposits in the cells, which in turn can lead to dementia, diabetes, tumors and atherosclerosis,” according to a study from the Medical University of Innsbruck. .

The researchers analyzed certain health aspects of 829 test subjects who had kept a food diary for more than twenty years. The result: The participants who consumed a lot of spermidine through their diet (at least 80 micromoles of spermidine per day) had a lower risk of death over the 20-year observation period.

In an experiment at the University of Hanover, mice given spermidine also showed clear rejuvenation effects. Not only age-related hair loss became less. The animals also showed less kidney and liver damage. In addition, the brain was better supplied with glucose, which contributed to an increase in performance.

However, sperm is not only found in the body; it is also a component of some foods. Contains a particularly large amount of spermidine:

The industry has already discovered spermidine for itself and is selling it as a dietary supplement. However, one must be careful here. Neurologist Stefan Kiechl, involved in the research at the University of Innsbruck, explained to the newspaper ‘Geo’, among others, that the preparations often contain very low doses of spermidine.

“There are preparations to which only 1 milligram per capsule is added. The dosage must of course be higher,” says Kiechl. To achieve effects, one must consume at least 5 milligrams daily. In addition, the nutritional supplements are often too expensive.