Longevity drugs · other
Spermidine
A dietary polyamine that induces autophagy; human evidence is observational.
Not medical advice — talk to a licensed clinician. Content is educational, reflects published literature, and is not a recommendation to start, stop or change any treatment.
What it is
A naturally occurring compound in wheat germ, soybeans, aged cheese and mushrooms.
How it works, in plain English
Promotes autophagy, the cell's recycling program, similar in direction to fasting.
What the human evidence shows
Lifespan extension in yeast, worms, flies and mice. Observational human data link higher intake to lower mortality. A small trial on memory showed limited effect.
Regrowth grade D: Mostly preclinical.
Typical protocols in the literature
Supplements typically provide 1–6 mg/day.
Described for education, not as dosing advice.
Side effects & interactions
Side effects
- Generally well tolerated
Interactions
- Limited data
Key studies
- Eisenberg et al. 2016 — spermidine and cardioprotection
- Kiechl et al. 2018 — Bruneck cohort
Citations pending medical review