Unlocking Lifespan and Healthspan

While lifespan or life expectancy has steadily increased over the past decades, health span— the period of life spent in good health— has not kept pace. This discrepancy leads to a higher risk of age-related diseases.

Fasting or caloric restriction diets are suggested methods to enhance both lifespan and healthspan by inducing autophagy, a cellular recycling process. Spermidine, a naturally occurring polyamine found in wheat germ, is gaining scientific attention for its geroprotective and life-extending properties.

Spermidine’s primary mechanism in delaying ageing is the induction of autophagy. This regulated process recycles cellular components by degrading cellular waste to recycle essential building blocks required for cellular survival.

Thus, spermidine is often referred to as a caloric restriction mimetic. With spermidine, you can obtain the anti-ageing benefits of autophagy without the need for fasting.

Biochemical Processes Limiting Lifespan and Healthspan

Scientific interest has increasingly focused on nutritional sciences and nutrigenomics to extend both health span and lifespan. Various biochemical factors can limit lifespan and healthspan, including:

• Caloric Over consumption: Excessive caloric intake can lead to metabolic disorders and age-related diseases.
• Dysregulated Nutrient Sensing: Imbalances in nutrient sensing pathways can disrupt metabolic homeostasis.
• Loss of Proteostasis: Impaired protein homeostasis can cause cellular dysfunction and diseases.
• Increased Oxidation Processes: Elevated oxidative stress can damage cells and tissues, accelerating ageing.
• Mitochondrial Dysfunction: Impaired mitochondrial function can reduce cellular energy production and increase oxidative stress.
• Reduced Autophagy and Mitophagy: Decreased cellular recycling processes can lead to the accumulation of damaged organelles and proteins.
• Decrease of DNA Repair Mechanisms: Reduced efficiency of DNA repair can result in genetic instability and age-related diseases.
• Shortening of Telomeric Ends: Progressive telomere shortening can limit cell division and promote cellular ageing.

Geriatrics (2020). Nutrients and pathways that regulate Health Span and Life Span

“The goal is not simply to add years to life, but to extend the number of years spent in good health”

Spermidine Promotes Lifespan and Healthspan

Spermidine positively influences several molecular and cellular changes that drive the ageing process:

• Induction of Autophagy and Mitophagy: Promotes cellular recycling processes, removing damaged components and improving cell function.
• Facilitates Mitochondrial Biogenesis: Supports the formation of new, healthy mitochondria, enhancing cellular energy production.
• ROS Scavenger (Antioxidative Properties): Acts as an antioxidant, reducing oxidative stress and protecting cells from damage.
• Regeneration of Specific Stem Cells: Aids in the renewal and maintenance of stem cells, supporting tissue repair and regeneration.

Hofer SJ et al. Nature Aging 2022; 2:1112-29. HFD: High Fat Diet; mitophagy: removal of aged and damaged mitochondria; proteostasis: homeostasis in the building, folding and turnover of proteins

Benefits of Spermidine in Healthy Aging

• Improved DNA Stability: Enhances the integrity and stability of DNA, reducing genetic mutations and promoting longevity.
• Preservation of Telomeric Ends: Helps maintain telomere length, which is crucial for healthy cell division and longevity.
• Improved Mitochondrial Function: Boosts the efficiency and health of mitochondria, increasing cellular energy production and reducing oxidative stress.
• Epigenetic Reprogramming: Influences gene expression in a way that promotes healthy ageing and longevity.
• Reduction of Cellular Senescence: Decreases the accumulation of senescent cells, which are associated with ageing and age-related diseases.
• Regeneration and Cellular Rejuvenation: Supports the renewal and rejuvenation of cells, aiding in tissue repair and overall vitality.

The great benefit of targeted fermentation

• Improved bioavailability of bioactive components: During fermentation glycosylated wheat germ constituents are converted into bioactive aglycones that are easily
• Significant increase in antioxidant capacity: Fermentation increases the overall antioxidant capacity of wheat germ thanks to the release of phenolic compounds, peptides, aglycones, etc., and the breakdown of flavonoids into smaller SOD-like substances.
• High strength: 10-fold enrichment in spermidine vs traditional wheat germ extract