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Dietary spermidine for lowering high blood pressure

Tobias Eisenberg1,2, Mahmoud Abdellatif3, Andreas Zimmermann1

  • 1a Institute of Molecular Biosciences, NAWI Graz, University of Graz , Graz , Austria.

Autophagy
|January 25, 2017
PubMed

Insights

The natural compound spermidine protects the heart by enhancing autophagy, a cellular cleaning process. Dietary spermidine intake in humans is linked to lower blood pressure and reduced cardiovascular disease risk.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Cellular Biology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Cardiac macroautophagy/autophagy is crucial for heart function; impaired autophagy is linked to cardiovascular disease.
  • Increased autophagic flux shows potential protective effects against cardiovascular disease.
  • Aging and hypertension are significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the cardioprotective potential of spermidine, a natural autophagy inducer.
  • To evaluate spermidine's effects in animal models of aging and hypertension.
  • To explore spermidine's impact on cardiac function, blood pressure, and renal damage.

Main Methods:

  • Administration of dietary spermidine to aged mice and salt-sensitive rats.
  • Assessment of cardiac autophagy and mitophagy.
  • Monitoring of arterial blood pressure and renal damage markers.
  • Analysis of global arginine bioavailability.

Main Results:

  • Dietary spermidine demonstrated cardioprotective effects in aged mice by enhancing cardiac autophagy and mitophagy.
  • Spermidine supplementation delayed hypertensive heart disease development in rats, with reduced arterial blood pressure.
  • The blood pressure-lowering effect was associated with improved arginine bioavailability and protection against renal damage.

Conclusions:

  • Spermidine is a cardio- and vascular-protective autophagy inducer.
  • Dietary spermidine can be readily integrated into common diets.
  • High dietary spermidine intake in humans correlates with reduced blood pressure and cardiovascular disease risk.

Keywords:
agingautophagycardiovascular diseasehypertensionpolyaminespermidine

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