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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
Summary
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.
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