New research published in Affective Disorders Journal highlight a potential link between dietary intake of spermidine, a natural compound found in many foods, and reduced risk of depression. Researchers found that higher levels of spermidine in the diet were associated with lower rates of depressive symptoms in adults, suggesting spermidine-rich foods may have benefits for mental health. suggests that there is.
Depression is a widespread mental health disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by a variety of physical and mental symptoms, including persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest in activities, fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. Depression can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetic predisposition, brain chemistry, environmental stressors, and lifestyle factors such as diet.
Depression has a significant impact on quality of life and ranks as one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Given the high prevalence and heavy toll of depression, there is growing interest in identifying modifiable factors, such as diet, that may help prevent and manage it.
Spermidine is found naturally in a variety of foods, including soybeans, kidney beans, wheat germ, hazelnuts, peas, mushrooms, spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, almonds, pistachios, chestnuts, rice, white bread, apples, bananas, and avocados. It’s a compound. In addition to kiwi, this includes meat such as beef, chicken, pork, turkey, and duck, as well as animal products such as milk and eggs.
It is part of a group of molecules called polyamines, which are essential to cellular health and play a key role in supporting cellular processes such as growth, repair, and protection from stress. Spermidine has been shown to support cell lifespan by inducing autophagy, a process that helps cells remove damaged components and maintain optimal function.
Beyond cellular health, spermidine’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties have been the subject of research interest in aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and now mental health. Some studies suggest that spermidine may improve heart health, reduce inflammation, and enhance cognitive function, and scientists are wondering if spermidine has a protective effect against depression. We are currently investigating.
In the new study, researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a cross-sectional study that assesses the health and dietary patterns of a representative sample of U.S. adults. The study incorporated data collected from five NHANES cycles from 2005 to 2014 and involved more than 19,000 participants. Participants provided dietary information through a 24-hour recall interview, which was then cross-referenced with known spermidine content in various foods to estimate daily intake.
To assess symptoms of depression, researchers used the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), a validated survey tool that measures symptoms of depression over the past two weeks. Those who scored above a certain threshold on the PHQ-9 were classified as having significant depressive symptoms. Researchers also took into account other factors that may influence the risk of depression, such as age, gender, race, marital status, income, smoking, exercise habits, and medical conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
The analysis revealed that participants with higher spermidine intake were less likely to report depressive symptoms than those with lower intake. This association holds true for many different types of spermidine-rich foods, including fruits, vegetables, cereals, nuts, eggs, and seafood. These findings were supported by a statistical model showing that people in the group with the highest spermidine intake had lower odds of depression than those with the lowest intake.
Interestingly, not all sources of spermidine are associated with a lower risk of depression. For example, in this study, spermidine, which is found in legumes, raw meat, and dairy products, did not show a significant association with depression risk. Researchers speculate that certain compounds in cooked meat, such as saturated and trans fats, may interfere with spermidine’s protective effects on mental health. Therefore, while foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, eggs, and seafood were associated with a lower risk of depression, other dietary sources did not show similar benefits.
The study included a variety of demographic, health, and lifestyle factors, including age, gender, race, marital status, education, income, BMI, smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity, and preexisting conditions (e.g., hypertension, diabetes). Dietary factors were controlled. , hyperlipidemia), diet quality, caffeine, carbohydrate, calories, and fiber intake to determine the potential effects of spermidine on depression. However, this study is not without limitations.
First, it is cross-sectional, so we cannot prove causation. This means that we cannot confirm that taking spermidine directly prevents or reduces depression. It is also possible that participants’ dietary habits or other unmeasured factors contributed to the observed association.
Additionally, this study relies on participants’ self-reported dietary recalls, which may introduce inaccuracies. Future studies may benefit from tracking dietary intake over longer periods of time or using biological markers of spermidine levels in the body for more precise measurements. The researchers also hope to conduct additional research into whether spermidine directly affects brain health through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, or whether it interacts with other nutrients in ways that affect mood. suggests that it may be possible.
the study, “Association between dietary spermidine intake and depressive symptoms in US adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2014” authors are Guolian Qi, Jianing Wang, Yunyan Chen, Wei Wei, and Changhao Sun.
