Chinese scientists from Harbin Medical University have discovered a link between the natural substance spermidine and a reduced risk of depression. The research was published in the scientific journal broadcasting Journal of Affective Disorders (JAD).
Spermidine is found in soybeans, red beans, wheat germ, hazelnuts, peas, mushrooms, spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, almonds, pistachios, chestnuts, rice, white bread, apples, bananas, avocados and kiwis. Spermidine is also found in products of animal origin: beef, chicken, pork, turkey and duck meat, milk and eggs.
Spermidine is part of a group of molecules called polyamines. They are essential for cellular health and play an important role in supporting cellular processes such as growth, repair, and protection from stress.
Spermidine is known to support cell longevity by triggering autophagy, which helps cells remove damaged components and function optimally.
In the new study, researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of more than 19,000 people from 2005 to 2014.
Participants gave information about their nutrition. The data was then compared to the known spermidine content of various foods to estimate daily intake levels.
The analysis found that participants with higher spermidine intake were less likely to report symptoms of depression than those with lower intake levels.
This relationship persisted across different types of foods rich in spermidine. The results were supported by statistical models showing that participants in the group with the highest spermidine intake had lower odds of depression than participants in the group with the lowest spermidine intake.
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Source: Gazeta
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