Tier 1 — highest

Spermidine in health and disease

Frank Madeo, Tobias Eisenberg, Federico Pietrocola, Guido Kroemer

Science 2018 359(6374):eaan2788

Bibliography

PubMed: PMID 29371440
DOI: 10.1126/science.aan2788

Study snapshot

Design	Narrative scientific review
Model	Human, animal and cellular literature
Sample	Not applicable — review
Intervention	Not applicable; synthesis of spermidine biology and translational evidence
Duration	Not applicable — review
Endpoints	Autophagy; Cardiovascular biology; Neuroprotection; Cancer immunosurveillance; Aging; Human epidemiology

What the study showed, in plain terms

This landmark Science review helped establish spermidine as a caloric-restriction-mimetic candidate by integrating autophagy mechanisms, animal healthspan/lifespan findings and early human epidemiology.

Key findings

The review makes a strong translational case but predates the larger modern human RCTs. Its geroprotective conclusions are driven mainly by preclinical and observational evidence rather than proven human lifespan extension.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Narrative review published before SmartAge, modern pharmacokinetic studies and later conflicting epidemiology. It should be read as a foundational synthesis, not current proof of clinical efficacy.

Editorial review

Reviewed by the Biohack Blueprint research team

Khaled Mahmoud