Tier 2 — strong

Oral Spermidine Supplementation Preserves Submandibular Gland Function After Radiotherapy: Mechanistic Insights and Use in a Phase II Randomized Clinical Trial

Yu Min, Kun Gao, Yingtong Liu, Lei Dai, Xingchen Peng
MedComm 2026 7(8):e70862

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 42460130
PubMed Central
PMC13370102
DOI
10.1002/mco2.70862
Trial registry
View on ClinicalTrials.gov Registered trial — results not yet published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Funding
Supported by Chinese national and regional science grants and West China Hospital programs; funders reported no role in design, analysis or publication.
Competing interests
Authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Study snapshot

DesignPhase II randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with supporting mechanistic mouse, organoid and multi-omics work
ModelPatients receiving head-and-neck radiotherapy
Sample58 randomized participants (29 per arm)
InterventionOral spermidine 1 mg/day versus placebo during the peri-radiotherapy period
DurationFrom 1 week before radiotherapy to 1 week after; outcomes assessed to 3 months
EndpointsThree-month xerostomia incidence; Salivary flow; Quality of life; Adverse events; Mechanistic salivary-gland outcomes

What the study showed, in plain terms

In a 58-person Phase II trial during head-and-neck radiotherapy, oral spermidine reduced three-month xerostomia incidence and improved salivary output compared with placebo, without grade 3-4 adverse events.

Key findings

Xerostomia occurred in 48.28% of the spermidine group versus 79.31% of placebo at three months. This is clinically relevant supportive-care evidence, but it is not a longevity trial and should not be generalized to healthy adults.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Small proof-of-concept Phase II trial, highly specific cancer-treatment population and short follow-up. It does not establish long-term safety in oncology or efficacy for aging-related outcomes.

Editorial review

Reviewed by the Biohack Blueprint research team

Khaled Mahmoud