Spermidine is currently a popular substance that wants to be used in the dietary supplement industry. Unfortunately, however, it is not that simple, because spermidine is considered a novel food and is restricted accordingly.
What is Spermidine?
Spermidine is a biogenic polyamine (organic compound) which, according to current knowledge, is present in almost all living organisms and body cells. This compound is of particular interest because it stimulates autophagie Autophagy is the term for the self-cleaning process of human cells. A complex structure of proteins and signals is involved, whereby, for example, invading pathogens or no longer functioning cell components can be degraded and utilized.
Spermidine is considered a Novel Food
Spermidine is considered a (novel food) because it had not been consumed by humans on a significant scale in the EU before May 1997.
Therefore, as an ingredient within the dietary supplement industry, the compound is restricted in its maximum levels between 0.08-0.24%.
There is a wheat germ extract with high spermidine content, which is approved as a novel food. The maximum levels as well as the description/definition for this extract can be found in the Union list and the implementing regulation (EU) 2020/443.
Among other things, the maximum content of spermidine is specified here as a maximum of 6mg/day, as well as the spermidine content of the extract as 0.8-2.4mg/g.
For other plant extracts containing spermidine, the research situation is unclear at best. There are no other approvals of spermidine in the EU.