Spermidine is linked to higher fitness in coronary artery disease

In an observational study, researchers assessed 187 older people with coronary artery disease, who had a median age of 72 years and were 80% men. They examined how dietary intake of spermidine, a naturally occurring compound, related to physical performance, body composition, and mitochondrial function. Each doubling of dietary spermidine intake was associated with a higher peak oxygen uptake of 2.6 millilitres per kilogram per minute. This link remained after adjusting for age, sex, and physical activity. Higher intake was also associated with a lower body fat percentage and more lean mass relative to body mass index. In a subgroup, higher spermidine intake was linked to greater mitochondrial respiration, the oxygen-using process by which cellular powerhouses generate energy.