As people grow older, their immune system slowly becomes less effective. This natural process means the body often has a harder time fighting infections and responding to vaccines.
Older adults are therefore more likely to become seriously ill from diseases such as influenza and COVID-19, even after being vaccinated.
Scientists have been searching for safe ways to strengthen the aging immune system, and a new study suggests that a naturally occurring compound called spermidine may offer some help.
The research was carried out by scientists at NDORMS and was published in the journal Aging Cell. The study focused on people over the age of 65 who had already received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The researchers wanted to find out whether taking a daily spermidine supplement could improve the immune response in people whose bodies were not producing enough protection after vaccination.
Spermidine is a natural molecule that is made inside our cells. It is also found in foods such as wheat germ, mushrooms, soy products, and some cheeses. Earlier laboratory studies suggested that spermidine helps cells stay healthy by supporting a process called autophagy.
This process acts like the cell’s recycling system, removing damaged parts so the cell can continue working properly. Autophagy becomes less active as people age, which may contribute to weaker immune function.
The clinical trial included 40 healthy adults aged over 65. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a spermidine supplement or a placebo every day for 13 weeks after receiving their third COVID-19 vaccine dose. Neither the participants nor the researchers knew who received the supplement until the study ended.
The researchers found that the supplement was safe and well tolerated, with no treatment-related side effects. They also discovered that around one-quarter of the volunteers had produced very weak antibody responses despite receiving three vaccine doses.
These individuals showed clear signs that their immune cells had aged more rapidly, including increased DNA damage and markers of cellular aging.
Among these poorer vaccine responders, spermidine appeared to improve several parts of the immune response. Participants developed higher antibody levels, stronger B-cell activity, and better ability to neutralize several variants of the coronavirus. Laboratory tests also suggested that spermidine reduced signs of immune aging while increasing autophagy.
The findings are encouraging because they suggest that not all older adults experience the same level of immune decline. Some people maintain strong vaccine responses, while others may benefit from treatments that target the biological aging of immune cells.
However, the researchers emphasize that this was only a pilot study involving a small number of participants. The results do not prove that everyone over 65 should start taking spermidine supplements.
Larger clinical trials will be needed to confirm whether the supplement consistently improves responses to COVID-19 vaccines and whether similar benefits occur with influenza and other vaccines.
Study analysis: This was a carefully designed randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, which is considered one of the strongest study designs. However, the small sample size means the results should be viewed as preliminary. The study provides promising evidence for future research but is not yet strong enough to change medical recommendations.
If you care about inflammation, please read studies about turmeric: nature’s golden answer to inflammation, and what to eat to reduce chronic Inflammation.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how a plant-based diet could help ease inflammation ,and Vitamin D deficiency linked to increased inflammation.
