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Could something naturally found in wheat germ, mushrooms, and aged cheese help those with aging or otherwise weakened immune systems respond better to vaccines?

Rheumatology researchers at the UK’s University of Oxford studied spermidine, a naturally occurring compound that has been linked to the immune cellular recycling processes that become less efficient with age. In a double-blind randomized pilot trial, 40 adults over 65 received either 6 milligrams of spermidine daily or placebo for 13 weeks after their third COVID vaccine dose.

The most interesting results occurred among the roughly one-quarter of participants who initially responded poorly to vaccination. In these vaccine non-responders, spermidine increases spike-specific antibodies, improves memory B-cell responses, and strengthens neutralizing antibody activity. Researchers also find reductions in markers of immune-cell aging and increased activity of genes that trigger immunity.

Now this was a small pilot study, so it does not definitively prove that spermidine supplements will make vaccines work better for older adults generally. Larger trials are needed to confirm the effect and determine whether it works with other vaccines, including influenza vaccines, and for other age groups.

References on my website.

#Spermidine #Vaccines #HealthyAging #ImmuneSystem #MedicalResearch