Spermidine supplement boosts vaccine response in older adults, study finds

A daily supplement of spermidine, a compound found in wheat germ, mushrooms and aged cheeses, improved immune response to COVID-19 vaccination in older adults, researchers reported in the journal Aging Cell. The study, led by scientists at the Max Delbrück Center in Berlin and the University of Oxford, addresses immunosenescence, the age-related decline in immune function that leaves some older people with weak vaccine protection even after repeated doses. In the trial, older adults who took spermidine daily showed stronger antibody responses and reduced molecular markers of immune aging compared with a control group. The researchers said the compound supports autophagy, the cellular recycling process that clears damaged components and declines with age. The findings suggest spermidine could help restore aspects of immune function in older adults who respond poorly to vaccines. Collaborators included the Oxford Vaccine Group and researchers from Cardiff University.