Superfood In Search of the Fountain of Youth: Compounds That Keep Us Young and Let Us Live Healthier Lives

The biogenic polyamine spermidine has received a lot of attention since it was scientifically shown to slow down the aging process when taken in adequate quantities. Determining the spermidine levels in foodstuffs requires the right analysis strategy given that many have a highly complex matrix. Scientists at the Westphalian University in Recklinghausen, Germany have developed an efficient, fully automated method based on HPLC-TOF-MS to determine spermidine in the “superfood” Apilarnil.

According to the Federal Statistical Office, life expectancy in Germany has almost doubled in the past 100 years: Girls born between 2020 and 2022 will live to an average of 83.2 years. On average, boys died five years earlier at 78.3 years old. But that doesn’t for a minute stop us from wanting to live even longer and healthier lives. Life can be understood as a natural process, which after a point is characterized by progressive impairment of cell functions. Aging is part of life, but can it be slowed down?

Eat, Drink and be Merry