Health-Promoting Effects of Dietary Polyamines

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to summarize the latest information on the various aspects of polyamines and their health benefits. In recent years, attempts to treat cancer by reducing elevated polyamines levels in cancer cells have been made, with some advancing to clinical trials. However, it has been reported since 2009 that polyamines extend the healthy life span of animals by inducing autophagy, protecting the kidneys and liver, improving cognitive function, and inhibiting the progression of heart diseases. As such, there is conflicting information regarding the relationship between polyamines and health. However, attempts to treat cancer by decreasing intracellular polyamines levels are a coping strategy to suppress the proliferation-promoting effects of polyamines, and a consensus is being reached that polyamine intake does not induce cancer in healthy individuals. To provide further scientific evidence for the health-promoting effects of polyamines, large-scale clinical studies involving multiple groups are expected in the future. It is also important to promote basic research on polyamine intake in animals, including elucidation of the polyamine balance between food, intestinal bacteria, and biosynthesis.

Genotype and Maturity Stage Affect the Content and Composition of Polyamines in Tomato—Possible Relations to Plant and Human Health

“…However, to be able to declare a tomato health promoting based on PAs content and composition, additional studies are needed, not least connecting animal/human models with knowledge on tomato genotypes and maturation. Furthermore, the procarcinogenic properties of PAs in cancer patients [16][17][18][19][20][21] have to be further studied to secure a positive and not a negative effect from the intake of certain tomato genotypes rich in PAs.…”

“…Further, in a 20 year study of a cohort of 829 human participants, spermidine showed the strongest inverse relation with mortality among 146 nutrients investigated [18]. In contrast to these positive effects, PAs have been suggested to have procarcinogenic properties in cancer patients, since polyamine concentrations caused by enhanced biosynthesis have been found in several cancers [16,[18][19][20][21]. In cancer diagnosed patients, consumption of PAs increased the risk of cancer cell proliferation [22,23] or increased the malignant cell growth rate in established tumors [22].…”

“…The connection between PAs and cancer therapy and treatments has resulted in an increased interest in understanding how the polyamine metabolism can be of use in anticancer strategies [24]. However, for healthy individuals, a recent review concluded that a consensus is being reached that polyamine intake does not induce cancer [19]. Some investigations point to an inverse relationship between colorectal cancer and polyamine intake, though this was not found in postmenopausal women with BMIs above 25 [25,26].…”

“…Tomato is highly appreciated by humans, consumed either as fresh produce or as an ingredient [40], and it holds a relatively high content of nutrients, e.g., amino acids, vitamins and minerals [41]. A few previous studies have evaluated the content of PAs in tomatoes, indicating that PAs [19], and specifically Spm [24], increase during early maturation and thereafter decrease. The varying content of PAs over the maturation period in tomato, together with the positive relationships reported for PAs impact on human health [3], indicates opportunities to tailor nutritive tomatoes for improved public health.…”

The role of polyamine metabolism in remodeling immune responses and blocking therapy within the tumor immune microenvironment

“…The predominant polyamine in plant-derived foods is spermidine, whereas animal-derived foods have higher levels of spermine (13). Studies have shown that dietary polyamines intake is associated with cardiovascular, intestinal development, cancer progression, and anticancer immunity (14,15). Oral supplementation of spermidine in mice can prolong life span, enhance cardiac autophagy, and improves the mechanical elastic properties of cardiomyocytes (16).…”