Relationship between food polyamines and gross domestic product in association with longevity in Asian countries

Abstract

The relationship between gross domestic pro- duct (GDP) and dietary profile, with a focus on polyamine intake, was investigated in 35 Asian countries. Data on food supply, GDP, and health condition were collected from databases of the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Health Organization, respectively. The amount of polyamine intake from food was estimated using polyamine concentrations listed in published sources. The amounts of putrescine, spermidine, spermine, and total polyamines in 1000 kcal of food in Asian countries were 39.07 ± 17.98, 33.74 ± 14.35, 14.05 ± 6.60 and 86.85 ± 33.96 μmol/1000 kcal, respectively. Putrescine, spermidine, and spermine constituted 44, 39, and 17% of total polyamine, respectively. Vegetables contributed the largest amount of both putrescine and spermidine and the second largest amount of spermine (45.5%, 62.2% and 27.2% of total putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, respectively). Meat was the richest source of spermine and contributed the greatest amount (50%) of this polyamine. We showed a significant positive association between GDP and the amount of polyamine per 1000 kcal of food. Lifespan was associated with both GDP and the amount of polyamine per energy quotient of food. As several basic research studies have shown that polyamines help prolong longevity, it follows that polyamines may have a role in determining the lifespan of humans

The autophagy enhancer spermidine reverses arterial aging

“…Recently, the polyamine spermidine has been identified as a potent and specific inducer of autophagy (Eisenberg et al, 2009; Madeo et al, 2010). Spermidine is a natural dietary compound found in high concentrations in Mediterranean and Asian diets (Binh, 2010; Soda et al, 2010). Supplementation with spermidine extends lifespan in yeast and flies by an autophagy-dependent mechanism and reduces oxidative stress (Eisenberg et al, 2009; Guo et al, 2011; Minois et al, 2012).…”

Polyamines of Plant Origin - An Important Dietary Consideration for Human Health

“…Overall, there was a significantly higher supply of total polyamines in higher GDP countries, and it was suggested that increased polyamine intake may have some role in the difference in the prevalence of diseases associated with socioeconomic disparity (Binh et al 2010b). Although the daily amount of polyamine availability from foods in Asian countries was considerably lower than that reported in European countries, GDP of Asian countries was also positively correlated with polyamine content per energy (Binh et al 2010a). Furthermore, increased life expectancy was also associated with greater polyamine content per energy in Asian countries.…”

“…The polyamine content of a large range of different foods has recently been reported by Binh et al (2010aBinh et al ( , 2010b and polyamine intake was correlated with gross domestic product (GDP) and longevity. In a study of 49 European and other Western countries, differences in www.intechopen.com dietary intake were detected according to GDP (Binh et al, 2010b).…”

“…More detailed studies of the polyamine content of food have since been completed, and have revealed that corn, peas and potatoes are particularly rich vegetable sources of putrescine and spermidine; peas are also rich in spermine compared with the other foods of plant origin tested (with the exception of cashews); oranges are the richest fruit source of polyamines, particularly putrescine; and pears are a relatively rich source of putrescine and spermidine (Farriol et al, 2004, as cited in Larqué et al, 2007. In a recent study, Binh et al (2010a) reported the polyamine content of Asian foods. The highest putrescine concentrations were found in maize, citrus fruits, peas, soybeans, and other beans; soybeans, other beans, and vegetables were the richest sources of spermidine; and edible offal, molluscs, meats, soybeans and other beans were rich sources of spermine (Binh et al, 2010a).…”

“…In a recent study, Binh et al (2010a) reported the polyamine content of Asian foods. The highest putrescine concentrations were found in maize, citrus fruits, peas, soybeans, and other beans; soybeans, other beans, and vegetables were the richest sources of spermidine; and edible offal, molluscs, meats, soybeans and other beans were rich sources of spermine (Binh et al, 2010a). Furthermore, an examination of the polyamine content of 227 foods, with a focus on Japanese foods, was reported by Nishimura et al (2006).…”