Spermidine Prevents Initial Infection and Spread of COVID-19 in Human Cells

A team at the Charite Hospital in Berlin has reported that human cells exposed in vitro (meaning 'outside the body') to spermidine and Covid-19 at the same time were better able to withstand infection and spread than human cells exposed only to Covid-19.

The mechanism behind this appears to be Covid-19's ability to inhibit autophagy and spermidine's ability to induce it. Autophagy is the process of recycling and renewal that all cells undergo to ensure survival. According to the German research team:

" A clinically approved and well-tolerated autophagy-inducing compound [such as spermidine] shows potential for evaluation as a treatment against SARS-CoV-2."

Further studies in humans are needed to confirm the same result in vivo (meaning 'in humans') but this initial study is promising.