Spermidine improves gut barrier integrity and gut microbiota function in diet-induced obese mice

In this 2020 study published in Gut Microbes, spermidine supplementation causes a significant loss of weight and improves insulin resistance in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice. These effects are associated with the alleviation of metabolic endotoxemia and enhancement of intestinal barrier function, which might be mediated through autophagy pathway and TLR4-mediated microbial signaling transduction. Moreover, spermidine causes the significant alteration of microbiota composition and function. The results indicate that spermidine supplementation may serve as a viable therapy for obesity.