Home Ingredients Wheat Germ Extract (Spermidine-Rich)

Wheat Germ Extract (Spermidine-Rich)

Triticum aestivum
Evidence Level
Limited
5 Clinical Trials
6 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

Spermidine-rich wheat germ extract is a concentrate made from the germ of common wheat (Triticum aestivum) by an extraction that targets polyamines, the small molecules spermidine, spermine and putrescine that are found in all living cells. Under EU rules it must contain 0.8 to 2.4 mg spermidine and 0.4 to 1.2 mg spermine per gram. It is sold for cell renewal and healthy aging because, in cell and animal studies, spermidine switches on autophagy, the process cells use to recycle worn-out parts, and extends lifespan in mice. That has not been shown in people. The human trials of the extract are small and were run by researchers with financial ties to the extract's maker: a 3-month pilot in 30 older adults with memory complaints looked encouraging, but a 12-month trial in 100 found no memory benefit. The extract is made from wheat, which matters for anyone who must avoid gluten.

Studied Dose 750 mg of extract a day in both memory trials, giving about 0.9 mg spermidine and 0.5 mg spermine (12 months) or 1.2 mg spermidine and 0.6 mg spermine (3 months). EU rules cap supplements for adults at the equivalent of 6 mg spermidine a day.
Active Compound Polyamines from wheat germ (Triticum aestivum), chiefly spermidine (0.8 to 2.4 mg/g under EU specifications) and spermine (0.4 to 1.2 mg/g), with small amounts of putrescine.

Benefits

Memory in older adults with subjective cognitive decline

In a 12-month randomized placebo-controlled trial, 100 adults aged 60 to 90 with self-reported memory decline took 750 mg of extract a day (about 0.9 mg spermidine). The main memory measure, secondary outcomes and blood biomarkers did not differ from placebo. An earlier 3-month pilot in 30 people had suggested a memory gain that this larger trial did not confirm.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 2

Brain blood flow and white matter structure on MRI

In an exploratory MRI analysis of 75 people from the 12-month memory trial, blood flow in one brain region (the precuneus) rose on the extract compared with placebo, and a white matter measure in the cingulate held steady while it fell on placebo. Brain volume, cortical thickness and white matter lesions did not differ, and the MRI changes were not linked to memory.

Supported by Trial 4

Cognitive test scores with spermidine-rich wheat germ bread rolls

In a 3-month double-blind study in 85 nursing home residents, most living with mild or moderate dementia, people ate a wheat germ roll (3.3 mg spermidine) or a wheat bran roll (1.9 mg) six days a week. Test scores rose in both groups, the groups were not compared directly, and no result met the authors' own corrected significance threshold. This tested a food, not an extract.

Supported by Trial 5

Effect on blood spermidine levels

In 30 older adults, 750 mg of extract a day (1.2 mg spermidine) for 3 months did not change whole-blood spermidine compared with placebo. In the bread roll study, serum spermidine rose in the group eating wheat germ rolls, which supplied more spermidine per day than typical extract capsules. Whether a roughly 1 mg serving changes tissue levels in people is unknown.

Supported by Trial 3, Trial 5

Standardized source of spermidine and spermine

EU novel food rules define the extract as made from non-fermented, non-sprouting wheat germ by an extraction aimed at polyamines, with 0.8 to 2.4 mg spermidine and 0.4 to 1.2 mg spermine per gram. The human trials used 750 mg of extract a day, giving 0.9 to 1.2 mg spermidine. The EU permits it in supplements for adults up to the equivalent of 6 mg spermidine a day.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 2

Autophagy and lifespan in laboratory and animal studies

In mice, oral spermidine extended lifespan, increased autophagy in heart muscle and preserved heart relaxation in old age, and in aging flies and mice dietary spermidine supported brain mitochondrial function and memory. These are animal results with spermidine, not tests of the wheat germ extract in people, and no human trial has measured lifespan or the pace of aging.

Supported by Trial 3, Trial 4

Mechanism of action

1

Supplies spermidine for eIF5A hypusination

Spermidine is the raw material for hypusination, a chemical change to the protein translation factor eIF5A. In aging flies and mice, dietary spermidine raised hypusination, improved mitochondrial function in the brain and preserved memory. This pathway has been shown in animals and has not been measured in people taking wheat germ extract.

2

Autophagy-dependent effects in animal hearts

In old mice, spermidine increased autophagy and mitophagy in heart muscle, and its heart benefits disappeared in mice lacking the autophagy gene Atg5 in heart cells, which suggests autophagy is required. In salt-sensitive rats on a high-salt diet it lowered blood pressure. These findings come from animal models only.

3

Polyamines from the body, food and gut bacteria

The body makes its own polyamines and also takes them up from food and from the digestive tract. Tissue levels fall with age in some tissues, though they are maintained in healthy people in their nineties and older. Higher polyamine levels are associated with better health in observational data, which does not show that a supplement changes outcomes.

Clinical trials

1
SmartAge: 12-Month RCT of Wheat Germ Extract for Memory (No Primary Benefit)
PubMed

Single-center, 12-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2b trial of 750 mg/day spermidine-rich wheat germ extract (about 0.9 mg spermidine and 0.5 mg spermine a day) supplied by The Longevity Labs (Schwarz et al. 2022, JAMA Netw Open)

100 adults aged 60 to 90 with subjective cognitive decline in Germany (51 extract, 49 placebo); 89 completed.

Mnemonic discrimination, the primary memory outcome, did not differ from placebo (between-group difference -0.03, 95% CI -0.11 to 0.05, P = .47), and secondary outcomes did not change. Exploratory signals for verbal memory and inflammation, and a slower Trail Making B time on the extract, would not survive correction for multiple testing. Adverse events were similar (58 vs 71 events), with musculoskeletal events in more people on the extract (11 vs 4). The maker funded development of the extract and several authors held equity in it.

2
3-Month Pilot of Wheat Germ Extract for Memory (Not Confirmed Later)
PubMed

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2a pilot of 750 mg/day wheat germ extract giving 1.2 mg spermidine a day for 3 months (Wirth et al. 2018, Cortex)

30 cognitively intact adults aged 60 to 80 with subjective cognitive decline.

Memory performance favored the extract by effect size (contrast .17, 95% CI -.01 to .35; Cohen's d .77), an imprecise estimate whose interval included no difference. The authors called for a larger trial; the 12-month SmartAge trial that followed found no memory benefit. The safety report from this same trial lists a financial interest in the maker for several authors.

3
Wheat Germ Extract Safety: 3-Month RCT in Older Adults plus 28-Day Mouse Study
PubMed

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 safety analysis of 3 capsules a day (750 mg extract; 1.2 mg spermidine, 0.6 mg spermine, 0.2 mg putrescine) for 3 months, with a 28-day oral toxicity study in mice (Schwarz et al. 2018, Aging (Albany NY))

30 adults aged 60 to 80 with subjective cognitive decline (28 completed); people with a known wheat germ or gluten allergy were excluded.

There were no between-group differences in vital signs, weight, blood chemistry or blood counts, and whole-blood spermidine did not change (8.5 to 8.3 nmol/ml on the extract). There was one serious adverse event per group, neither judged related. Compliance was 98%. Four authors had a financial interest in the maker, The Longevity Labs.

4
SmartAge MRI Substudy: Brain Perfusion and White Matter (Exploratory)
PubMed

Exploratory secondary MRI analysis of the 12-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled SmartAge trial of 0.9 mg/day spermidine from wheat germ extract (Schwarz et al. 2026, Aging Dis)

75 adults aged 60 to 90 with subjective cognitive decline.

Precuneus blood flow rose versus placebo (difference 4.9 ml/100 g/min, 95% CI 1.0 to 8.9, P = .015), and cingulate white matter fractional anisotropy stayed stable while it fell on placebo (P = .029). Brain volume, cortical thickness and white matter lesions did not differ, and the MRI changes were not associated with memory changes. The authors call the findings preliminary and in need of independent confirmation.

5
Spermidine-Rich Wheat Germ Bread Rolls in Nursing Home Residents: 3-Month Trial
PubMed

Randomized, double-blind, multicenter two-group trial comparing a wheat germ roll (3.3 mg spermidine per roll) with a wheat bran roll (1.9 mg) eaten at breakfast six days a week, with no placebo group (Pekar et al. 2021, Wien Klin Wochenschr)

85 analyzed of 92 enrolled residents of six nursing homes in Styria, Austria, mean age 83; most had mild or moderate dementia.

CERAD total scores rose in both groups (6.25 and 4.00 points) with no direct between-group comparison; in the mild dementia subgroup, MMSE rose 2.23 points on the wheat germ roll (P = .026). None of these met the authors' Bonferroni threshold of P < .0167. Serum spermidine rose only with the wheat germ roll. The study was investigator funded and tested a food, not an extract supplement.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well tolerated in trials of 750 mg extract a day for 3 and 12 months: no differences from placebo in vital signs, weight, blood chemistry or blood counts, and similar adverse event rates, although musculoskeletal complaints were reported by more people on the extract (11 vs 4) in the 12-month trial. No data exist beyond 12 months.
The extract is made from wheat germ. The trials excluded people with a known wheat germ or gluten allergy, so people with celiac disease, wheat allergy or gluten sensitivity should avoid it unless the finished product is verified gluten-free and they have checked with their doctor.
The EU authorizes this extract in supplements for adults only, excluding pregnant and breastfeeding women, at up to the equivalent of 6 mg spermidine a day.
Wheat germ extract has not been shown to slow aging or extend life in people and is not a substitute for medical care.

Important Drug interactions

No drug-interaction studies of spermidine-rich wheat germ extract have been published.
Blood thinners: the trials excluded people taking anticoagulants, and the 3-month trial also excluded platelet inhibitors, so there are no safety data for these users; ask a doctor or pharmacist first.

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Frequently asked questions about Wheat Germ Extract (Spermidine-Rich)

How much spermidine does a wheat germ extract supplement provide?

Not much by weight. EU specifications require 0.8 to 2.4 mg of spermidine per gram of extract, so the 750 mg a day used in the human trials supplied about 0.9 to 1.2 mg spermidine plus a smaller amount of spermine. The EU caps supplements at the equivalent of 6 mg spermidine a day. Compare labels by the mg of spermidine, not just the mg of extract.

Does wheat germ extract improve memory?

The best evidence says no. A 3-month pilot in 30 older adults with memory complaints looked encouraging, but the 12-month trial in 100 people that followed found no difference from placebo on its main memory test or on biomarkers. Some exploratory brain scan and inflammation findings have not been confirmed, and the researchers had financial ties to the extract's maker.

Is wheat germ extract the same as a spermidine supplement?

Not exactly. The extract is a mix of polyamines (spermidine, spermine and a little putrescine) plus other wheat germ components, while some spermidine products use purified or nature-identical spermidine at different doses. Results from one form do not automatically apply to another; for example, the hair growth trial often cited for spermidine used a different tablet whose spermidine source was not stated.

Can people who avoid gluten take wheat germ extract?

Use caution. The extract is made from wheat germ, and the trials excluded people with a known wheat germ or gluten allergy, so they offer no safety data for that group. People with celiac disease, wheat allergy or gluten sensitivity should avoid it unless the finished product is verified gluten-free and they have checked with their doctor.

Has wheat germ extract been shown to slow aging or extend life?

No. Lifespan gains and autophagy effects were seen in mice and other animals given spermidine. No human trial has measured lifespan or the pace of aging with wheat germ extract, and the longest human trial, at 12 months, focused on memory and found no benefit on its main outcome.

What is Wheat Germ Extract?

Spermidine-rich wheat germ extract is a concentrate made from the germ of common wheat (Triticum aestivum) by an extraction that targets polyamines, the small molecules spermidine, spermine and putrescine that are found in all living cells. Under EU rules it must contain 0.8 to 2.4 mg spermidine and 0.4 to 1.

What is Wheat Germ Extract used for?

Wheat Germ Extract has several researched uses. In a 12-month randomized placebo-controlled trial, 100 adults aged 60 to 90 with self-reported memory decline took 750 mg of extract a day (about 0.9 mg spermidine).

What is the recommended dosage of Wheat Germ Extract?

The clinically studied dose is 750 mg of extract a day in both memory trials, giving about 0.9 mg spermidine and 0.5 mg spermine (12 months) or 1.2 mg spermidine and 0.6 mg spermine (3 months). EU rules cap supplements for adults at the equivalent of 6 mg spermidine a day. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Wheat Germ Extract safe, and does it have side effects?

Side effects and cautions reported for Wheat Germ Extract include: Generally well tolerated in trials of 750 mg extract a day for 3 and 12 months: no differences from placebo in vital signs, weight, blood chemistry or blood counts, and similar adverse event rates, although musculoskeletal complaints were reported by more people on the extract (1… It may also interact with some medications. Wheat Germ Extract is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Wheat Germ Extract interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: No drug-interaction studies of spermidine-rich wheat germ extract have been published. Blood thinners: the trials excluded people taking anticoagulants, and the 3-month trial also excluded platelet inhibitors, so there are no safety data for these users; ask a doctor or pharmacis… If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Wheat Germ Extract?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Wheat Germ Extract as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 5 clinical trials and 11 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(11 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Schwarz C, Benson GS, Horn N, Wurdack K, Grittner U, Schilling R, Märschenz S, Köbe T, Hofer SJ, Magnes C, Stekovic S, Eisenberg T, Sigrist SJ, Schmitz D, Wirth M, Madeo F, Flöel A. Effects of Spermidine Supplementation on Cognition and Biomarkers in Older Adults With Subjective Cognitive Decline: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(5):e2213875. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.13875.PubMedUsed to support: SmartAge 12-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2b trial in 100 adults aged 60 to 90 with subjective cognitive decline: 750 mg a day of a wheat germ extract from The Longevity Labs (about 0.9 mg spermidine, 0.5 mg spermine) did not change the primary memory outcome (between-group difference -0.03, P = .47), secondary outcomes or biomarkers versus placebo. Exploratory verbal memory and inflammation signals need confirmation at a higher dose. Adverse events were similar. The maker funded development of the extract, and several authors held equity in it.
  2. Wirth M, Benson G, Schwarz C, Köbe T, Grittner U, Schmitz D, Sigrist SJ, Bohlken J, Stekovic S, Madeo F, Flöel A. The effect of spermidine on memory performance in older adults at risk for dementia: A randomized controlled trial. Cortex. 2018;109:181-188. doi: 10.1016/j.cortex.2018.09.014.PubMedUsed to support: 3-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2a pilot in 30 cognitively intact adults aged 60 to 80 with subjective cognitive decline taking a spermidine-rich plant extract: memory performance favored the extract by effect size (contrast .17, 95% CI -.01 to .35; Cohen's d .77), an imprecise estimate; the authors called for a phase 2b trial, which later found no benefit.
  3. Schwarz C, Stekovic S, Wirth M, Benson G, Royer P, Sigrist SJ, Pieber T, Dammbrueck C, Magnes C, Eisenberg T, Pendl T, Bohlken J, Köbe T, Madeo F, Flöel A. Safety and tolerability of spermidine supplementation in mice and older adults with subjective cognitive decline. Aging (Albany NY). 2018;10(1):19-33. doi: 10.18632/aging.101354.PubMedUsed to support: Safety report of the 3-month pilot: 30 older adults took 750 mg a day of wheat germ extract from The Longevity Labs (1.2 mg spermidine, 0.6 mg spermine, 0.2 mg putrescine) or placebo, with no between-group differences in vital signs, weight, blood chemistry, blood counts or whole-blood spermidine and one unrelated serious adverse event per group. People with known wheat germ or gluten allergy, or taking anticoagulants or platelet inhibitors, were excluded. A 28-day mouse study judged the extract safe; the only finding was a 12% rise in relative kidney weight in female mice at the highest dose. Four authors had a financial interest in the maker.
  4. Schwarz C, Wurdack K, Hetzer S, Dell'Orco A, Wortha SM, Antonenko D, Benson GS, Horn N, Grittner U, Hofer SJ, Eisenberg T, Sigrist SJ, Schmitz D, Wirth M, Madeo F, Flöel A. Effects of Spermidine Supplementation on Vascular Brain Health in Older Individuals with Subjective Cognitive Decline - An Exploratory MRI Analysis. Aging Dis. 2026;Online ahead of print. doi: 10.14336/AD.2026.0559.PubMedUsed to support: Exploratory secondary MRI analysis of 75 SmartAge participants after 12 months of 0.9 mg/day spermidine or placebo: precuneus blood flow rose (difference 4.9 ml/100 g/min, P = .015) and cingulate white matter fractional anisotropy was preserved (P = .029), with no differences in brain volume, cortical thickness or white matter lesions and no link to memory changes. The authors call it preliminary.
  5. Pekar T, Bruckner K, Pauschenwein-Frantsich S, Gschaider A, Oppliger M, Willesberger J, Ungersbäck P, Wendzel A, Kremer A, Flak W, Wantke F, Jarisch R. The positive effect of spermidine in older adults suffering from dementia : First results of a 3-month trial. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2021;133(9-10):484-491. doi: 10.1007/s00508-020-01758-y.PubMedUsed to support: 3-month randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial in 85 Austrian nursing home residents (mean age 83) comparing wheat germ bread rolls (3.3 mg spermidine each) with wheat bran rolls (1.9 mg): cognitive scores rose in both groups without a direct between-group test, the headline P values (.026 to .041) missed the authors' Bonferroni threshold of .0167, and serum spermidine rose only with the wheat germ rolls. Investigator funded; a food, not an extract supplement.
  6. Hofer SJ, Liang Y, Zimmermann A, Schroeder S, Dengjel J, Kroemer G, Eisenberg T, Sigrist SJ, Madeo F. Spermidine-induced hypusination preserves mitochondrial and cognitive function during aging. Autophagy. 2021;17(8):2037-2039. doi: 10.1080/15548627.2021.1933299.PubMedUsed to support: Summary of fruit fly and mouse studies in which dietary spermidine increased hypusination of the translation factor eIF5A, improved brain mitochondrial function and preserved cognition during aging. Animal work only; it lists wheat germ among dietary spermidine sources.
  7. Eisenberg T, Abdellatif M, Schroeder S, Primessnig U, Stekovic S, Pendl T, Harger A, Schipke J, Zimmermann A, Schmidt A, Tong M, Ruckenstuhl C, Dammbrueck C, Gross AS, Herbst V, Magnes C, Trausinger G, Narath S, Meinitzer A, Hu Z, Kirsch A, Eller K, Carmona-Gutierrez D, Büttner S, Pietrocola F, Knittelfelder O, Schrepfer E, Rockenfeller P, Simonini C, Rahn A, Horsch M, Moreth K, Beckers J, Fuchs H, Gailus-Durner V, Neff F, Janik D, Rathkolb B, Rozman J, de Angelis MH, Moustafa T, Haemmerle G, Mayr M, Willeit P, von Frieling-Salewsky M, Pieske B, Scorrano L, Pieber T, Pechlaner R, Willeit J, Sigrist SJ, Linke WA, Mühlfeld C, Sadoshima J, Dengjel J, Kiechl S, Kroemer G, Sedej S, Madeo F. Cardioprotection and lifespan extension by the natural polyamine spermidine. Nat Med. 2016;22(12):1428-1438. doi: 10.1038/nm.4222.PubMedUsed to support: In mice, oral spermidine extended lifespan, reduced cardiac hypertrophy and preserved diastolic function with increased cardiac autophagy and mitophagy; the heart effects were lost in mice lacking Atg5 in heart cells. In salt-sensitive rats it lowered blood pressure and delayed heart failure. The human part was observational (dietary spermidine linked to lower blood pressure and cardiovascular disease). Animal results, not a human supplement trial.
  8. Madeo F, Hofer SJ, Pendl T, Bauer MA, Eisenberg T, Carmona-Gutierrez D, Kroemer G. Nutritional Aspects of Spermidine. Annu Rev Nutr. 2020;40:135-159. doi: 10.1146/annurev-nutr-120419-015419.PubMedUsed to support: Review: polyamines come from the body's own synthesis, from food and from the gut; levels decline with age in a tissue-dependent way but are maintained in healthy nonagenarians and centenarians; higher polyamine levels are associated with better health and lower mortality, and dietary spermidine extends lifespan in animal models. A narrative review by researchers linked to the extract's maker, not a trial.
  9. Rinaldi F, Marzani B, Pinto D, Ramot Y. A spermidine-based nutritional supplement prolongs the anagen phase of hair follicles in humans: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2017;7(4):17-21. doi: 10.5826/dpc.0704a05.PubMedUsed to support: 90-day randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 100 healthy adults of a once-daily spermidine-based tablet that raised anagen V-VI hair follicles and Ki-67 versus placebo. The paper does not state the tablet's spermidine source or amount, so it is not a test of wheat germ extract; it was funded by the maker (Giuliani), which employed two authors, retained another as a consultant and gave the fourth travel support.
  10. European Commission. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1023 of 23 July 2018 correcting Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 establishing the Union list of novel foods. Official Journal of the European Union. 2018;L 187:1-133, 24.7.2018..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed (official EU regulation). Recital 11 and the Union list entry: spermidine-rich wheat germ extract (Triticum aestivum) is authorized in food supplements for the adult population excluding pregnant and lactating women, at a maximum equivalent of 6 mg spermidine a day, labeled as spermidine-rich wheat germ extract.
  11. European Commission. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/443 of 25 March 2020 authorising the change of the specifications of the novel food spermidine-rich wheat germ extract (Triticum aestivum) under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470. Official Journal of the European Union. 2020;L 92:7-9, 26.3.2020..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed (official EU regulation). Records that TLL The Longevity Labs GmbH notified the extract as a novel food on 6 December 2017, and sets its specification: made from non-fermented, non-sprouting wheat germ by solid-liquid extraction targeting polyamines, with 0.8 to 2.4 mg/g spermidine, 0.4 to 1.2 mg/g spermine and under 0.3 mg/g putrescine.