http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19735716?dopt=AbstractPlus
oral polyamine appears to inhibit the progression of age-associated pathologies.
Lifestyle, especially food habits, is believed to inhibit the progression
of age-associated diseases and prolong the lifespan of humans.
Epidemiologic studies have suggested the relation between
several foods and prolonged longevity (Hu and Willett, 2002; Renaud
and Lanzmann-Petithory, 2001). Eating beans such as soy
may help decrease the incidence of age-associated diseases, such
as atherosclerotic plaque in arteries, and prolong longevity (Papanikolaou
and Fulgoni, 2008; Sacks et al., 2006).
Beans, especially soybeans, have the highest amount of the
polyamines (spermine and spermidine) present in natural foods
(Bardócz et al., 1993; Okamoto et al., 1997). Because spermine
and spermidine are not enzymatically degraded in the alimentary
tract, oral spermine and spermidine are absorbed quickly from
intestinal lumen and distributed to all organs and tissues (Bardocz
et al., 1990, 1995). And, we recently found that long-term intake of
polyamine-rich foods gradually increases blood polyamine levels
in humans and animals (Soda et al., 2009).
Polyamines are indispensable for cell growth and differentiation
and have important roles in cellular physiology.