Growth-Promoting Potential and Toxicity of Spermidine, a Polyamine and Biogenic Amine Found in Foods and Feedstuffs

Experiments were conducted to determine the relative growth-promoting potential and toxicity of dietary spermidine, a biogenic amine and polyamine. Week-old chicks were fed purified diets containing 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, or 1.0% supplemental spermidine for 2 weeks. As little as 0.4% supplemental spermidine depressed growth and hepatic ornithine decarboxylase activity, while hepatic concentrations of putrescine, spermidine, and N 1 -acetylspermidine increased. In a second experiment, 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.20, and 0.60% supplemental spermidine were fed. Low levels of supplemental spermidine tended to increase relative weights of the duodenum and pancreas. The temporal response to 0.00, 0.05, and 0.60% supplemental spermidine was determined in a third experiment when measurements were taken following 1, 2, 4, and 8 days of feeding. Chicks fed diets containing 0.05% supplemental spermidine had increased growth after only 1 day of feeding. Enlargement of the duodenum and pancreas was subsequently seen, although these changes became less obvious with time. It was concluded that the toxicity of polyamines increases with molecular weight and charge and, although some growth promotion is possible, the biogenic amine content of suspect feedstuffs should be determined before feeding with caution.