Nattokinase is one of the most active functional ingredients in natto, the most unique is as a single compound, with potential effects of anti-thrombosis, anti-hypertension, anti-coagulation, anti-atherosclerosis, neuroprotections, etc.
What are the benefits of nattokinase supplements?
Table of Contents
- What is Nattokinase?
- How to use Nattokinase?
- What are the benefits of Nattokinase?
- Are there any side effects (disadvantages) of Nattokinase?
- Safety Precautions
- Where to buy Nattokinase capsules recommended by most people?
What is Nattokinase?
Nattokinase is a serine protease purified from natto, and natto is a traditional Japanese food, inoculated with Bacillus subtilis by cooked soybeans, and then made by fermentation.
It was found in research that Nattokinase not only has fibrinolysis activity but also can activate other fibrinolytic enzymes, such as pro-urokinase and tissue plasminogen activator.
Compared with other fibrinolytic drugs (urokinase, t-PA enzyme, streptokinase), it has the advantages of low side effects, low cost, and long half-life, and has the potential as a cardiovascular disease drug and functional food additive.
How to use Nattokinase?
Nattokinase activity is measured by the value of Fibrinolysis Units (FU). At present, there is not enough evidence to confirm the optimal dosage of oral Nattokinase, but human studies tend to use about 2000 FU to 5000 FU (fibrinolytic unit) per day.
What are the benefits of Nattokinase?
1. Nattokinase can reduce thrombosis
Coagulation is formed by a series of chemical reactions between special blood cells (platelets) and proteins (coagulation factors) in the blood and is an important defense mechanism of the human body.
Sometimes this process is abnormal, and abnormal blood clots (also called thrombi) appear in the arteries or veins, preventing blood flow to the surrounding tissues.
Acute arterial thrombosis is the proximal cause of most myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) and about 80% of strokes.
An open-label clinical trial (for 45 adults), divided into 3 groups, namely the healthy group, cardiovascular group, and dialysis group, all subjects took 2 Nattokinase capsules (nattokinase daily) in a single dose of 2000 FU for 2 months.
As a result, it was found that blood coagulation factors, such as fibrinogen, coagulation factor VII, and coagulation factor VIII, all continued to decline, and the declines were similar in each group.
Another double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (subjects were 12 healthy young men) pointed out that the D-dimer concentration and blood fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products of Nattokinase subjects were increased, and the tissue-type plasminogen initiator (T-PA) and urokinase in the human blood half-life of 4-20 minutes, its duration of action is longer (about 8 hours).
*Conclusion: Oral Nattokinase may have a positive effect on the suppression of thrombosis, but limited by the small sample size, more large-scale trials are still needed to confirm its clinical benefit.
2. Nattokinase prevents atherosclerosis
atherosclerosis is a chronic disease in which the arteries are hardened by the formation of plaque. The main risk factors include dyslipidemia, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, and genetic abnormalities.
A randomized controlled trial (26 weeks, 82 subjects with hyperlipidemia), divided into two groups, one group was given lipid-lowering drugs: simvastatin (simvastatin 20 mg), the other group was given Nattokinase (daily dose 6000 FU).
After the test, it was found that the carotid intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) and carotid plaque size of both groups decreased, but the amplitude was more significant in the Nattokinase group.
In addition, the blood lipid indicators of the two groups, such as TG, TC, and LDL-C, were reduced, but the amplitude was more significant in the simvastatin group, and Nattokinase was able to increase HDL-C.
*Conclusion: Oral Nattokinase may be helpful in preventing atherosclerosis, but limited to a small number of samples, more large-scale trials are still needed to confirm its clinical benefit.
3. Nattokinase helps regulate blood pressure
Hypertension is a basic public health problem. Complications include coronary heart disease and stroke, heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, renal impairment, retinal hemorrhage, and visual impairment.
There are about 7.5 million deaths due to hypertension worldwide each year, accounting for 12.8% of the total deaths. It is expected that by 2025, the number of hypertensive patients will increase to 1.56 billion.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (targeting 86 patients with prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension) pointed out that compared with placebo, oral Nattokinase (2,000 FU) for 8 weeks can reduce blood pressure (systolic blood pressure- 5.55 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure-2.84 mmHg).
*Conclusion: Oral Nattokinase may have a positive effect on blood pressure control, but limited to a small sample size, more large-scale trials are still needed to confirm whether it has clinical benefits.
4. Nattokinase is beneficial for hyperlipidemia
Dyslipidemia, which is manifested by an increase in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), is the core of the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis can be silent until the first major cardiovascular event is triggered ten years.
In guidelines around the world, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is designated as the main treatment target for patients with dyslipidemia.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-controlled study (6 months, for 47 patients with hyperlipidemia), divided into 3 groups, namely: Nattokinase group, Nattokinase combined with red yeast rice extract, placebo Agent.
It was found that the effect of Nattokinase on blood lipids did not appear until the 6th month, while the compound (Nattokinase combined with red yeast rice extract) improved all blood lipid measurement indicators from the 1st month.
In addition, the compound’s blood lipid reduction rate is also better than that of the single side. The relevant indicators are triglyceride (TG) 15%, total cholesterol (TC) 25%, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) 41% high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) 7.5%.
*Conclusion: Compared with Nattokinase, if it can be combined with red yeast rice extract, it can bring a better effect of improving hyperlipidemia.
5. Nattokinase improves nasal polyps
Nasal polyps (Nasal polyps) are inflammatory hyperplasia of sinus tissue. Although they can be observed in a variety of clinical conditions, including allergies, asthma, infections, fungi, cystic fibrosis, and aspirin sensitivity, the nasal polyps associated with chronic sinusitis polyps are the most common.
According to the location and size of polyps, the main symptoms of nasal polyps are nasal obstruction, runny nose and runny nose, loss or loss of smell, changes in taste, facial pain, etc.
An in vitro study pointed out that compared to saline, Nattokinase solution can reduce the nasal polyp tissue through fibrin degradation properties, and can also reduce the viscosity of snot and sputum.
*Conclusion: In vitro studies have found that Nattokinase can degrade nasal polyps, but human trials are lacking, and its effectiveness is yet to be confirmed.
Are there any side effects (disadvantages) of Nattokinase?
Nattokinase is a natural ingredient derived from natto. It has been a Japanese traditional diet for hundreds of years. It is extremely safe to consume from natto.
In the case of Nattokinase supplements, short-term use (up to 6 months) at the appropriate dose is usually safe.
Safety Precautions
1. Do not use during pregnancy, breastfeeding women, and minor children (because the relevant safety is unknown).
2. Do not use if the blood coagulation function is poor.
3. Do not use two weeks before surgery (may increase the chance of excessive bleeding during or after surgery).
4. Do not use in patients taking anticoagulants (may increase the risk of bleeding), the relevant drug names are aspirin, clopidogrel, diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen, dalteparin, enoxaparin, heparin, warfarin.
5. Do not use in patients with blood pressure-lowering drugs or hypotension (because Nattokinase has a blood pressure-lowering effect).
6. Do not use if the liver and kidney function is poor (because the relevant safety is unknown).
Where to buy Nattokinase capsules recommended by most people?
In recent years, food safety problems in various countries have exploded, and it is not healthy but black-hearted products that everyone spends on. Therefore, European and American products with relatively strict quality control have become popular products.
And iHerb.com is a large-scale medical cosmetics e-commerce company in the United States. It has a high satisfaction rate of 97% in the evaluation of Google customers. It provides global home delivery so that you can buy it without risking buying fakes through purchasing high-quality health products.
