Is nattokinase a natural blood thinner?

Fibrinogen is a blood protein that increases the risk of blood clots.

Nattokinase

lowers fibrinogen levels in the blood 11. Nattokinase also promotes healthy blood clotting by activating the body's natural enzymes that break down blood clots once they have formed. Nattokinase has been compared to our clot-dissolving enzyme, called plasmin. Nattokinase increases the production of plasmin in our body and of another enzyme that dissolves clots, urokinase.

Nattokinase has been shown to increase tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), a protein that activates plasmin so that it can do its job of breaking down blood clots.12 As tPA increases, so does plasmin, and so does the ability to dissolve blood clots. Nattokinase (NK), the most active ingredient in natto, has a variety of favorable cardiovascular effects, and the consumption of Natto has been linked to reduced mortality from CVD. Nattokinase can help prevent blood clots, lower blood pressure, and play a role in treating Alzheimer's disease. A new fibrinolytic enzyme (nattokinase) found in Natto vegetable cheese, a typical and popular soy food in the Japanese diet.

Nattokinase enhances the preventive effects of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 in colitis induced by sodium dextran sulfate in mice. A key issue that has not been adequately addressed is the mechanism by which NK is absorbed into the bloodstream after oral administration. Effects of nattokinase, a profibrinolytic enzyme, on red blood cell aggregation and whole blood viscosity. And while research doesn't support the use of ginkgo to lower blood pressure or the risk of stroke, ginkgo can cause blood-thinning side effects.

For this reason, there are no guidelines on the appropriate dose for taking nattokinase to treat any condition. Unlike other anticoagulants such as aspirin, which only decrease the tendency to form blood clots, nattokinase affects both sides of the coagulation cascade. In 1987, Sumi et al3 discovered that natto contained a potent fibrinolytic enzyme called nattokinase (NK). All of the above data suggest that NK could be a good candidate, with no obvious adverse effects, to improve blood flow and possibly be superior to aspirin.

Nattokinase seems to be one of those drugs that have such promising anti-atherosclerotic and lipid-lowering effects. Cerebellar bleeding caused by the combined use of nattokinase and aspirin in a patient with cerebral microhemorrhages.