What is nattokinase good for?

Seventy-three subjects completed the study, and those who took nattokinase had a significant reduction in blood pressure. Nattokinase enhances the preventive effects of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 in colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate in mice. In theory, nattokinase can cause an existing clot to break off due to its fibrinolytic property, causing a stroke or embolism at a distal location. However, long-term nattokinase supplementation had no effect on the subclinical progression of atherosclerosis and associated biomarkers in a study conducted on healthy individuals with a low risk of cardiovascular disease (20).

While nattokinase has been promoted as an alternative anti-cancer treatment, no clinical studies have been conducted. Purification and characterization of a potent fibrinolytic enzyme (nattokinase) present in natto vegetable cheese, a fermented soy food popular in Japan. Unlike other anticoagulants, such as aspirin, which only decrease the tendency to form blood clots, nattokinase acts on both sides of the coagulation cascade. Several studies have shown that nattokinase can be a safe and affordable all-natural treatment for cardiovascular diseases.

Theoretically, nattokinase can cause an existing clot to dislodge and cause a stroke or embolism in a distant location. Low doses of nattokinase have been shown to increase the expression of the ADAM10 gene, which belongs to a family of proteinases that degrade the amyloid precursor protein. Animal studies have shown that nattokinase can significantly reduce the increase in fibrinogen seen after a stroke and the severity of the stroke. Nattokinase is also available as a supplement and is best known for its effects in preventing and treating clots and for improving blood circulation.

Effects of nattokinase, a profibrinolytic enzyme, on red blood cell aggregation and whole blood viscosity. Nattokinase combined with red yeast rice, but not nattokinase alone, has potent effects on blood lipids in human subjects with hyperlipidemia. Nattokinase seems to be one of those drugs that have promising anti-atherosclerotic and lipid-lowering effects.