Nattokinase supplements may reduce blood vessel blockages by 95 percent

Interest in nattokinase supplements is growing due to a recent study involving over 1,000 people. This study showed a significant reduction in blood vessel blockages by up to 95.4%.

Heart disease causes 32% of all global deaths, many of which could be prevented. You might wonder if nattokinase is different from other supplements that claim to cure heart disease, like omega-3s.

I found some surprising information in studies about blood clots and mobility. First, let's talk about what nattokinase is. It comes from natto, a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans. It's also a great source of protein and vitamin K2. Eating natto is thought to help the Japanese live longer and is linked to a lower risk of heart disease. 

Nattokinase may help break down blockages or plaque in blood vessels, which could prevent heart attacks and strokes. Some evidence supports this idea. For example, a single-cell study showed that nattokinase reduces the clumping of red blood cells and decreases blood viscosity. In mice, it prevented the thickening of blood vessel walls. 

In 2003, a study looked at whether nattokinase could prevent clots during long flights, which are a risk factor for clots in the legs or lungs. This small study found fewer clotting events with nattokinase. A similar study in 2009 showed that nattokinase supplements reduced clotting factors in the blood.

Excitement intensified in August 2022 when a new study of 1,062 patients showed a significant decrease in blood vessel blockages. This study is titled “Effective Management of Atherosclerosis Progress and Hyperlipidemia with Natokinase.”

Now, let's examine the study in detail and see how it connects with another supplement called serrapeptase. We’ll also review the latest preventive care guidelines to help reduce the risk of heart attacks. 

The 2022 study was retrospective, meaning that researchers looked back at the medical records of 1,062 participants who took nattokinase supplements for 12 months. This is important to note, as retrospective studies are different from randomized controlled trials. 

In randomized trials, one group takes the supplement and another group takes a placebo, allowing researchers to see the effect more clearly. For this study, participants had to have high cholesterol or mild atherosclerosis.

They were either recommended nattokinase to improve their heart health or chose to take it as a supplement. Importantly, participants had to start taking nattokinase recently; they could not have used it before. 

Most participants used a dosage of 10,800 fibrinolytic units, which is high. The typical dose is about 2,000 units. After 12 months of taking nattokinase, results showed a significant reduction in cholesterol compared to levels before starting treatment. However, we should be careful about the results.

We do not know what other treatments the participants might have started. We also don't know if they changed their lifestyles or began taking other medications.