By Dr. Mercola
If you're not familiar with nattokinase, you're not alone. CliffsNotes on the term might describe it as an enzyme purified and extracted from the bacterium Bacillus subtilis (aka natto), a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans and eaten for millennia. Why is nattokinase important for health? The answer is manifold, as it has been found to play an important role in the treatment and prevention of disease.
Benefits include a dramatic effect on blood clots. More recently, research has revealed the enzyme's impact on persistent sinusitis. Particularly during the colder times of the year, nasal problems are a common illness, which can develop into several variants, including sinus inflammation. The symptoms are not pleasant (few nasal problems are) and can lead to chronic rhino-sinusitis and/or nasal polyps.
But a recent study indicates that nattokinase is an effective way to treat these and related symptoms. Natural health advocate Dr Michael Murray says nattokinase has the ability to produce powerful effects to improve chronic rhino-sinusitis, far better than conventional drugs. He explains how nattokinase is produced:
"The enzyme nattokinase is produced by adding the bacterium Bacillus natto to boiled soybeans. The bacteria attempt to digest the soybeans by secreting nattokinase. The most popular and scientifically studied application of nattokinase focuses on its powerful fibrinolytic (clot-busting) activity.
This means that it breaks down fibrinogen, a component of blood clots and atherosclerotic plaques. High fibrinogen levels are another clear risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
One of the most common ways in which high levels of fibrinolysis manifest themselves in the body is through the development of nasal polyps, as it is deposited in nasal mucus. This is also why researchers decided to investigate how nattokinase could benefit this condition.
What is a mucolytic agent?
A mucolytic is an agent that makes mucus (the thick substance that makes sputum difficult to clear when you cough and often contributes to an "unproductive" cough) thinner and more fluid, making it easier to clear.
Most mucolytics are prescription drugs as they are chemically concocted rather than a natural substance. In addition, you will notice that the pharmaceutical companies that produce them make it clear that the drugs must be taken regularly for them to work properly.
Dr Michael Murray noted that for healthy nasal passages, sinuses and airways, it is important that secretions maintain the elasticity and fluidity of your airways. If your mucus is too thick, it is difficult to clear, which promotes inflammation, airway obstruction, breathing difficulties and, consequently, the formation of polyps. That's where nattokinase comes in, reducing these secretions and inflammation, as well as other problems that result. Furthermore:
"This effect is similar to that of other enzymes such as bromelain and serrapeptidase. And, this indicates that nattokinase is an important consideration in conditions other than chronic rhino-sinusitis, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis and sinusitis."
Background information on nattokinase: what it is and what it does
In 1980, Hiroyuki Sumi of the University of Chicago Medical School was researching the clot-busting aspects of conventional drugs and tried placing natto in a petri dish containing a blood clot. In 18 hours the blood clot dissolved, which is much less time than with drugs prescribed for the same purpose. Subsequent clinical studies have determined that nattokinase :
- Dissolves excess fibrin in blood vessels, which improves circulation, dissolves blood clots and reduces the risk of severe clotting, i.e. atherothrombotic prevention
- Increases HDL (good cholesterol), optimises cholesterol levels and has no side effects
- Reduces the viscosity of the blood, which improves its circulation and consequently lowers blood pressure
- Has "significantly stronger thrombolytic activity", comparable to that of another well-known anticoagulant: aspirin, a remedy known to trigger bleeding and stomach ulcers
- Can be absorbed by your intestinal tract when taken orally
Nattokinase and lowering blood pressure
In 2016, researchers observed a link between nattokinase consumption and both lowered blood pressure and Von Willebrand factor, which helps stimulate blood clotting and control bleeding after injury. Von Willebrand disease is an inherited condition that impairs this factor (related to another bleeding disorder called haemophilia). According to the study, nattokinase consumption was associated with a decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Moreover, the reduction in systolic blood pressure was observed in both sexes. However, the reduction was more pronounced in men taking nattokinase. Significantly, the researchers also noted that although a number of pharmaceutical options are available for these conditions, including "thiazide-type diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers, and beta-blockers," adverse effects may include:
Contraindications, i.e. possible injury
Synergistic effects, which may exacerbate the effects of the protocols, making the whole more important than the individual effects
Increased risk for some people, such as those with diabetic nephropathy, i.e. kidney damage caused by diabetes, including the possibility of impaired kidney function, abnormally low blood pressure (hypotension) and hyperkalaemia, i.e. higher than normal blood potassium levels
In fact, the study states:
"There is increasing interest in non-pharmaceutical sources of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, as well as diet-based strategies to support cardiovascular function and specifically to reduce hypertension.
Natural methods of reducing these inflammatory states are of interest, and dietary components with functional benefit to the hypertensive patient include essential fatty acids, for which the cardioprotective fatty acids found in fish, flax, walnut, seed and algae oils have known anti-inflammatory activities."
Nattokinase research
Animal and human studies have shown the effectiveness of nattokinase (NK) in "supporting the circulatory system by thinning the blood and dissolving blood clots".
In one study, dogs with chemically induced thrombosis in the main vein of their leg were given nattokinase capsules, and the clots dissolved within five hours.
A similar study on rats with induced thrombosis in their carotid artery showed "significantly greater thrombolytic activity" and a 62% increase in blood flow, compared to other enzymes that showed 15% and 0% blood flow.
According to Life Extension, another study in rats involved supplementing nattokinase for three weeks before and after endothelial damage to the animals' femoral arteries. The result was a more efficient thickening and dissolution of blood clots near the injury, compared to control animals that did not receive the supplement.
Since increased blood viscosity and coagulation can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, one study administered NK to healthy individuals as well as to those with high cardiovascular disease factors and others on dialysis, with a significant decrease in fibrinogen levels within two months.
On long-haul flights (and vehicle travel), one of the risks is the development of deep vein thrombosis, or blood clots, particularly when people are not standing up and moving around. A study comparing the effects of a combination of nattokinase and pycnogenol (derived from pine bark), and a control group of participants receiving a placebo, resulted in five problems with thrombosis in the control group and zero in the NK/pycnogenol group.
In addition, studies indicate that the longevity of Japanese people who have consumed natto (interestingly, one of its derivatives is vitamin K2) for thousands of years is greatly increased. In a much lower life form, the lifespan of nematodes (Caenorhabditis elegans) has also been significantly extended by nattokinase.
Nattokinase: Conventional remedies
Earlier research on nattokinase, conducted as part of a collaboration between Qingdao University in China and Northeastern State University in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, called natto a "miracle food" and noted one of its most important benefits: the prevention of heart disease.
It is well known in the medical world that when patients have the major risks of the number one cause of death in the United States (cardiovascular disease (CVD)) such as obesity, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, the first course of action is to put them on statins, offer bypass surgery or angioplasty to remove excess plaque in the arteries, or prescribe blood thinners. The latter can have serious side effects, including
Haemorrhage (internal bleeding) Abdominal cramps or pain
Diarrhoea Liver damage
Fatigue Hair loss
Feeling cold and shivering Nausea
However, smart scientists know that blood clots are another risk factor for heart health. The risk increases due to several factors, age being one of them. Smart Publications notes:
"Although our human body produces several enzymes to make blood clots, it only produces one enzyme (plasmin) to dissolve them. The problem is that as we age, plasmin production is reduced, making the blood more likely to clot and form a clot.
To make matters worse, fibrinogen (a blood clotting protein) levels increase with age. And high levels of fibrinogen usually lead to increased platelet aggregation, blood clotting, and eventually a heart attack or stroke... Preventing blood clots, especially in the elderly, is a crucial step in preventing heart attacks and strokes."
The key is to do it naturally, which nattokinase offers. According to Life Extension, nattokinase has been available for sale since 1998. Remember that natto food can be made from genetically modified soya. So be sure to read food labels.
Final remarks on nattokinase
Currently, scientists say that the recommended amount of nattokinase powder is two 100 milligram capsules per day. If you're wondering about the soy they contain, remember that natto is fermented soy, and fermentation removes the drawbacks of eating raw or cooked soy. You can even make your own natto at home, but if you prefer a supplement form, nattokinase is actually an enzyme derived from the food. The Baseline of Health Foundation notes:
"Some may question the usefulness of using a soy-derived product for health. Note that when soy is fermented, it neutralizes the harmful effects on your hormones. More importantly, what you get in a supplement is not natto, the food that is fermented from soy, but nattokinase, the purified enzyme extracted from natto. In other words, there is virtually no soy in nattokinase. Just be sure to look for a brand that uses non-GMO nattokinase, as most soybeans are genetically modified."
Significantly, a study in Egypt claims that nattokinase may be beneficial to people with Alzheimer's disease, as was the case in research on rats, which scientists determined after oral administration and subsequent study of their brain tissue. Further studies are underway.
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Väega - could you please be so kind
Väega - kas te oleksite palun nii lahke
