Nattokinase
Sep 5, 2023
Cardiovascular system support
Nattokinase is a kind of alkaline serine protease with strong fibrinolytic and thrombolytic activity, which is secreted by Bacillus natto and discovered in natto by Sumi et al (1). As an endogenous fibrinolytic enzyme, nattokinase is functionally similar to human plasmin.
Features:
Provides nutritional support for the maintenance and enhancement of normal healthy endogenous fibrinolysis
Provides nutritional support for the inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress
Non-GMO material, non-irradiated, safe for daily use
Nattokinase was reported to lower blood pressure by inhibiting the secretion of angiotensin-converting enzyme I and angiotensin II, and interact with fibrinogen in plasma to reduce blood viscosity, thereby lowering blood pressure (2).
Studies showed that nattokinase attenuates neovascularization in the retinas of mice with oxygen retinopathy (5), thus it can be useful in the treatment of such diseases, as retinopathy of prematurity, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vein occlusion, additionally, it can be used as a vitreous cleavage supplement in the treatment of proliferative vitreoretinal diseases.
According to recent studies, Nattokinase has various pharmacological effects, such as improving microcirculation and lowering blood pressure (2), anticoagulation (3), preventing atherosclerosis (4), relieving retinal angiogenesis (5), anticancer (6), inhibiting inflammation and oxidative stress (7). In addition to the research of nattokinase in the fields of thrombosis and hypertension treatment, nattokinase can also be used as a drug or adjuvant to treat diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD)(8), retinopathy (5) , hyperlipidemia (9) and oral mucositis (10).
Reference:
Sumi H., Hamada H., Tsushima H., Mihara H., Muraki H. A novel fibrinolytic enzyme (nattokinase) in the vegetable cheese Natto; a typical and popular soybean food in the Japanese diet. Experientia. 1987;43:1110–1111.
Hsia C.-H., Shen M.-C., Lin J.-S., Wen Y.-K., Hwang K.-L., Cham T.-M., Yang N.-C. Nattokinase decreases plasma levels of fibrinogen, factor VII, and factor VIII in human subjects. Nutr. Res. 2009;29:190–196. doi:
Jensen G.S., Lenninger M., Ero M.P., Benson K.F. Consumption of nattokinase is associated with reduced blood pressure and von Willebrand factor, a cardiovascular risk marker: Results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter North American clinical trial. Integr. Blood Press. Control. 2016;9:95–104.
Chang C.-H., Chen K.-T., Lee T.-H., Wang C.-H., Kuo Y.-W., Chiu Y.-H., Hsieh C.-L., Wu C.-J., Chang Y.-L. Effects of natto extract on endothelial injury in a rat model. Acta Med. Okayama. 2010;64:399–406.
Huang Z., Ng T.K., Chen W., Sun X., Huang D., Zheng D., Yi J., Xu Y., Zhuang X., Chen S. Nattokinase Attenuates Retinal Neovascularization via Modulation of Nrf2/HO-1 and Glial Activation. Investig. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2021;62:25.
Yan Y., Wang Y., Qian J., Wu S., Ji Y., Liu Y., Zeng J., Gong A. Nattokinase Crude Extract Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Growth in Mice. J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 2019;29:1281–1287.
Wu H., Wang Y., Zhang Y., Xu F., Chen J., Duan L., Zhang T., Wang J., Zhang F. Breaking the vicious loop between inflammation, oxidative stress and coagulation, a novel anti-thrombus insight of nattokinase by inhibiting LPS-induced inflammation and oxidative stress. Redox Biol. 2020;32:101500.
Bhatt P.C., Pathak S., Kumar V., Panda B.P. Attenuation of neurobehavioral and neurochemical abnormalities in an animal model of cognitive deficits of Alzheimer’s disease by fermented soybean nano nutraceutical. Inflammopharmacology. 2018;26:105–118. doi: 10.1007/s10787-017-0381-9.
Park K.-J., Kang J.-I., Kim T.-S., Yeo I.-H. The Antithrombotic and Fibrinolytic Effect of Natto in Hypercholesterolemia Rats. Prev. Nutr. Food Sci. 2012;17:78–82. doi: 10.3746/pnf.2012.17.1.078.
Zhang J., Tang Y., Yuan T., Yang M., Fang W., Li L., Fei F., Gong A. Nattokinase crude extract enhances oral mucositis healing. BMC Oral Health. 2021;21:555. doi: 10.1186/s12903-021-01914-4.
