Nattokinase
OTHER NAME(S): BSP, Extrait de Natto, Fermented Soybeans, Haricots de Soja Fermentés, Natto de Soja, Natto Extract, NK, Soy Natto, Subtilisin NAT, Nattokinase, Nattokinasa
Overview
Nattokinase is an enzyme that comes from a Japanese food called natto. Natto is made from boiled soybeans that have been fermented with a type of bacteria.
Nattokinase may thin the blood and help break up blood clots. This might protect against heart disease and conditions caused by blood clots such as stroke, heart attack, and others.
People take nattokinase for cardiovascular diseases including heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and stroke, but there is no good scientific evidence to support any of these uses.
Uses
We currently have no information for Nattokinase overview.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Nattokinase is commonly consumed in foods. It has been eaten in Japan for hundreds of years. Nattokinase is possibly safe when taken as medicine. Taking nattokinase supplements for up to 3 years seems to be safe.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Nattokinase is commonly consumed in foods. It has been eaten in Japan for hundreds of years. Nattokinase is possibly safe when taken as medicine. Taking nattokinase supplements for up to 3 years seems to be safe.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if nattokinase if safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.
Bleeding disorders: Nattokinase seems to act like a blood thinner and might make bleeding disorders worse. Use with caution.
Surgery: Nattokinase might increase the chance of bleeding during or after surgery. It might also make blood pressure difficult to control during surgery. Stop taking it at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with NattokinaseNattokinase might slow blood clotting. Taking nattokinase along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
- Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs) interacts with NattokinaseNattokinase might lower blood pressure. Taking nattokinase along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood pressure closely.
Dosing
Nattokinase is a natural part of a Japanese soy food called natto. As medicine, nattokinase has most often been used by adults in doses of 2000-7000 fibrinolytic units by mouth daily for up to 3 years. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.
References
- Suzuki Y, Kondo K, Matsumoto Y, et al. Dietary supplementation of fermented soybean, natto, suppresses intimal thickening and modulates the lysis of mural thrombi after endothelial injury in rat femoral artery. Life Sci 2003;73:1289-98..
- Suzuki Y, Kondo K, Ichise, H, et al. Dietary supplementation with fermented soybeans suppresses intimal thickening. Nutrition 2003;19:261–4.
- Sumi H, Hamada H, Tsushima H, et al. A novel fibrinolytic enzyme (nattokinase) in the vegetable cheese Natto; a typical and popular soybean food in the Japanese diet. Experientia 1987;43:1110-1.
- Sumi H, Hamada H, Nakanishi K, Hiratani H. Enchancement of fibrinolytic activity in plasma by oral administration of nattokinase. Acta Haematol 1990;84:139-43.
- Fujita M, Hong K, Ito Y, et al. Thrombolytic effect of nattokinase on a chemically induced thrombosis model in a rat. Biol Pharm Bull 1995;18:1387-91.
- Cesarone MR, Belcaro G, Nicolaides AN, et al. Prevention of venous thrombosis in long-haul flights with Flite Tabs: The LONFLIT-FLITE randomized, controlled trial. Angiology 2003;54:531-9.
- Fujita M, Nomura K, Hong K, et al. Purification and characterization of a strong fibrinolytic enzyme (nattokinase) in the vegetable cheese natto, a popular soybean fermented food in Japan. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1993;197:1340-7.
- Urano T, Ihara H, Umemura K, et al. The Profibrinolytic Enzyme Subtilisin NAT Purified from Bacillus subtilis Cleaves and Inactivates Plasminogen Activator InhibitorType 1. J Biol Chem 2001;276:24690-6.
- Tai, M. W. and Sweet, B. V. Nattokinase for prevention of thrombosis. Am J Health Syst.Pharm 6-15-2006;63(12):1121-1123.
- Pais, E., Alexy, T., Holsworth, R. E., Jr., and Meiselman, H. J. Effects of nattokinase, a pro-fibrinolytic enzyme, on red blood cell aggregation and whole blood viscosity. Clin Hemorheol.Microcirc. 2006;35(1-2):139-142.
- Chang, Y. Y., Liu, J. S., Lai, S. L., Wu, H. S., and Lan, M. Y. Cerebellar hemorrhage provoked by combined use of nattokinase and aspirin in a patient with cerebral microbleeds. Intern Med 2008;47(5):467-469.
- Kim, J. Y., Gum, S. N., Paik, J. K., Lim, H. H., Kim, K. C., Ogasawara, K., Inoue, K., Park, S., Jang, Y., and Lee, J. H. Effects of nattokinase on blood pressure: a randomized, controlled trial. Hypertens.Res 2008;31(8):1583-1588.
- Krishnan Medical Association SC. Effect of NSK-SD on Blood Pressure by Oral Administration. 7-12-2003;
- <p>Maruyama M, Sumi H (eds): Effect of natto diet on blood pressure, in Basic and Clinical Aspects of Japanese Traditional Food Natto II. Japan Technology Transfer Association (JTTAS), 1998, pp 1–3.</p>
- Kurosawa Y, Nirengi S, Homma T, et al. A single-dose of oral nattokinase potentiates thrombolysis and anti-coagulation profiles. Sci Rep 2015;5:11601.
- Yang NC, Chou CW, Chen CY, Hwang KL, Yang YC. Combined nattokinase with red yeast rice but not nattokinase alone has potent effects on blood lipids in human subjects with hyperlipidemia. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2009;18(3):310-7.
- Hodis HN, Mack WJ, Meiselman HJ, et al. Nattokinase atherothrombotic prevention study: A randomized controlled trial. Clin Hemorheol Microcirc. 2021 Apr 2. doi: 10.3233/CH-211147.
- Park S, Kim CJ, Ha KC, et al. Efficacy and safety of aronia, red ginseng, shiitake mushroom, and nattokinase mixture on insulin resistance in prediabetic adults: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Foods 2021;10(7):1558.
- Ramachandran L, Aqeel A, Jafri A, Sidhu Y, Mohamed Djirdeh T. Nattokinase-associated hemoperitoneum in an elderly woman. Cureus 2021;13(12):e20074.
- Awatani-Yoshidome K, Hashimoto T, Satoh T. Anaphylaxis from nattokinase in a patient with fermented soybean (natto) allergy. Allergol Int 2022;71(1):153-4.
- Gallelli G, Di Mizio G, Palleria C, et al. Data recorded in real life support the safety of nattokinase in patients with vascular diseases. Nutrients 2021;13(6):2031.
- Chen H, Chen J, Zhang F, et al. Effective management of atherosclerosis progress and hyperlipidemia with nattokinase: A clinical study with 1,062 participants. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022;9:964977.
- Suzuki K, Nakamura M, Sato N, Futamura K, Matsunaga K, Yagami A. Nattokinase, a subtilisin family serine protease, is a novel allergen contained in the traditional Japanese fermented food natto. Allergol Int 2022.
- Liang M, Zhang J, Yang Y, et al. Nattokinase enhances the preventive effects of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 on dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2022;39(1):8.