Nattokinase

The Possible Benefits of Nattokinase, a Dietary Supplement

• Has been shown to be nutritionally supportive for maintenance and enhancement of normal healthy blood clotting. It has been shown to be supportive of the dissolving of blood clots.

Description

Nattokinase (NK) is a profibrinolytic serine protease extracted and purified from natto, a traditional fermented soybean food popular in Japan. The fermentation process includes incubating boiled soybeans with Bacillus natto. Current research suggests that NK may be useful in the maintenance and enhancement of normal healthy endogenous fibrinolysis, the dissolution of the essential portion of the blood clot or thrombus. Maintenance of optimum functioning of the body's fibrinolytic/thrombolytic systems may offer decreased risk of dangerous blood clots that contribute to a variety of conditions involving particularly the brain and cardiovascular systems.

The importance of blood clotting is obvious in relationship to survival in cases of injury. But the increasing stickiness of blood can have consequences. Antioxidants are supportive in protecting prostacyclin, a prostaglandin that thins blood. Antioxidants also scavenge free radicals, which are required to activate the blood clotting effects of thromboxane. These effects are mediated through the blood supply and have themselves full systemic manifestations. 
Clinical studies have shown that intravascular thrombolytic therapy with agents such as streptokinase, urokinase, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), and acylated plasminogen-streptokinase activator complex (APSAC) has significant benefits in reducing the morbidity and mortality of some cardiovascular conditions. The benefits of thrombolytic therapy extend far beyond the early survival period well into a decade after the first incidence of cardiovascular ischemia caused by blood clots restricting blood flow.

Although early clinical studies utilized intravascular administration of thrombolytic agents, it is now clear that some agents may be successfully administered orally, encapsulated for delivery into the small intestine. Clinical and animal studies demonstrate that the intestinal absorption of urokinase produces a prolonged level of activity in plasma together with a significant dissolving effect on clots.

While investigating natural food sources for fibrinolytic activity, a University of Chicago researcher Dr. Hiroyuki Sumi, discovered a potent fibrinolytic enzyme in a popular Japanese fermented food. His research group tested 173 foods including the traditional Japanese food called Natto, made from boiled and fermented soybeans. Natto has been part of the Japanese diet for centuries and the Japanese believed that this food item enhances cardiovascular health. They were surprised to find that this enzyme, nattokinase, has very potent fibrinolytic activity, stronger than that of plasmin or elastase, in vivo.

Subsequent research has shown that NK is absorbed from the intestinal tract and degrades plasma fibrinogen. As an endogenous plasma fibrinogen activator, NK 's thrombolytic activity can be maintained for a relatively long time. In summary, Nattokinase can be a valuable part of a cardiovascular health program that includes prophylactic use of anti-thrombotic agents. NK does not contain vitamin K.

The Products we carry with Nattokinase in them are:

Nattalone: containing 3,000 FU of Nattokinase per 3 capsules. Recommended dosage is 1cap 3X per day. 
Neprinol: containing 15,000 FU per capsule. Ingredients: Nattokinase, Serratiopeptidase, Lipase, Proteases, Amla, Papain, Bromelain, Rutin, Coenzyme Q10, Magnesium