NATTOKINASE
Articles by a Naturopathic Doctor ( N.D.)

If you have ever had the pleasure of trying natto, a popular Japanese fermented soybean dish served over rice, you know that it has quite an acquired taste, smell and texture... not for everyone!

That being said, nattokinase, an enzyme in natto, seems to be able to do it all in terms of its anticoagulant effects.

Nattokinase is an enzyme extracted from natto, a boiled soybean fermented with a bacterium called bacillus natto. Medicinally, nattokinase has been shown to be both an effective blood thinner, as well as anticoagulant agent.

It is especially useful for the treatment and prevention of deep vein thrombosis, as well as the prevention of pulmonary embolism (PE) and stroke. Both PE and stroke are caused by a thrombis or clot dislodging from the vessel wall, usually in the legs or thighs, and getting trapped in the smaller vessels going to the lungs and brain. There are several factors that make an individual more susceptible to thrombi formation. Diabetes interferes with your body's ability to break down clots, therefore increasing risk for clot formation. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, atherosclerosis and stress all increase the likelihood of developing clots.

Nattokinase has been shown to have pro-fibrinolytic properties. Fibrinogen plays a key role in the blood clotting cascade (I like the analogy of fibrinogen being the glue that holds the clot together). Anything that breaks down fibrinogen is then also helping to breakdown the clot itself. Nattokinase has also been shown to increase the body's own TPA (Tissue Plasminogen Activity), thereby increasing the efficiency of the body's own clot destroying superpower, plasmin.

Nattokinase is available in capsule form. Dosage recommendations vary greatly depending on the patient and intended action. Talk to your Naturopath or MD if you are taking nattokinase as a replacement for coumadin, as you may need higher doses. If you are currently taking an anticoagulant such as warfarin, do not start using nattokinase without first speaking to your doctor. Dosage adjustments may be needed and blood tests measuring clotting time (INR, PT) should be closely monitored at the onset of treatment.