Natto Decreases Plasma Levels in CVD Subjects

CHANGHUA, Taiwan—Oral administration of nattokinase could be considered as a cardiovascular disease (CVD) nutraceutical by decreasing plasma levels of fibrinogen, factor VII and factor VIII, according to a study published in Nutrition Research (2009; 29(3):190-6). Nattokinase, a serine proteinase from Bacillus subtilis, is considered to be one of the most active functional ingredients found in natto. In this study, researchers hypothesized that nattokinase could reduce certain factors of blood clotting and lipids that are associated with an increase risk for CVD. Thus, an open-label, self-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 45 subjects of the following groups: healthy volunteers (Healthy Group), patients with cardiovascular risk factors (Cardiovascular Group) and patients undergoing dialysis (Dialysis Group). All subjects ingested two capsules/d of nattokinase (2000 fibrinolysis units per capsule) orally for two months. By use of mixed model analysis, a significant time effect, but not group effect, was observed in the change from baseline of fibrinogen (P=0.003), factor VII (P<0.001) and factor VIII (P<0.001), suggesting that the plasma levels of the three coagulation factors continuously declined during intake; also, the extents of decrease were similar between groups. After two months of administration, fibrinogen, factor VII and factor VIII decreased 9 percent, 14 percent and 17 percent, respectively, for the Healthy Group; 7 percent, 13 percent and 19 percent, respectively, for the Cardiovascular Group; and 10 percent, 7 percent and 19 percent, respectively, for the Dialysis Group, whereas blood lipids were unaffected by nattokinase. No significant changes of uric acid or notable adverse events were observed in any of the subjects.