Nattokinase at 10,800 FUs per day was effective at lowering LDL cholesterol 18%, improving HDL cholesterol by 15%, and reducing the size of carotid artery plaques by 36% at 12 months. Combining nattokinase with vitamin K2 increased the effects.
Nattokinase is an enzyme from the Japanese food natto. It functions as a proteolytic enzyme which means it can break down proteins. In this study, 1062 people with elevated cholesterol and/or atherosclerosis were evaluated at the beginning of the study and after 12 months. They were given 10,800 FUs of nattokinase per day. At the end of the study, researchers reported that 65-95% of participants saw an improvement in cholesterol and the size of carotid artery plaques. Combining vitamin K2 as MK7 at 180 mg per day increased the effects. For example, at 12 months the K2 group had an reduction of 39% in the carotid plaques vs 36% in the non-K2 group.
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine August 2022
