They Ran Nattokinase Against a Statin. The Enzyme Won

9 days ago

A 2017 randomized trial by Sun Yat-sen University found that nattokinase reduced plaque size by 36.6% compared to 11.5% with simvastatin in patients with carotid plaque, showing the enzyme was over three times more effective.
Nattokinase significantly increased protective HDL cholesterol, which simvastatin did not affect, and its plaque regression did not correlate with LDL reduction, challenging the conventional link between LDL lowering and plaque reduction.
The effectiveness of nattokinase depends on dose: studies show plaque reversal at doses of 6,000 to 10,800 FU per day, while lower doses like 2,000 FU (used in the NAPS trial) showed no effect, highlighting a critical dose threshold.
Nattokinase works as a clot-dissolving enzyme, directly targeting fibrin and activating the body's clot-busting system, unlike statins that focus on reducing cholesterol production.
Limitations include the lack of placebo in the 2017 trial, retrospective elements in larger studies, and no trials on heart attacks or deaths; nattokinase also poses bleeding risks, especially when combined with blood thinners like aspirin.
The lack of large-scale definitive trials is attributed to nattokinase being unpatentable, cheap, and derived from traditional food, similar to other natural remedies like ivermectin and turmeric, reducing commercial incentives for research funding.

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