Wang Wencheng | Senior Food Engineer, Senior Nutritionist of the Chinese Nutrition Society, Legal Representative and Director of the Research Center of Karask (Xiamen) Technology Co., Ltd., & Director of the Technology and R&D Center of Xiamen Nandi Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

The discovery and nature of nattokinase

The mechanism of thrombolysis in the eyes of the scientific community

In 1980, Japanese scholar Hiroyuki Sumi conducted a groundbreaking experiment in his laboratory at the University of Chicago. He mixed over 200 different foods with artificial blood clots and surprisingly discovered that natto could dissolve artificial blood clots over 1 cm in size within just two hours. This marked the formal introduction of nattokinase into the scientific community's view.

In in vitro experiments and animal models,nattokinase has demonstrated multi-target thrombolytic potential. Studies have shown that it can not only directly hydrolyze fibrin, the building block of blood clots, but also stimulate vascular endothelial cells to produce tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), converting plasminogen into plasmin and thus initiating the body's own thrombolytic system. Furthermore, it can activate prourokinase and degrade plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), synergistically enhancing the thrombolytic effect through multiple pathways.

Besides thrombolysis, some studies have also found that nattokinase has the potential to inhibit platelet aggregation, assist in lowering blood pressure, and regulate blood lipids, making it a promising area for research in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis.

The core controversy: Is oral administration really effective?

Essentially, nattokinase is a serine protease that readily loses its activity in highly acidic environments with a pH below 5.0.

Therefore, to ensure it reaches the small intestine alive for absorption, the core strategy boils down to two things: "physical shielding" (like wearing a bulletproof vest) and "chemical shelter" (using food as cover). The specific operational plan is as follows:

1. Choose "Enteric-coated capsule" technology (the most robust protection)

This is currently the most effective way to combat stomach acid damage.

Principle: Ordinary capsules dissolve in the stomach, while enteric-coated capsules have a specially treated outer shell that only dissolves when they enter the higher pH environment of the intestines.

Function: This is like giving nattokinase an "acid-resistant armor," allowing it to bypass the stomach and be released intact in the small intestine to exert its effects.

Recommendation: When purchasing the product, always check the packaging for the words "enteric-coated," as this is a key indicator of enzyme activity protection.

2. Use food as a "food shield" to buffer stomach acid (life hack)

If you have regular nattokinase powder or capsules, or are eating fresh natto, you can protect it by adjusting the order in which you eat it.

Mechanism: Research has found that nattokinase's stability increases significantly when mixed with serum proteins and gastric mucus proteins, resisting some of the damage from stomach acid and pancreatic enzymes.

Instructions: Do not take it on an empty stomach. It is recommended to take it immediately after meals, or with protein-rich foods such as milk or soy milk. These foods neutralize some stomach acid, raising the stomach's pH level, while the protein itself acts as a "shield," sharing some of the risk of nattokinase being digested.

3. Without protection, even when not completely destroyed,natto and nattokinase, after being partially digested and broken down into small peptide fragments in the intestine, retain their biological activity and can be absorbed into the bloodstream to exert a thrombolytic effect.

Animal experiments and preliminary human clinical trials have shown that oral nattokinase does indeed exhibit detectable thrombolytic activity in the blood and can reduce fibrinogen levels. Scientists speculate that this may be because certain amino acid fragments (such as small peptides) produced after partial digestion of nattokinase retain their biological activity, or that it protects itself from complete degradation through some mechanism.

In summary, nattokinase must reach the intestines intact to be effectively absorbed and enter the bloodstream to exert its thrombolytic and blood flow-improving effects. Enteric-coated capsules not only avoid the breakdown of the active ingredient in the stomach but also improve the bioavailability of the drug, ensuring that sufficient amounts of active nattokinase can smoothly enter the bloodstream to exert its effects.

Copyright: Karask (Xiamen) Technology Co., Ltd. https://www.cazzicteca.com/ & Xiamen Nandi Biotechnology Co., Ltd.