Nattokinase has not been approved by the FDA and, contrary to claims on the Internet, should not replace an anticoagulant. While a study shows that a nattokinase supplement reduces the risk of blood clots forming after long plane flights, optimal doses of nattokinase have not been established for any disease. Many patients seek an alternative to warfarin for safety reasons and the need for long-term monitoring. Nattokinase, a by-product of soybean fermentation, is intended to increase clot-dissolving capacity in animals and human volunteers, as well as to suppress clot formation and improve their resolution in animals.
However, this substance has not been adequately studied in humans and should not be considered a substitute for warfarin. Nor has it been studied in combination with warfarin or aspirin. In 2002, the FDA concluded that there is no sufficient basis to conclude that NKCP (natto extract), which contains 0.01% of the nattokinase enzyme, can reasonably be expected to be safe. Patients should be advised that, for the time being, there are no oral alternatives to warfarin and that there is no supporting evidence nattokinase as a therapeutic alternative.
Nattokinase is not a component of other soy-based foods, since it is specifically made by fermentation with the bacteria “Bacillus subtilis”. Pilot study on the serum pharmacokinetics of nattokinase in humans after a single daily oral dose. Nattokinase should not be taken with Coumadin (warfarin), as it can have unpredictable effects on blood clotting and is likely to reduce the overall effectiveness of Coumadin. A new fibrinolytic enzyme (nattokinase) found in Natto vegetable cheese, a typical and popular soy food in the Japanese diet.
Purification and characterization of a strong fibrinolytic enzyme (nattokinase) in natto vegetable cheese, a fermented soy food popular in Japan. On the contrary, some studies show that prolonged use of nattokinase can have a paradoxical effect, increasing the risk of clot formation over time. After nearly a year of using nattokinase without warfarin, the patient developed a mechanical valve thrombus and underwent successful repeated valve replacement. We describe the self-replacement of warfarin with nattokinase after the replacement of the aortic valve with a mechanical prosthesis.
Evidence suggests that nattokinase has antithrombotic and anticoagulant effects or, in other words, can dissolve blood clots and thin the blood. A case study reported a patient who replaced Coumadin with nattokinase for more than a year after aortic valve arthroplasty. Approximately 12 months before his current presentation, he stopped taking warfarin and began supplementing his diet with 100 mg of nattokinase a day, a dose recommended by an alternative health journal to treat thrombolysis. In the following sections, I'll discuss nattokinase in more detail and concerns about its use in people.
who are already receiving anticoagulant treatment. Another suggested that it might be a viable alternative to Coumadin in certain situations, but this study only evaluated the effects of a single dose of nattokinase.
