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Now you can get natural heart support in a systemic enzyme-based blood clot dissolver

Nattokinase is a potent clot dissolving substance (an enzyme) extracted from a traditional Japanese food called Natto. It is produced by a fermentation process after adding Bacillus natto, a friendly bacteria, to boiled soybeans.

This produces a fermented cheese-like food that has been used in Japan for over 1000 years for its popular taste and as a folk remedy for heart and vascular diseases. It contains nattokinase enzyme, a great clot buster that may be even superior to current drugs, such as Warfarin and Urokinase.

What kind of benefits does Nattokinase have on blood pressure?

Traditionaly in Japan, Natto has been consumed as a food but research shows it:

1. Contributes to cardiovascular support
2. Plays a roll in lowering blood pressure
3. Supports healthy blood flow by assisting in the circulatory clearing system of the body
4. Is confirmed by several clinical trials

In 1995, researchers from Miyazaki Medical College and Kurashiki University of Science and Arts in Japan studied the effects of nattokinase on blood pressure in both animal and human subjects.

• The researchers confirmed the presence of inhibitors of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), which converts angiotensin I to its active form angiotensin II within the test extract, which consisted of 80% ethanol extract of lyophilized viscous materials of natto
• ACE causes blood vessels to narrow and blood pressure to rise - by inhibiting ACE
• Nattokinase has a lowering effect on blood pressure.

Is there a long-term benefit to using Nattokinase?

Nattokinase produces a prolonged action (unlike antithrombin drugs that wear off shortly after IV treatment is discontinued) in two ways:

1. It prevents coagulation of blood
2. It dissolves existing thrombus

How was Nattokinase discovered?

Doctor Hiroyuki Sumi had long searched for a natural agent that could successfully dissolve thrombus associated with cardiac and cerebral infarction (blood clots associated with heart attacks and stroke). Sumi discovered nattokinase in 1980 while working as a researcher and majoring in physiological chemistry at Chicago University Medical School.

After testing over 173 natural foods for clot-dissolving potential, Sumi found what he was looking for when Natto was dropped onto artificial clot (thrombus) in a Petri dish and allowed it to stand at 37 C (approximately equivalent to normal body temperature).

The thrombus around the natto dissolved gradually and had completely dissolved within 18 hours. Sumi named the newly discovered enzyme "nattokinase", which means "enzyme in natto".

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Why doesn't the body dissolve blood clots?

The human body produces several types of enzymes for making thrombus (or blood clots), but only one main enzyme for breaking it down and dissolving it - plasmin. The properties of nattokinase closely resemble plasmin.

According to Dr. Martin Milner, from the Center for Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon, nattokinase is a particularly potent treatment.

1. It enhances the body's natural ability to fight blood clots in several different ways.
2. Because it so closely resembles plasmin, it dissolves fibrin directly.
3. It also enhances the body's production of both plasmin and other clot-dissolving agents, including urokinase (endogenous).

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How do blood clots form?

Blood clots (or thrombi) form when strands of protein called fibrin accumulate in a blood vessel. In the heart, blood clots cause blockage of blood flow to muscle tissue.

What happens to me if there is a clot?

In the heart...

If blood flow is blocked, the oxygen supply to that tissue is cut off and it eventually dies. This can result in angina and heart attacks.

In the brain...

Clots in chambers of the heart can mobilize to the brain. In the brain, blood clots also block blood and oxygen from reaching necessary areas, which can result in senility and/or stroke.

What changed in my body that causes blood clots?

Thrombolytic enzymes are normally generated in the endothelial cells of the blood vessels. As the body ages, production of these enzymes begins to decline, making blood more prone to coagulation. This mechanism can lead to cardiac or cerebral infarction, as well as other conditions.

Since endothelial cells exist throughout the body, such as in the arteries, veins and lymphatic system, poor production of thrombolytic enzymes can lead to the development of thrombotic conditions virtually anywhere in the body.

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Since blood clots are associated with aging, what other dangers do they pose?

It has recently been revealed that thrombotic clogging of the cerebral blood vessels may be a cause of dementia. It has been estimated that sixty percent of senile dementia patients in Japan is caused by thrombus.

Thrombotic risks typically occur in those who have:

• Cerebral hemorrhage
• Cerebral infarction (tissue death due to a local lack of oxygen)
• Cardiac infarction and angina pectoris -- they may be at greater risk due to an inherent imbalance where their thrombolytic enzymes can be weaker than their coagulant enzymes
• Diseases caused by blood vessels with lowered flexibility, including senile dementia and diabetes (caused by pancreatic dysfunction)
• Hemorrhoids are considered a local thrombotic condition
• Chronic diseases-- these sufferers may also be at a higher risk if their capillary weakness is also considered

Nattokinase holds great promise to support patients with such inherent weaknesses in a convenient and consistent manner, without side effects.

Nattokinase is capable of directly and potently decomposing fibrin as well as activating pro-urokinase (endogenous).

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Is there any research being done in the United States?

Dr. Martin Milner of the Center for Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon and Dr. Kouhei Makise of the Imadeqawa Makise Clinica in Kyoto, Japan were able to launch a joint research project on nattokinase and write an extensive paper on their findings.

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Have there been any studies on animals?

In dogs...

Yes. Nattokinase has been the subject of 17 studies. Dr. Sumi and his colleagues induced blood clots in male dogs, then orally administered either four capsules of nattokinase (250 mg per capsule) or four placebo capsules to each dog.

Angiograms (X-rays of blood vessels) revealed that the dogs who received nattokinase regained normal blood circulation (free of the clot) within five hours of treatment. Blood clots in the dogs who received only placebo showed no sign of dissolving in the 18 hours following treatment. Reference: 1

In rats...

Researchers from Biotechnology Research Laboratories and JCR Pharmaceuticals Co. of Kobe, Japan, tested nattokinase's ability to dissolve a thrombus in the carotid arteries of rats. Animals treated with nattokinase regained 62% of blood flow, whereas those treated with plasmin regained just 15.8 percent of blood flow.

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Has there been other research on humans?

Researchers from JCR Pharmaceuticals, Oklahoma State University, and Miyazaki Medical College tested nattokinase on 12 healthy Japanese volunteers (6 men and 6 women, between the ages of 21 and 55). They gave the volunteers 200 grams of natto (the food) before breakfast, then tracked fibrinolytic activity through a series of blood plasma tests.

The tests indicated that the natto generated a heightened ability to dissolve blood clots. On average, the volunteers' ELT (a measure of how long it takes to dissolve a blood clot) dropped by 48 percent within two hours of treatment, and volunteers retained an enhanced ability to dissolve blood clots for 2 to 8 hours.

As a control, researchers later fed the same amount of boiled soybeans to the same volunteers and tracked their fibrinolytic activity. The tests showed no significant change.

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Is Nattokinase safe?

The traditional Japanese food Natto has been used safely for over 1000 years. The potent fibrinolytic (blood clot busting) enzyme nattokinase appears to be safe based upon the long-term traditional use of this food.

Are there any other benefits?

Nattokinase has many benefits including:

• Convenience of oral administration
• Confirmed efficacy in clinical trials
• Prolonged effects
• Cost effectiveness when compared to conventional drugs
• Can be used preventatively
• Naturally occurring, food based dietary supplement so there are no risks of harsh side-effects
• Has demonstrated stability in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as to changes in pH and temperature

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What references do you base your information on?

The following refrences were provided by the manufacturer, Source Naturals.

1. Prevent Heart Attack and Stroke with Potent Enzyme that Dissolves Deadly Blood Clots in Hours. Health Sciences Institute, March 2002.
2. Maruyama M, Sumi H. Effect of Natto Diet on Blood Pressure. JTTAS, 1995.
3. Sumi H, Hamada H, Nakanishi K, Hiratani H. Enhancement of the fibrinolytic activity in plasma by oral administration of nattokinase. Acta Haematol 1990;84(3):139-43.
4. Sumi H, Hamada H, Mihara H. A novel strong fibrinolytic enzyme (nattokinase) in the vegetable cheese "natto." Internation Journal of Fibronolysis and Thrombolysis. Abstracts of the ninth international congress on fibrinolysis, Amsterdam, 1988, Vol.2, Sup.1:67.
5. Sumi H, Hamada H, Tsushima H, Mihara H, Muraki H. A novel fibrinolytic enzyme (nattokinase) in the vegetable cheese Natto; a typical and popular soybean food in the Japanese diet. Experientia 1987, Oct 15;43(10):1110-1.
6. Sumi H. Healthy Microbe "Bacillus natto". Japan Bio Science Laboratory Co. Ltd.
7. Sumi H. Interview With Doctor of Medicine Hiroyuki Sumi. Japan Bio Science Laboratory Co. Ltd.
8. Sumi H. Structure and Fibronolytic Properties of Nattokinase.

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Can I look at the Supplement Facts?

Serving Size: 2 capsules

Providing 1,440 fibrinolytic units (FU) of activity.

Other Ingredients: soybean oil, gelatin, glycerin, beeswax, glycerin fatty acid ester, and soybeans.

Warning: Do not use if you have a blood coagulation disorder. Consult your health care professional before taking this product if you are taking any drug that affects blood coagulation such as prescription vitamin K, heparin or warfarin (coumadin), or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

How much should I take?

Suggested Use: 1 to 2 capsules three times daily, on an empty stomach, with 8 ounces of water.

Contains no yeast, dairy, egg, gluten, corn or wheat. Contains no sugar, starch, salt, preservatives, or artificial color, flavor or fragrance.

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