Hi Mike -
The following may help you decide about the merits and benefits of nattokinase which has a long history of safe and effective use to reduce blood viscosity by degrading fibrin. Of course, if other factors that promote silent inflammation and hyperviscosity are not addressed as well, the results from NK alone may not be as effective….although eating the natural ‘natto food’ has proved protective for Asians over many generations.
Jackie
Statement by Dr. Holsworth on the properties of nattokinase:
Since my introduction of nattokinase as a safe and effective therapeutic modality into the clinical and hospital setting in 2002, I have been searching for a standardization of nattokinase that will allow health professionals to determine two important facts concerning the use of nattokinase;
1. Biochemical validation that the substance is nattokinase, specificity
2. Accurate determination of fibrinolytic activity in vitro, sensitivity
The previous standardization of nattokinase identified activity in fibrinolytic degradation units (FUs). Unfortunately, the test does not validate whether the enzyme is in fact, nattokinase. Any proteolytic enzyme (bromelain, papain, fungal enzymes) tested using this test would erroneously report fibrinolytic activity or the ability to degrade cross-linked fibrin.
Many companies manufactured, produced and falsely identified their bulk and/or finished retail products as "nattokinase" based upon a false identification of FUs activity. Can you imagine a physician prescribing insulin that was not truly insulin or the units of the insulin were incorrect? Many patients' lives depend upon securing a valid form of nattokinase and accurate determination of its activity because they do not have a pharmaceutical drug such as an anti-coagulant that they can tolerate and/or is effective in the prevention of their condition of inadvertent blood formation.
In addition, the substrate utilized in the previously standardization for determining the activity was not soluble so activity determinations were inaccurate and not reproducible.
Dr. Hiroyuki Sumi, Ph.D., a medical researcher in thrombolytics who discovered nattokinase in the 1980's, has developed and published a new standardization method that validates not only the biochemical identification of the enzyme as nattokinase but also the activity or ability of nattokinase to degrade or lyse cross-linked fibrin in International Units. Now, physicians and patients are insured that they are receiving authentic nattokinase in a stable and quantified amount of activity to address various medical indications.
Dr. Ralph Holsworth
Nattokinase Pioneer & Researcher
Source: [
www.pureprescriptions.com]
Also:
New Nattokinase Information
1. CK utilizes a new standardization for fibrinolytic activity which is more sensitive and specific to nattokinase activity. Originally, the Fibrin Unit (FU) method was created for the sake of convenience. Because fibrin, which is insoluble in water, is used as the substrate, accurate measurement of the enzyme reaction is not possible through this method. Therefore, to accurately measure the potency of CK, International Units (IU) are required to quantify the results of the enzyme activity.
2. Cardiokinase® incorporates a new strain (“strain N”) of Bacilius Substilisin that produces higher activity than other strains. In particular, the cultured solution of the CK (N strain), displayed activity that was 17.9 times greater that of the control. Furthermore, fibrinolytic activity was also observed in the bacteria itself, and the activity on the N strain elevated to a level that was 70 times as much as the control. The therapeutic benefit of this type of activity on human cells is the promotion of the release of tissue-plasminogen activator (t-PA). t-PA is a protein involved in the breakdown of blood clots – it catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin, the major enzyme responsible for clot breakdown.
3. In addition to t-PA, CK has demonstrated a new mechanism of action involving fibrinolytic pharmacokinetics. This new strain of nattokinase has shown for the first time that is has a higher kinin-producing capacity than plasma kininogen. The physiological activities of kinin (and its products like bradykinin) include lowering blood pressure, promotion of capillary permeability, local vasodilation, smooth muscle contraction, promotion of lymph flow, and inflammatory modulation. This kinin-producing activity is involved in the circulatory systems of all internal organs.
Cardiokinase's hypotensive and circulation-improving effects have the potential to replace other more invasive and ADR-promoting medications in the conventional and alternative marketplace.
4. Another novel characteristic of CK is its anti-viscogenic effect. No other natural substance has demonstrated the ability to quantitatively lower blood viscosity as CK has. The applications of this attribute alone make CK one of the most useful therapies in even the most serious cardiovascular conditions.
5. Lastly, unlike other commercial sources of nattokinase, Cardiokinase® incorporates a non-corn source of maltodextrin, making it the most hypoallergenic source of nattokinase on the market.
The advantages of improved circulation are self-evident. Applications for CK can be elucidated paying special consideration to its fibrinolytic activity and anti-viscogenic effect. From cosmetics to heart and brain health, improved blood flow is a ubiquitous benefit for the human body.
Effects of nattokinase, a pro-fibrinolytic enzyme, on red blood cell aggregation and whole blood viscosity.
Source: Clin Hemorheol Microcirc. 2006;35(1-2):139-42. PMID: 16899918
Author(s): Eszter Pais, Tamas Alexy, Ralph E Holsworth, Herbert J Meiselman
Abstract:
The vegetable cheese-like food, natto, is extremely popular in Japan with a history extending back over 1000 years. A fibrinolytic enzyme, termed nattokinase, can be extracted from natto; the enzyme is a subtilisin-like serine protease composed of 275 amino acid residues and has a molecular weight of 27.7 kDa. In vitro and in vivo studies have consistently demonstrated the potent pro-fibrinolytic effect of the enzyme. However, no studies to date have evaluated the effects of nattokinase on various hemorheological parameters and thus we have begun to assess the effects of the enzyme on RBC aggregation and blood viscosity. Blood samples were incubated with nattokinase (final activities of 0, 15.6, 31.3, 62.5 and 125 units/ml) for 30 minutes at 37 degrees C. RBC aggregation was measured using a Myrenne MA-1 aggregometer and blood viscosity assessed over 1-1000 s(-1) with a computer controlled scanning capillary rheometer (Rheolog).
Our in vitro results showed a significant, dose-dependent decrease of RBC aggregation and low-shear viscosity, with these beneficial effects evident at concentrations similar to those achieved in previous in vivo animal trials. Our preliminary data thus indicate positive in vitro hemorheological effects of nattokinase, and suggest its potential value as a therapeutic agent and the need for additional studies and clinical trials.
Article Published Date : Jan 01, 2006
Abstract Title:
Nattokinase: An Oral Antithrombotic Agent for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease.
Source: Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Feb 28 ;18(3). Epub 2017 Feb 28. PMID: 28264497
Author(s): Yunqi Weng, Jian Yao, Sawyer Sparks, Kevin Yueju Wang
Abstract:
Natto, a fermented soybean product, has been consumed as a traditional food in Japan for thousands of years. Nattokinase (NK), a potent blood-clot dissolving protein used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, is produced by the bacterium Bacillus subtilis during the fermentation of soybeans to produce Natto.
NK has been extensively studied in Japan, Korea, and China. Recently, the fibrinolytic (anti-clotting) capacity of NK has been recognized by Western medicine. The National Science Foundation in the United States has investigated and evaluated the safety of NK. NK is currently undergoing a clinical trial study (Phase II) in the USA for atherothrombotic prevention. Multiple NK genes have been cloned, characterized, and produced in various expression system studies. Recombinant technology represents a promising approach for the production of NK with high purity for its use in antithrombotic applications.
This review covers the history, benefit, safety, and production of NK. Opportunities for utilizing plant systems for the large-scale production of NK, or for the production of edible plants that can be used to provide oral delivery of NK without extraction and purification are also discussed.
Article Published Date : Feb 27, 2017
Complete study [
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]