enzyme
Nattokinase
What it’s good for
Nattokinase for High Blood Pressure
Mixed4 studies · 3 supporting · 1 against
An enzyme from fermented soybeans, thought to thin the blood slightly and ease pressure.
Dose: 2000 mg
Tested as: Nattokinase 2,000 FU/day (approx. 100 mg NSK-SD softgel) in the primary RCT — note FU (fibrinolytic units) is not mg; potency varies by manufacturer and is not interchangeable across brands. Pooled meta-analysis trials used doses in a similar range.
Nattokinase for High Cholesterol
No Benefit2 studies · 0 supporting · 2 against
How it was tested: Low-dose nattokinase raised total cholesterol and lowered the good kind — the wrong direction.
Its effects on blood thickness were expected to show up in cholesterol too.
Dose: 1200–4000 mg
Tested as: Nattokinase 1,200-4,000 FU/day tested alone in pooled trials — note FU (fibrinolytic units) is not mg. A separate trial tested 2,500 FU/day combined with 7 mg lovastatin-equivalent from red yeast rice (Monascus), not nattokinase alone.