Nattokinase
Other ·Exploratory record · not publication-reviewed ·Updated July 13, 2026
Enzyme from fermented soybeans (natto) with blood clot-dissolving properties.
Exploratory record, not a reviewed medical publication.
See the editorial and medical-review policies for the publication gate.
This generated database record has not completed a claim-level review by a qualified human medical reviewer. Bibliography links and evidence labels are not approval. The page remains available for reference and is excluded from search indexing.
What the research says.
A quick, data-only summary. The full evidence, dosing, and sources are below.
Nattokinase is an other most often used for cardiovascular health, blood flow, clot prevention. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as moderate. A typical adult dose is 2,000-4,000 FU daily, commonly taken as nattokinase (measured in fibrinolytic units, fu). This profile indexes 17 sources.
The bottom line
Evidence rating moderate. Most-documented uses: cardiovascular health, blood flow, clot prevention. 17 sources indexed (2008–2026), with 0 interaction records on file.
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
Serine protease that directly cleaves fibrin in blood clots. Also converts plasminogen to plasmin (endogenous fibrinolysis), degrades PAI-1, and mildly inhibits ACE for blood pressure support.7,8
Dosing & protocol.
Take on empty stomach for systemic absorption; with food for GI benefit1,2
What it actually costs.
Real-world pricing across three quality tiers. Assumes Nattokinase 2,000-4,000 FU.
Assumes 2,000-4,000 FU/day. Vendor basis: NOW/iHerb, Vitacost, Life Extension, and Amazon marketplace; higher-FU softgels set premium pricing. Updated 2026-05-28.
The same dose, as food.
How much you'd eat to match a supplemental dose.
Nattokinase activity is specific to natto fermentation and varies by product.
Full safety detail.
Side effects
- Increased bleeding risk
- Bruising
Contraindications
- Blood thinners (warfarin, aspirin)8
- Bleeding disorders
- Surgery (stop 2 weeks before)
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Meta-analyses & systematic reviews
1- 1Nattokinase Supplementation and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled TrialsPMIDGallelli G et al. · Nutrients · 2024
Six RCTs (546 participants) showed nattokinase significantly reduced systolic BP by -3.45 mmHg and diastolic BP by -2.32 mmHg with no notable adverse events.
Randomized controlled trials
7- 2Nattokinase supplementation for cognitive enhancement in asymptomatic intracranial/carotid stenosis: A randomized controlled trialPMIDZhang K, Zhang X, Wang A et al. · Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association · 2026
Zhang K, Zhang X, Wang A et al.. Nattokinase supplementation for cognitive enhancement in asymptomatic intracranial/carotid stenosis: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association. 2026
- 3Lipid-lowering, antihypertensive, and antithrombotic effects of nattokinase combined with red yeast rice in patients with stable coronary artery disease: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trialPMIDLiu M, Xu Z, Wang Z et al. · Frontiers in nutrition · 2024
Liu M, Xu Z, Wang Z et al.. Lipid-lowering, antihypertensive, and antithrombotic effects of nattokinase combined with red yeast rice in patients with stable coronary artery disease: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Frontiers in nutrition. 2024
- 4A single dose of oral nattokinase accelerates skin temperature recovery after cold water immersion: A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover studyPMIDNara N, Kurosawa Y, Fuse-Hamaoka S et al. · Heliyon · 2023
Nara N, Kurosawa Y, Fuse-Hamaoka S et al.. A single dose of oral nattokinase accelerates skin temperature recovery after cold water immersion: A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. Heliyon. 2023
- 5Nattokinase atherothrombotic prevention study: A randomized controlled trialPMIDHodis HN et al. · J Am Heart Assoc · 2021
In 265 subjects over median 3 years, nattokinase 2,000 FU daily did not significantly differ from placebo in carotid intima-media thickness progression.
- 6Efficacy and Safety of Aronia, Red Ginseng, Shiitake Mushroom, and Nattokinase Mixture on Insulin Resistance in Prediabetic Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial.PMIDPark S, Kim CJ, Ha KC, Baek HI, Yang HJ, Kim MJ et al. · Foods (Basel) · 2021
A supplement mixture containing nattokinase significantly improved HOMA-IR (insulin resistance index) and glycemic markers in prediabetic adults compared to placebo.
- 7Nattokinase decreases plasma levels of fibrinogen, factor VII, and factor VIII in human subjectsPMIDHsia CH et al. · Nutr Res · 2009
After 2 months of nattokinase administration, fibrinogen decreased 9%, factor VII 14%, and factor VIII 17% in healthy subjects.
- 8Effects of nattokinase on blood pressure: a randomized, controlled trialPMIDKim JY et al. · Hypertens Res · 2008
8-week nattokinase trial showed net reductions of -5.55 mmHg in systolic and -2.84 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure vs control.
Reviews & position papers
5- 9Enhancing nattokinase stability through synergistic interactions:Construction and mechanism analysis of multi-level encapsulation structures in fig-like gel beadsPMIDCheng Y, Tong Y, Tao S et al. · Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.) · 2026
Cheng Y, Tong Y, Tao S et al.. Enhancing nattokinase stability through synergistic interactions:Construction and mechanism analysis of multi-level encapsulation structures in fig-like gel beads. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.). 2026
- 10Nattokinase as an adjuvant therapeutic strategy for non-communicable diseases: a review of fibrinolytic, antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effectsPMIDGranito M, Alvarenga L, Ribeiro M et al. · Expert review of cardiovascular therapy · 2024
Granito M, Alvarenga L, Ribeiro M et al.. Nattokinase as an adjuvant therapeutic strategy for non-communicable diseases: a review of fibrinolytic, antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. Expert review of cardiovascular therapy. 2024
- 11Nattokinase: a promising alternative in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseasesSource linkedPMIDChen H, McGowan EM, Ren N et al. · Biomark Insights · 2018
- 12Nattokinase: an oral antithrombotic agentSource linkedPMIDWeng Y, Yao J, Sparks S, Wang KY · Int J Mol Sci · 2017
- 13Interactions between nattokinase and heparin/GAGsPMIDZhang F, Zhang J, Linhardt RJ · Glycoconjugate journal · 2015
Zhang F, Zhang J, Linhardt RJ. Interactions between nattokinase and heparin/GAGs. Glycoconjugate journal. 2015
Observational studies
2- 14Effective management of atherosclerosis progress and hyperlipidemia with nattokinase: A clinical study with 1,062 participantsPMIDChen H et al. · Front Cardiovasc Med · 2022
Nattokinase was effective in managing atherosclerosis progression and hyperlipidemia in 1,062 participants.
- 15Data Recorded in Real Life Support the Safety of Nattokinase in Patients with Vascular DiseasesPMIDGallelli G et al. · Nutrients · 2021
Nattokinase improved clinical symptoms without adverse drug reactions or drug interactions in 153 patients with vascular diseases.
Reference material
2- 16Liu X, Zeng X, Mahe J et al.. The Effect of Nattokinase-Monascus Supplements on Dyslipidemia: A Four-Month Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Nutrients. 2023Source linkedPMID
- 17Selvarajan E, Bhatnagar N. Nattokinase: an updated critical review on challenges and perspectives. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry. 2017Source linkedPMID
Common questions.
Quick answers about Nattokinase, drawn from the data on this page.
What is Nattokinase?
Enzyme from fermented soybeans (natto) with blood clot-dissolving properties.
What is Nattokinase used for?
Commonly cited benefits of Nattokinase include: Cardiovascular health; Blood flow; Clot prevention; Blood pressure. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as moderate.
What is a typical dose of Nattokinase?
A typical adult dose of Nattokinase is 2,000-4,000 FU daily. The commonly recommended form is Nattokinase (measured in fibrinolytic units, FU). These are general ranges, not personalized advice; confirm the right dose with a clinician.
What are the side effects of Nattokinase?
Reported side effects include increased bleeding risk, bruising. This is educational information; check with a healthcare professional before use.
How strong is the evidence for Nattokinase?
NutriStack rates this as Moderate, meaning several aligned RCTs or one large RCT plus supporting reviews. Full tier criteria are at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/evidence-tiers.
Use this with your stack
Nattokinase in NutriStack.
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