We conducted a comprehensive study to investigate the effect of nattokinase on the progression of atherosclerosis, a condition that can lead to serious cardiovascular diseases. In this double-blind trial, we involved 265 participants with a median age of 65.3 years, all of whom did not show signs of existing cardiovascular disease. They were randomly assigned to receive either nattokinase or a placebo.
Over the course of a median of three years, we closely monitored changes in subclinical atherosclerosis using techniques such as carotid ultrasound. This allowed us to measure vital indicators like carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) and arterial stiffness. We also tracked other health metrics, including blood pressure and various laboratory factors related to metabolism and inflammation.
Ultimately, our findings revealed that nattokinase supplementation did not significantly alter the rate of atherosclerosis progression compared to the placebo group. We also noted no meaningful changes in blood pressure or any other assessed laboratory measures. Thus, it's clear that nattokinase does not provide notable cardiovascular benefits in terms of slowing down the development of atherosclerosis for individuals at low risk of cardiovascular disease.
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We investigated the effects of nattokinase, a natural enzyme, on the progression of atherosclerosis, specifically looking at its ability to reduce disease markers in the carotid arteries while also influencing blood lipid levels. Our study involved 82 patients, who were divided into two groups: one received nattokinase and the other was treated with simvastatin, a commonly prescribed statin.
Over 26 weeks, both treatment groups showed reductions in carotid artery thickness and plaque size. Notably, the nattokinase group experienced a remarkable 36.6% reduction in plaque size compared to just 11.5% in the statin group. Both supplements also effectively lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, but statin treatment was more effective in this regard. Interestingly, we found that nattokinase significantly increased levels of HDL cholesterol, suggesting an additional heart-healthy benefit that statins did not provide.
Our findings point to the potential of daily nattokinase supplementation as a promising approach to managing atherosclerosis progression. Importantly, the way nattokinase worked seems to be separate from how statins influence cholesterol levels, indicating it might serve as an effective alternative for patients concerned about cardiovascular health.
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