The saying that there can be too much of a good thing means something that is beneficial can at times turn ugly and dangerous when in abundance. Fibrin epitomizes this statement.

Fibrin helps wounds heal by generating blood clotting. When excessive fibrin is roaming in the body though, it can help create blood clots that may be deadly.

What is Fibrin?

Fibrin is produced by fibrinogen, a soluble protein in blood plasma. When an injury occurs, the enzyme thrombin is activated to convert fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin strands to begin the clotting process in the blood, forming a mesh that traps red blood cells and platelets to stop bleeding and support tissue repair. When fibrin production is in check, it acts to help the body repair itself.

However, when too much fibrin remains in the body, it can create rogue blood clots that may trigger potentially fatal events such as heart attacks and stroke. The enzyme plasmin plays a key role in fibrinolysis which destroys dangerous excess fibrin.

One supplement derived from natto has been shown to help regulate fibrin, and thus provides a fresh, unique tool to protect cardiovascular and neurovascular health.

The Role of Nattokinase in Fibrin Regulation

Nattokinase is an enzyme derived from natto, a fermented soybean food that is commonly consumed in Japan. Research shows that nattokinase regulates fibrin through three key mechanisms:

• Enhances Plasmin Activity: Nattokinase indirectly generates fibrinolysis by stimulating plasminogen activators, specifically tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), boosting conversion of plasminogen to plasmin.
• Reduces Fibrinogen Levels: Nattokinase has been suggested to reduce circulating fibrinogen (the precursor to fibrin) in the blood, reducing the raw material available for excessive clot formation. This helps prevent the buildup of fibrin in unwanted clots. 
• Inhibits Platelet Aggregation: Nattokinase has been shown to inhibit clumping of platelets, which limits new clot formation. A review of human studies suggests that nattokinase helps decrease blood viscosity and boost blood flow and reduce the stickiness of red blood cells, thereby inhibiting platelet aggregation.

What is NSK-SD?

NSK-SD is a patented fibrinolytic enzyme derived from natto. It is a concentrated and purified extract fermented with a proprietary strain of Bacillus subtilis natto.

NSK-SD has been shown in more than 30 pre-clinical and human studies to degrade fibrin clots both directly and indirectly. Clot lysis assays indicate NSK SD dissolves fibrin six times more effectively than plasmin. NSK-SD also targets fibrin indirectly by affecting plasminogen activator activity (the first step of plasmin production) in response to injury.

In two unpublished studies (Takaoka 2004/2005), single doses of 4,000 FU of NSK-SD were adequate to exhibit strong inhibitory effects on platelet aggregation in subjects experiencing this condition.

A one-week protocol of 2,000 FU daily was also able to induce clearly visible disaggregation which remained for 7 days after consumption stopped. Similarly, in a published study, researchers were able to identify this inhibitory effect when NSK-SD was given to healthy human subjects.

Importantly, a pharmacokinetic study demonstrated that NSK-SD does not inhibit the formation of fibrin from fibrinogen and therefore does not inhibit the formation of blood clots.

Related Heart Health Support

In addition to supporting healthy fibrin regulation, numerous human clinical studies have established NSK-SD’s ability to address the most common markers of cardiovascular risk, including managing blood pressure, blood circulation, and systemic inflammation.

The idea of managing fibrin balance (i.e., production and degradation) is key to supporting healthy cardiovascular function. And nattokinase, as NSK-SD distributed by JBSL-USA, is an effective and safe supplement to help ensure fibrin works as it should and not as it shouldn’t.

About the Author: Vincent Hackel is president and CEO of JBSL-USA, the U.S. distributor of NSK-SD nattokinase.