Healthy Origins Nattokinase 2000FUs 100mg, 60 vcaps

Nattokinase is an enzyme that helps with improving blood flow by dissolving blood clots. It appears to posses both antiplatelet and anticoagulant properties which may improve blood flow, leading to reduced blood pressure. Some studies have also indicated it may improve cholesterol levels by increase HDL levels and slightly reducing LDL cholesterol. Despite this, it appears that Nattokinase still needs more research on its place in prevention therapy. Recent studies indicate it may help with COVID-19 but research is still in its early stages.

If you do take nattokinase, doses will be expressed in fibinolytic units (FU), with 2,000 FU translating to roughly 100 milligrams. The usual dose is 2000FU to 4000FU daily but most commonly only 2000FU daily will be used.

Taking it before bedtime is thought to enhance blood flow as during sleep, you don't move your body as much hence reduced blood flow. Take with food to minimize stomach upset.

As with all anticoagulants, antiplatelets and fibrinolytics, bleeding is a major side effect and precaution to look out for when using Nattokinase. Signs of bleeding include: stomach upset, easily bruised, wounds taking extended amounts of time to stop bleeding and dark coloured/coffee ground stools. If these occur you may need to stop taking nattokinase or lower the dose. If not, more serious issues such as stroke may occur.
With that being said, people who are already taking medications that thin the blood such as aspirin, warfarin, apixaban, heparin or have a medical condition that thins the blood should never take Nattokinase without consulting a doctor. Even then, you probably shouldn't take it as the effects of Nattokinase remain largely unknown in these demographics.
If you're having surgery, be sure to discontinue it 2 weeks before the procedure as this could be life threatening (imagine your wound does not close and keeps on bleeding).

Before this question is answered, this is based on what we've seen and by no means should you take our answer as medical advice. This is here simply to help you make better informed decision.
Instances when you may want to consider using Nattokinase:
- Healthy individuals who: have a family history of cardiovascular disease/want to have something for general circulatory health/want to prevent blood clots due to long periods of inactivity/want it for COVID uses (still in early stages of research, not recommended).
- Patients who are at an increased risk of cardiovascular events (such as patients with high blood pressure or diabetes that may slow down your blood circulation) but do not have any clotting/bleeding issues or taking medications that affect clotting.
Once you think Nattokinase might be for you, you should definitely speak to a health professional (or us) before purchasing as wrong use can result in detrimental effects.

Just in case we're not clear from the FAQ above, NO YOU CANNOT REPLACE YOUR BLOOD THINNERS WITH NATTOKINASE. The effects of Nattokinase are largely unknown in different patient groups and no direct comparative studies have been done between all those different medications and Nattokinase. Swapping them out with Nattokinase is essentially a deathwish.