Healthy shopping: Nattokinase supplements

Joanna Evans reveals four key things to look for when buying nattokinase supplements

Supplements of nattokinase, an enzyme found in the Japanese fermented soybean food natto, are often recommended by functional medicine practitioners to help the body deal with lingering spike proteins following Covid infection or vaccination. They’re also widely used to support heart health.

There’s no shortage of nattokinase supplements to choose from, but it’s important to do your research first. Independent testing has found considerable variation in the actual enzyme activity of different products, and some contain substantially less (or more) than the amount stated on the label.

If you’re considering nattokinase, here are a few things to check before you buy.

Enzyme activity. Look for fibrinolytic units (FU) on the label rather than the amount of nattokinase in milligrams. FU tells you the fibrinolytic activity the product claims to provide and gives a better indication of potency than weight alone.

Dosage: Check the amount of FU per capsule to ensure it’s suitable for your needs. Dr Leigh Erin Connealy recommends 8,000–16,000 FU daily for spike protein detox but advises consulting with a practitioner to determine the right dose for you.

Third-party testing. Choose a brand that independently tests finished products for potency and purity, ideally with batch-specific certificates of analysis available to view.

Excipients. As with all supplements, check that you’re not getting a long list of unnecessary extra ingredients.

Nattokinase isn’t suitable for everyone, though. It can increase the risk of bleeding, so it should be avoided by those with bleeding disorders, taking blood-thinning medications or scheduled for surgery. Consult with your healthcare practitioner to check whether it’s right for you.

Products to try

Natural Foundation Supplements

Nattokinase Arterial Support Capsules, 10,000 FU, $49.99/£44.44 (30 capsules)
US: naturalfsupplements.com; UK: nfsupplements.co.uk

Made in the UK in the company’s own GMP-certified facility, this high-potency supplement provides 10,000 FU per capsule and minimal added ingredients (although bear in mind it does contain magnesium stearate). Every batch is independently lab-tested before it ships, and certificates of analysis are published online, searchable by the batch number or QR code printed on the label.

Double Wood

Nattokinase, $19.95/£16 (60 capsules)
US: doublewoodsupplements.store; UK: gb.hebronnutrition.com

This good-value supplement provides 4,000 FU per two-capsule serving and is manufactured in the USA in a GMP-certified facility. Each batch is third-party lab-tested for FU activity, identity, heavy metals and microbial contaminants, and the results are available to download from the website. One downside is the potency of the current batch was found to be slightly lower than what’s claimed on the label (3,854 FU).

Toku

Toku Flow, Unflavored, $59.99/£54 (30 servings)
tokuhealth.com
International shipping available

If you’re looking for a soy-free and pill-free option, consider Toku Flow, a powdered nattokinase supplement sourced from chickpea fermentation. Add one sachet to any warm or cold drink daily and you’ll get an impressive 10,800 FU of nattokinase along with 180 mcg of vitamin K2 (MK-7) and oat beta-glucan. If you choose the unflavored version, there are no other added ingredients. The supplement is third-party tested for potency and purity, and you can view the results on the website.

What do you think? Start a conversation over on the... WDDTY Community