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COVID-19 continues to affect people worldwide, especially with the rise of new variants. While vaccines help reduce severe illness, scientists have found it challenging to keep them updated without gaps in coverage.
Treatments that keep the virus from attaching to your cells in the first place are then a priority for researchers, and one new study has found a potential weak spot for the virus.
New research suggests the natural enzyme nattokinase, a known anti-inflammatory with heart health benefits, could play a role in breaking down proteins responsible for infection.
What Is Nattokinase?
Nattokinase is a natural enzyme rich in nutrients derived from natto, a traditional Japanese food made from soybeans fermented with the bacteria Bacillus subtilis.
These fermented soybeans have been eaten in Japan for generations, and not just because they’re a traditional topping for rice. Natto has powerful health benefits, especially when it comes to your heart.
As a naturally occurring enzyme, nattokinase has been studied for its role in promoting healthy blood flow and overall cardiovascular support. (1) It supports healthy metabolism of fibrinogen and fibrin, proteins involved in blood clot formation. This activity promotes smooth blood flow and balanced clotting function.
Research shows it may support healthy blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels and improving circulation. (2) That same fibrinolytic activity helps improve blood flow, which reduces blood vessel strain and even balances cholesterol.
A quick note: While LDL cholesterol is just one marker of many that signal solid heart health — oxidative stress and blood clot activity are both huge deals — a balanced cholesterol profile is still a good thing. We just like keeping things in perspective.
Beyond cardiovascular support, nattokinase may also support your gut by breaking down protective layers formed by harmful bacteria in the gut. (3) This can make it easier for probiotics and your immune system to restore balance in your microbiome and reduce gut dysfunction.
Due to its effects on certain cytokines, nattokinase has also been linked to reduced low-grade inflammation in those with metabolic conditions like insulin resistance. (4) Newer studies suggest that nattokinase may even have antiviral potential.
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The Natto and COVID Spike Protein Link
In a new study out of Japan, 10 researchers found that nattokinase may have the ability to degrade the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein. (5) This is a key protein the virus uses to enter human cells.
This protein binds to receptors that allow the virus to fuse with and infect the cell. It’s because of this role that it’s become a target for mRNA vaccines and antibody treatments throughout the pandemic. (6)
Researchers mixed nattokinase with the spike protein in lab tests and found that nattokinase gradually broke it down in both a dose-dependent and time-dependent way. Higher amounts of nattokinase and longer exposure times caused more spike protein degradation.
They also tested nattokinase on cells with the spike protein on their surface. After treatment with nattokinase, the amount of spike protein on the cell surface was significantly reduced, without harming the cells.
This last piece is important. It shows that nattokinase can break down the targeted protein without harming the cells themselves for a safer approach. That can mean reduced lingering immune responses and better inflammation control without the toxic effects of harsher treatments.
It’s important to note that, while promising, the study does have some limitations. All tests were done in vitro, not in living animals or humans, so it’s currently unclear how well nattokinase could work in practice. Dosing even in their experiments had to be closely managed, something to consider if nattokinase became a possible treatment option.
What we do know is that nattokinase can break down other proteins, including those that impact heart health, a well-studied benefit.
There’s reason to be hopeful that nattokinase may be useful as a natural treatment to help reduce COVID-19 infections, especially as new coronavirus variants emerge that may evade vaccines.
How It Works
The spike protein on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 has two main parts, S1 and S2. (7) The S1 part helps the virus attach to human cells via the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2 receptor), while the S2 part helps the virus enter the cells.
In the Japanese study, nattokinase broke down both S proteins in lab-based experiments. Researchers believe this is because of the enzyme’s protease-inhibiting activity, which means it can break down proteins. When it was mixed with the spike protein, it started to degrade the protein by breaking it into smaller pieces.
To confirm that it was nattokinase’s enzymatic activity causing this breakdown, researchers tested what might happen if the enzyme was heated or blocked by special inhibitors.
When they did that, their experiments showed that nattokinase lost that special protein-cutting ability, which means that the enzyme is what caused the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein degradation.
Why The Research Is Promising
Nattokinase is already known for its impressive health benefits. It helps support healthy clotting activity, balanced blood pressure, and circulation, which is all good news for heart health.
This new research is promising because it’s a new, natural approach to a complex virus we’re still trying to manage.
Pre-clinical studies suggest nattokinase can degrade certain viral proteins in vitro. However, its clinical significance is still being studied. These findings could indicate a potential role for natto in supporting healthy immune response and function.
This could be especially helpful for people with underlying health issues, like heart disease or high blood pressure. These individuals are more likely to experience severe complications from COVID-19, especially with repeated infections.
Since nattokinase is already known to support heart and blood health, it could mean dual protection for the populations most vulnerable to pathogens.
The enzyme’s known benefits for supporting healthy clotting are also good news for those who have already had COVID-19. Studies show there is a real risk of blood clots in COVID-19 patients. (8) Emerging research is exploring nattokinase’s anti-clotting and blood-thinning effects and how natto could offer some benefits for those at risk post-COVID with cardiovascular conditions.
It’s also good to have more tools for battling something that is constantly changing. As new variants of SARS-CoV-2 emerge, gaps can emerge between new COVID-19 vaccines that aim to target those variants. People can get infected in the meantime, and vaccines aren’t foolproof even when they are available.
Nattokinase would work differently from vaccines, too. It doesn’t rely on targeting a specific version of the virus. Instead, it breaks down the spike protein directly. This means it might still be effective even when the virus changes.
We’re not saying nattokinase should upend everything we know about the virus, or even serve as a frontline treatment for COVID-19. What it could be is a helpful supplement or alternative to existing treatments, especially for high-risk individuals.
It’s certainly worth further research and clinical trials to see whether potential benefits stand in animal or human studies.
FAQs
What should you not take if you have COVID?
If you have COVID-19, you should avoid taking medications or supplements that suppress your immune system unless they’re prescribed by a doctor, even if they promise detoxification.
Avoid high doses of anything that hasn’t been cleared by your healthcare provider. Skip smoking, alcohol, or anything that puts extra strain on your lungs or immune system.
If you’re already on anticoagulants, blood thinners, or other heart-related drugs, check with your doctor before starting even a low-dose regimen of nattokinase. One could interfere with the other, or boost the blood-thinning effects.
Can cryoglobulinemia occur after SARS-CoV-2 infection?
While rare, cryoglobulinemia can occur after a COVID-19 infection. (9) Cryoglobulinemia is a condition where abnormal proteins in the blood called cryoglobulins clump together in cold temperatures, causing inflammation in your blood vessels. Symptoms may include joint pain, skin lesions, fatigue, or kidney issues.
COVID-19 has been shown to trigger various immune system reactions, and in some cases, post-infection complications include autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. (10) That includes the onset or worsening of cryoglobulinemia, particularly in patients with underlying conditions.
Does nattokinase help with long COVID symptoms?
Nattokinase may offer some support for people with long COVID, although research is still emerging. Its prospective anti-inflammatory and blood-thinning properties may help address symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and circulatory issues. These are often linked to lingering inflammation or microclots.
Small studies like the one we’ve described here suggest it might offer some protection against existing or new clots, a known complication post-infection. (11)
Adding nattokinase to your routine can be a positive, holistic approach to your heart or circulatory health. If you’re considering the supplement for long COVID symptoms, talk to your doctor first, especially if you’re on heart-related medications or have bleeding risks.
Are fibrinaloid microclots a cause of autoimmunity in long COVID and other post-infection diseases?
Fibrinaloid microclots are being studied as playing a role in triggering autoimmunity in long COVID. (12) These abnormal clots, made from a form of the protein fibrinogen, can form amyloid-like structures that resist normal breakdown.
They trap other molecules, clog small blood vessels, and are strongly linked to long COVID symptoms and other post-infection complications. They can also make it harder for your immune system to recognize the good from the bad, resulting in autoantibodies or malfunctioning immune cells. (13)
The Takeaway
While early research is still emerging, nattokinase has been studied for its potential role in supporting immune and circulatory health. Some preliminary studies suggest it may help break down certain proteins, including those associated with viral structures such as those found in the COVID-19 spike protein, though more clinical research is needed.
Nattokinase is a promising dietary supplement worth exploring further, not only for COVID support but for broad, holistic wellness.
Sources
Nattokinase: A Promising Alternative in Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases
Nattokinase attenuates endothelial inflammation through the activation of SRF and THBS1
Degradative Effect of Nattokinase on Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2
Discovery of Novel Spike Inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Domains and Functions of Spike Protein in SARS-Cov-2 in the Context of Vaccine Design
Covid-19 a triggering factor of autoimmune and multi-inflammatory diseases
Clinical Approach to Post-acute Sequelae After COVID-19 Infection and Vaccination
Are fibrinaloid microclots a cause of autoimmunity in Long Covid and other post-infection diseases?
Autoantibodies in COVID-19: implications for disease severity and clinical outcomes
