Original Article

Hypertension Research (2008) 31, 1583–1588; doi:10.1291/hypres.31.1583

Effects of Nattokinase on Blood Pressure: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

Ji Young Kim1,2, Si Nae Gum2,3, Jean Kyung Paik2,4,5, Hyo Hee Lim2,3, Kyong-chol Kim1,6, Kazuya Ogasawara7, Kenichi Inoue7, Sungha Park8, Yangsoo Jang1,8,9 and Jong Ho Lee1,2,3,4

  1. 1Yonsei University Research Institute of Science for Aging, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
  2. 2National Research Laboratory of Clinical Nutrigenetics/Nutrigenomics, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
  3. 3Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
  4. 4Department of Food and Nutrition, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
  5. 5Seoul Fellowship, Seoul, Korea
  6. 6Department of Family Medicine, Mizmedi Hospital, Seoul, Korea
  7. 7Japan Bio Science Laboratory Co., Ltd., Ibaraki, Osaka, Japan
  8. 8Cardiology Division, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei Cardiovascular Center, Seoul, Korea
  9. 9Cardiovascular Genome Center, Yonsei Medical Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence: Jong Ho Lee, Ph.D., National Research Laboratory of Clinical Nutrigenetics/Nutrigenomics, Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, 134 Shinchon-Dong, Sudaemun-Gu, Seoul, 120–749, Korea. E-mail: jhleeb@yonsei.ac.kr

Received 2 December 2007; Accepted 8 May 2008.

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of nattokinase supplementation on blood pressure in subjects with pre-hypertension or stage 1 hypertension. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 86 participants ranging from 20 to 80 years of age with an initial untreated systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 130 to 159 mmHg received nattokinase (2,000 FU/capsule) or a placebo capsule for 8 weeks. Seventy-three subjects completed the protocol. Compared with the control group, the net changes in SBP and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were -5.55 mmHg (95% confidence interval [CI], -10.5 to -0.57 mmHg; p <0.05) and -2.84 mmHg (CI, -5.33 to -0.33 mmHg; p >0.05), respectively, after the 8-week intervention. The corresponding net change in renin activity was -1.17 ng/mL/h for the nattokinase group compared with the control group (p <0.05). In conclusion, nattokinase supplementation resulted in a reduction in SBP and DBP. These findings suggest that increased intake of nattokinase may play an important role in preventing and treating hypertension.

Keywords:

nattokinase, blood pressure, renin activity, randomized, controlled trial

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References

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