A Japanese Enzyme Clinically Studied for Arterial Plaque Reduction

Est. 2019 Consumer Health Investigation

American Association of Cardiology

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A Japanese Enzyme Clinically Studied for Arterial Plaque Reduction

Whether heart disease runs in your family, your blood pressure or cholesterol keeps creeping up, you have spent years eating poorly and sitting too much, or a recent heart scan gave you a wake-up call, the concern is often the same: “What is happening inside my arteries, and what can I do about it?” To answer that, you first have to understand the role of arterial plaque—and why researchers became interested in nattokinase, a Japanese enzyme studied for supporting the body’s normal fibrinolytic activity.

Dr. James Carter, MD, FACC

Cardiology · 21 years in practice ·

Title

No. One

Why Arterial Plaque Matters More Than a Single Number

Cholesterol and blood-pressure readings are important. But they are still only signals of what may be happening inside your arteries.

The deeper concern is arterial plaque: a buildup of cholesterol, inflammatory material, calcium, fibrin, and other substances within the artery wall. This process can develop quietly for years before producing obvious symptoms.

1. Plaque begins inside the artery wall

LDL particles can become retained within the lining of the artery. Over time, inflammation and other materials contribute to the formation of an atherosclerotic plaque.

2. The artery can become narrower and less flexible

As plaque progresses, the vessel may lose some of its ability to expand and allow blood to move freely. That can place additional strain on circulation and the cardiovascular system.

3. Unstable plaque can trigger a clot

If a plaque ruptures, the body responds by forming a fibrin-rich blood clot over the damaged area. If that clot blocks blood flow to the heart or brain, it can contribute to a heart attack or stroke.

That is why lowering cholesterol or improving blood pressure is important, but it does not tell the entire story. The condition of the artery wall and the amount of plaque already present also matter.

A 2023 JAMA Cardiology analysis examined 23 trials involving 7,407 patients and found that greater reductions in coronary plaque burden between treatment groups were associated with lower odds of major cardiovascular events.

Nattokinase is a fibrinolytic enzyme studied for helping break down fibrin, which is the protien responsible for clot formation and plaque buildup.

Title

No. Two

What the Nattokinase Studies Actually Measured

In 2017, Ren and colleagues reported a 36.6% reduction in measured carotid plaque size after twenty-six weeks in the nattokinase group.

Then came Chen 2022, published in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine.

Researchers analyzed clinical records from 1,062 adults who used nattokinase for twelve months.

Among the 683 participants with plaque measurements, average plaque area saw a 36% reduction. Average artery-wall thickness decreased by 21.7%. LDL cholesterol decreased by 18.1% and triglycerides also decreased by 15.7%.

36%

Reported reduction in mean carotid plaque area

Chen et al., 2022 · Retrospective clinical study · 1,062 participants · Twelve months

These findings also fit into a broader pattern researchers had already observed around natto—the traditional Japanese fermented soybean food from which nattokinase was first isolated.

The Takayama Study followed more than 29,000 Japanese adults for roughly sixteen years. Those with the highest natto intake had a 25% lower rate of cardiovascular mortality than those with the lowest intake.

That population study combined with the researching findings helps show the benefits plauqe reduction can have on cardiovascular health.

Title

No. Three

It Does Something Other Heart Supplements Were Never Built to Do

Most of my patients walk in already taking something. Beetroot. Fish oil. A blood pressure pill. Red yeast rice. These are not bad choices. But line them up and the gap is obvious.

Beetroot

Opens the vessel for a few hours. Then it wears off. Nothing about the wall has changed.

Fish oil

Nudges triglycerides. Never reaches the artery wall.

Blood pressure pills

Push the number down. Do nothing about why it keeps climbing.

Red yeast rice

Works on cholesterol production, the same lever as a statin. Leaves existing buildup where it is.

Each one takes a real swing at a real problem. They all do the same thing in a different way. They make more room for the blood to pass through. But none of them break down fibrin.

Fibrin is the tough protein mesh that builds inside artery walls over a lifetime. It is the structure the plaque anchors to, and almost nothing on the supplement shelf works on it. Nattokinase is one of the very few compounds clinically studied to support the body’s own ability to break that existing buildup down.

That is why I stopped thinking of it as one more bottle in the cabinet and started thinking of it as the piece the others were never built to cover.

Title

No. Four

The Formula I Could Not Find on a Shelf—So I Started Recommending This One

After reviewing the research, this is the formula I started pointing people toward. It is called Rootbase, and it is built around three formulation details.

1. Nattokinase at the Research-Referenced Dose

Rootbase provides 5,000 FU of nattokinase per serving.

2. A Purpose-Built Supporting Formula

CoQ10 supporting energy production in heart-muscle cells. Turmeric, olive extract, bromelain, white willow bark, and ginger root provide complementary antioxidant, inflammatory-response, and cardiovascular support — with white willow bark easing joint and vessel inflammation, and ginger root promoting healthy circulation.

3. Enteric-Coated Delivery

Nattokinase is an enzyme, and exposure to stomach acid may reduce its activity. Rootbase enteric-coated softgels are designed to delay release until they reach the intestine, helping protect the formula as it passes through the stomach.

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Nattokinase

Arterial health

Ginger root

Digestive support

CoQ10

Hearth health

Turmeric

Inflammation support

Olive Leaf

Vascular support

Bromelain

Circulatory support

Title

No. Five

What Patients Are Telling Me

“I am a 45-year-old male who started using Rootbase, and it is improving my cardiometabolic numbers within the first few months.

The results below compare my blood work from March 2025 with September 2025. During this period, I was taking one serving of Hale Heart daily since May 2025, with no significant change in physical activity:

Total cholesterol: 110 — 4.35% decrease
LDL: 54 — 14.29% decrease
ApoB: 58 — 7.94% decrease
Triglycerides: 83 — 1.19% decrease

Mark D., 49 · On Rootbase 5 months

“I tried nattokinase two years ago from Arthur Andrew. Took it for three months and felt absolutely nothing. I wrote it off. When I saw the dose difference, I figured I’d try one more time. About six weeks in, I realized my legs didn’t feel as heavy on my evening walks, and I wasn’t getting that same sluggish feeling after dinner. I was not expecting that.”

Benjamin R., 68 · On Rootbase 4 months

“My doctor ran my labs at my eight-month checkup. My triglycerides were down from 182 to 139, and my blood pressure reading that morning was 124/78 instead of the 140s over high 80s I’d been seeing at home. He asked me what I changed. I showed him the bag.”

Jessica K., 55 · On Rootbase 8 months

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Title

American Association of Cardiology

Cardiovascular Wellness, Honestly Made

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, especially if you take prescription medications or have a medical condition. Individual results may vary.

Rootbase

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