Lipid-lowering, antihypertensive, and antithrombotic effects of nattokinase combined with red yeast rice in patients with stable coronary artery disease: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 38812930 · doi:10.3389/fnut.2024.1380727
What was done
A 90-day randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigated the effects of nattokinase (NK), red yeast rice (RYR), their combination (NK + RYR), or placebo on cardiometabolic parameters in 178 patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).
What was found
The combined NK + RYR group produced the largest reductions in triglycerides (-0.39 mmol), total cholesterol (-0.66 mmol/L), and diastolic blood pressure (-7.39 mmHg), alongside the largest increase in HDL cholesterol (0.195 mmol/L) across group comparisons (all p < 0.01). Lactate dehydrogenase decreased in both the NK + RYR (-29.1 U/L) and NK (-26.4 U/L) groups compared to others. NK + RYR also reduced thromboxane B2 and increased antithrombin III relative to placebo (both p < 0.01). No adverse effects were reported.
Why it matters
Combining nattokinase and red yeast rice may offer additive benefits for lipid profiles, blood pressure, and antithrombotic markers over single-agent supplementation in stable CAD.
Limits
The intervention period was short (90 days), specific supplement dosages were not detailed in the abstract, and the study evaluated surrogate blood biomarkers rather than clinical cardiovascular events.