How To Interpret The 10,800 FU Nattokinase Findings Safely

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🇪🇸 Spanish (Latinoamérica)

En este audio te explico cómo interpretar de forma segura los hallazgos del estudio de 10,800 unidades de nattokinasa y lo que realmente significan para tu salud cardiovascular.

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🇨🇳 中文（简体）

在本音频中，我将用简单清楚的方式解释如何安全解读纳豆激酶一万零八百 FU 研究的结果，以及它对心血管健康意味着什么。

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A Helpful Guide for Readers Curious About the Popular 2022 Chinese Trial

The 2022 Chinese study on 10,800 fibrinolytic units (FU) of nattokinase per day became very popular because it reported something unusual: a measurable decrease in carotid plaque area and improved lipid profiles over 12 months. Many readers of this website have asked about it—especially how the nattokinase was actually taken in the study. Several new subscribers have sent the same question:

“Did the participants take the 10,800 FU all at once or in divided doses?”

Because so many people are curious, this article explains exactly what the study reported, what it did not report, and what we can realistically conclude. It also discusses why nattokinase alone should not be seen as a complete treatment for atherosclerosis, and how lifestyle remains the core of prevention.

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Key Takeaway Up Front

• The study documented a daily intake of 10,800 FU, given as tablets containing 3,600 FU each, but it did not specify whether the tablets were taken once daily or in divided doses.
• Because the dosing schedule is not provided, any division of the dose is based on pharmacokinetics and general safety considerations, not on proven clinical evidence.

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1. Why the 10,800 FU Study Became So Popular

Many people were impressed with this study because it reported improvements in several measurements that doctors use to judge artery health—especially in the carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain. When readers learn that these measurements improved, it naturally raises excitement and curiosity.

Here’s why each finding matters:

1. Carotid plaque area decreased

A plaque is a buildup of cholesterol, fats, and inflammatory material inside an artery. In the carotid arteries, plaques can narrow blood flow to the brain and, even worse, become unstable and form clots. A clot traveling to the brain can cause an ischemic stroke.

When a study reports a reduction in carotid plaque area, people pay attention because:

• Plaque regression is uncommon without major lifestyle or medical intervention.
• It suggests the artery may be becoming more open and less vulnerable to plaque rupture.
• A reduction in plaque burden could potentially translate to lower stroke risk over time.

For the average reader, hearing that a supplement might help shrink plaque—something that usually only medications like statins achieve—sounds surprising and hopeful.

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2. Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (IMT) improved

IMT is a measurement of the thickness of the carotid artery wall. Doctors use it as an early marker of atherosclerosis.

A higher IMT = a “stiffer,” more diseased artery.
A lower IMT = a more flexible, healthier artery.

Improvement in IMT is significant because:

• It correlates with a reduced risk of stroke.
• It often parallels improvements in overall arterial health.
• In many studies, IMT progression predicts future heart attacks and cardiovascular events, not just strokes.

So when readers see an IMT decrease, it feels like a sign that the arteries are aging more slowly—or perhaps even becoming more youthful.

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3. LDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol decreased

These are classic cardiovascular risk markers.

• LDL cholesterol contributes directly to plaque formation through oxidation and inflammation.
• Triglycerides reflect metabolic health and are tied to post-meal sugar spikes, fatty liver, and insulin resistance.
• Total cholesterol summarizes overall lipid loading in the bloodstream.

Seeing these numbers go down is meaningful because:

• Lower LDL → lower future heart attack risk
• Lower triglycerides → improved metabolic function
• Together, they suggest a more favorable internal environment with less “raw material” for plaque growth.

Readers familiar with heart-disease prevention know that improving these markers usually requires diet, exercise, or prescription medication. A supplement producing these changes naturally draws interest.

Here is the study everyone is referring to:

Chen, Hongjie, et al. “Effective Management of Atherosclerosis Progress and Hyperlipidemia with Nattokinase: A Clinical Study with 1,062 Participants.” Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, vol. 9, 2022, article 964977. Web.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2022.964977.

This was a real-world, retrospective study—meaning researchers reviewed data already collected from adults who were taking nattokinase for their health.

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2. What the Study Actually Says About the Dose

It is important to understand the design of the 2022 nattokinase paper because it explains why the dosing details are limited.

The study was a retrospective study, meaning the researchers did not assign treatments or control how participants took nattokinase. Instead, they reviewed medical records of people who were already taking nattokinase in real life.

In a retrospective design:

• The researchers do not decide the dose schedule.
• They do not control whether people take their tablets once a day or several times a day.
• They simply analyze information that has already been documented in routine clinical practice.

Because of this, the authors could only report the total daily amount that participants were consuming, not the exact timing.

Here is what the paper does tell us:

• Each tablet contained 3,600 FU of nattokinase.
• Participants in the main group were taking 10,800 FU per day (the equivalent of three 3,600-FU tablets).
• Participants in a comparison group took 3,600 FU per day.
• No information was available on whether the tablets were taken:
  • all at once
  • split into 2 or 3 doses
  • taken with meals or on an empty stomach
  • taken in the morning or evening

This absence of detail is not an oversight—it is simply a limitation of retrospective studies. The researchers could only report what the records contained.

The relevant summary from the Methods section is:

“Each tablet contained 3,600 FU. The oral dosage used was 10,800 FU daily.”
—Chen et al., 2022
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2022.964977

Because the dosing schedule was not controlled and not documented, the most accurate statement is:

The study shows that people taking a total of 10,800 FU/day experienced improvements in certain cardiovascular markers, but we do not know how they took that daily amount—whether in one dose or divided doses.

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3. What Pharmacokinetics Suggest (But Do Not Prove)

Because the study does not specify a dosing schedule, let’s look at how other researchers look at pharmacokinetics—the way the body absorbs and processes nattokinase.

A 2025 review in Nutrients notes:

• Peak blood level occurs at 2–4 hours after ingestion.
• Half-life is about 8 hours.
• It may be reasonable to split higher doses into 2 or more portions to keep levels more stable.

The authors write:

“It is recommended taking it in batches (such as 2,000 FU in the morning and evening) to maintain the blood concentration.”
—Wei, Chuyang, et al., 2025
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/11/1784

This is general guidance, not a regimen tested in the 10,800 FU study.
Still, it gives a scientifically sensible way to approach dosing when specific instructions are not available.

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4. A Practical, Cautious Way to Interpret Dosing

Since the study only specifies total daily FU, the safest and most honest explanation for readers is:

• The researchers studied a daily total of 10,800 FU, not a particular timing pattern.
• Dividing the dose (e.g., 3,600 FU taken 2–3 times per day) is a reasonable approach, based on how the body absorbs nattokinase.
• It is not known whether once-daily vs divided dosing produces better plaque-related results.

Individuals with bleeding risks, those on anticoagulants or antiplatelet medications, those with ulcers, recent surgery, or recent stroke should discuss nattokinase use with their clinician. Nattokinase has fibrinolytic (clot-breaking) activity and must be used cautiously in certain situations.

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5. Why Nattokinase Alone Is Not Enough to Reverse Atherosclerosis

The 10,800 FU results were encouraging, but nattokinase is not a substitute for established preventive strategies.

Important limitations to remember:

1. The study was not a randomized controlled trial.
There was no placebo group, and health-conscious individuals may have disproportionally chosen or adhered to the higher dose.

2. The plaques measured were carotid, not coronary.
Plaque behavior varies in different arteries.

3. Lifestyle made a big difference.
In Chen’s study, individuals who exercised had better results.

4. Global guidelines do not include nattokinase as a treatment for atherosclerosis.
Major cardiovascular guidelines continue to emphasize:

• Nutrient-rich diets
• Regular exercise
• Non-smoking
• Limited alcohol
• Blood-pressure control
• Blood-sugar control
• Evidence-based therapies such as statins when appropriate

See below in the references:
2019 ESC/EAS Dyslipidemia Guidelines

2018 AHA/ACC Cholesterol Guidelines

2019 ACC/AHA Primary Prevention Guidelines

Nattokinase may play a role as an adjunct, but it is not a proven replacement for standard preventive measures.

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6. Conclusion

The 2022 Chinese study used a total of 10,800 FU of nattokinase per day, but the researchers did not specify whether the dose was taken once daily or divided into several administrations. The only detail provided was that each tablet contained 3,600 FU.

Based on how nattokinase is absorbed, many experts recommend splitting higher doses into two or three portions per day to maintain steadier blood levels, but this approach was not tested in the study itself.

Even though the trial showed improvements in carotid plaque area and cholesterol numbers, nattokinase should be considered one tool, not a complete treatment.

The foundation of artery health remains nutrition, exercise, blood-pressure control, avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol, and appropriate medical therapy when needed.

Don’t Get Sick!

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Jesse Santiano, MD
Dr. Santiano is a retired internist and emergency physician with extensive clinical experience in metabolic health, cardiovascular prevention, and lifestyle medicine. He reviews all medical content on this site to ensure accuracy, clarity, and safe application for readers. This article is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for personal medical care.

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11. The TyG Index: A Powerful Predictor Of Insulin Resistance, Heart Disease Risk And More
12. Knowing Your hs-CRP: What It Means and How to Improve It
13. Understanding Your ApoB: What It Means and How to Improve It
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References:

1. Chen, Hongjie, et al. “Effective Management of Atherosclerosis Progress and Hyperlipidemia with Nattokinase: A Clinical Study with 1,062 Participants.” Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, vol. 9, 2022, article 964977. Web. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2022.964977.
2. Wei, Chuyang, et al. “Research Progress of Nattokinase in Reducing Blood Lipid.” Nutrients, vol. 17, no. 11, 2025, article 1784. Web. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/11/1784.
3. Chen, Hongjie, et al. “Nattokinase: A Promising Alternative in Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases.” Biomarker Insights, vol. 13, 2018, p. 1177271918785130. Web. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30013308/.
4. Mach, François, et al. “2019 ESC/EAS Guidelines for the Management of Dyslipidaemias: Lipid Modification to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk.” European Heart Journal, vol. 41, no. 1, 2020, pp. 111–188. Web. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31504418/.
5. Grundy, Scott M., et al. “2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline on the Management of Blood Cholesterol.” Journal of the American College of Cardiology, vol. 73, no. 24, 2019, e285–e350. Web. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625. AHA Journals
6. Arnett, Donna K., et al. “2019 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease.” Circulation, vol. 140, no. 11, 2019, e596–e646. Web. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000678. AHA Journals

Disclaimer:
This article is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician before making health decisions based on the TyG Index or other biomarkers.

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