Two Supplements That May Clean Out Your Arteries

Atherosclerosis, the buildup of cholesterol, fats, and calcium in arterial walls, is a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. Some people are more genetically susceptible, but lifestyle factors play a huge role in the development of this disease. High blood pressure, smoking, obesity, and high blood sugar levels all contribute to the development of atherosclerosis.

Most conventional treatments, such as quitting smoking, reducing sodium, or adding statins, aim to slow the progression of the disease. Some supplements, such as aged garlic and coenzyme Q10, may also slow progression. A plant based diet may also be protective.

But can atherosclerosis actually be reversed, either partially or completely? Can we clean out our arteries?

Short answer: we don’t know yet. But there are two supplements I take based on limited evidence that they may reverse atherosclerosis.

Nattokinase

Nattokinase is an enzyme from natto (fermented soybeans). A 2018 Chinese study of 76 adults found a 36% reduction in atherosclerotic lesions with treatment of 150mg nattokinase per day for 26 weeks. As this article discusses, this effect is large enough to be suspicious. Until the research is replicated on a much larger scale, it is merely intriguing.

But intriguing is good enough for me, considering that nattokinase is cheap and has a low risk of side effects at low doses (excessive bleeding is a risk at higher doses). I take 100mg of nattokinase most days as part of a vitamin K2/nattokinase supplement from Swansons (not an affiliate link).

Nattokinase functions as a fibrinolytic, dissolving blood clots by cleaving fibrin crosslinks.

Bromelain

I first started taking bromelain as an asthma remedy. This enzyme from pineapple stems is a potent anti-inflammatory.

But recently I learned that bromelain also has fibrinolytic properties, as well anticancer and antimicrobial properties. The same linked article references bromelain reversing aortic plaque in rabbits, both in vitro and in vivo (though I can’t find the original studies). Studies in humans have shown bromelain to be an effective anti-clotting agent.

In vivo and in vitro studies have shown that bromelain dissolved arteriosclerotic plaque in rabbit aorta and it clearly explains the potent fibrinolytic activity of bromelain, which functions by breaking down cholesterol plaques

As a side note, bromelain may also be effective against Covid-19 symptoms. Bromelain is an effective inhibitor of bradykinin, which is likely the cause of many Covid-19 complications. And bromelain also directly inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Currently I take 150mg of bromelain as part of a combination bromelain quercetin supplement. I’ll be experimenting with a higher dose of up to 500mg/day.

Precautions

I’m not a doctor and this is not medical advice. Nattokinase and bromelain taken together may have synergistic effects, both being fibrinolytics. Both of the supplements above can potentially interact with other medications (especially blood thinners including warfarin and aspirin), so check with your doctor before taking either, and start with small test doses to monitor any potential side effects.