Vessel Calcification - The #1 Killer
- Dr. Thomas J. Lewis
- Jul 9
- 5 min read
Heart disease continues to be the #1 killer. What can you do about it?
Are you familiar with the term "reductionism?" The complex definition is given below. But, in my world, it is an oversimplification of a complex process. Not to say that a "reductionist" approach may not have benefits.
An example in healthcare is the following: Take a probiotic to solve your gut problems. If you have worked with me, you may be familiar with our 8-step process and evidence-driven approach to healing and optimizing your gut.
Reductionism: the practice of analyzing and describing a complex phenomenon in terms of phenomena that are held to represent a simpler or more fundamental level, especially when this is said to provide a sufficient explanation.
Here is encouraging news regarding the reversal of vessel calcification. Even though it is reductionist, I am now following the information presented in the study. Keep in mind that almost all research is reductionist in nature. The researchers carve out a niche in which they can secure funding (and compensation) for their efforts.
But, to quote Paul Harvey, what about "the rest of the story."
In this blog, I will not overcomplicate matters and will NOT dive into the rest of the story. Part of that story involves addressing why plaques and calcifications form in the first place. That will be the subject of subsequent blogs. So stay tuned.
The good news - and it's three-part.
Part 1: Using the correct dose of the proteolytic enzyme, nattokinase, will reverse coronary calcium scores - and by extension - harmful or even deadly vascular plaques of the calcium variety. I'm specifying the calcium variety as the JAB is known to cause fibrin plaques. But, nattokinase is known to reduce fibrin plaques.
Part 2: The study is published in the journal "Frontiers," which I believe is reasonably reliable, especially when compared to the more prestigious journals like JAMA, NEJM, and Lancet.
Part 3: Recently, one of my clients reported that his coronary calcium score decreased from over 500 to 0 (yes, zero) over the past year, and he was taking the correct dose of nattokinase. There is nothing like direct evidence corroborating a published study!
Here is a summary of the study.
Nattokinase (NK), known as a potent fibrinolytic and antithrombotic agent, has been shown to have antiatherosclerotic and lipid-lowering effects. However, data on human clinical studies are limited.
In this clinical study involving 1,062 participants, our objective was to examine the efficacy of NK in atherosclerosis and hyperlipidemia and safety at the dose of 10,800 FU/day after 12 months of oral administration.
Various factors, including lower doses that influence NK pharmacological actions, were also investigated. We found that NK at a dose of 10,800 FU/day effectively managed the progression of atherosclerosis and hyperlipidemia with a significant improvement in the lipid profile.
A significant reduction in the thickness of the carotid artery intima-media and the size of the carotid plaque was observed. The improvement rates ranged from 66.5 to 95.4%.
NK was found to be ineffective in lowering lipids and suppressing atherosclerosis progression at a dose of 3,600 FU/day.
Here is a link to the publication: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2022.964977/full
********* Important: Lipids improve because damage is reduced by the key action(s) of nattokinase. Lipids are the fatty substances that surround ALL HUMAN CELLS. Lipid-only lowering strategies INCREASE MORTALITY.
Here are a couple of reference for those of you who are (still) unaware of this:
Here are some key excerpts from the study:
Nattokinase administration
Nattokinase used throughout the study was administered orally as a nattokinase tablet approved by the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) and manufactured by Sungen Bioscience Co, Ltd, Shantou, China. Each tablet contained 3,600 FU. The oral dosage used was 10,800 FU daily. Compliance was monitored weekly by the community center's health care staff.
Study design and participants
Participants were recommended to take NK as an alternative health treatment in an attempt to improve their cardiovascular health conditions or who voluntarily took NK as a health supplement to improve/maintain cardiovascular health. Before and 12 months after NK use, all participants had blood lipid levels tested and ultrasound was performed to examine the common carotid artery for atherosclerotic evidence.
To treat or not to treat? Do you change the oil in your car? Do you see a dentist regularly? Do you take dozens of supplements but do NOT know why for most of them? Now, most of you have a good reason to take at least 1 supplement.
What do I mean by "most of you?"
This is from google AI that is still woefully misinformed on the cause of vascular disease
Coronary artery calcification (CAC) can begin to be observed as early as the second decade of life, immediately after fatty streak formation, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) | (.gov). This process, also known as atherosclerosis, starts in the intimal layer of the artery walls with the development of microcalcifications, or very small calcium deposits.
However, these deposits may not be large enough to be detected on imaging scans in people in their 20s and 30s. (HOWEVER, THIS IS THE TIME TO INITIATE A TREATMENT.)
Factors influencing earlier onset:
Atherosclerosis typically starts in the teens and 20s, and changes can be seen in most people by their 30s.
Diabetes: Individuals with diabetes may develop CAC approximately 6.4 years earlier on average compared to those without the condition.
Other risk factors: Smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and a family history of coronary heart disease are individually associated with developing CAC 3.3-4.3 years earlier.
****AI CANNOT REPLACE GOOD DOCTORS YET - These are syndromes, for the most part - not causal factors. A key causal factor in people over 50 years old (because the plaques for people of this age are larger and more easily measured) is periodontal disease.
Periodontal Disease Is an Independent Predictor of Intracardiac Calcification
Another cause of coronary calcification is STATIN USE. Would anyone be surprised that this link no longer works?
Predicted age for first CAC scan (based on a 25% likelihood of detection):
Men with diabetes: Around 37 years of age.
Women with diabetes: Around 50 years of age.
Men without risk factors: Around 42 years of age.
Women without risk factors: Around 58 years of age.
In summary, while the process of calcification can begin quite early in life, it typically becomes observable through imaging in middle-aged and older adults, with specific timelines influenced by individual risk factors.
Dosage of Nattokinase for Reducing Coronary Calcification Scores
In the context of Nattokinase supplements, "FU" stands for Fibrinolytic Units. Your goal is to take ~11,000 FU Daily. Here are some product recommendations.
This is the product I use: It provides 20,000 FU per gram. It takes 2 capsules to provide 150 mg. Therefore, you must take 7 per day.
This product provides 4,000 FU nattokinase per capsule thus 3 are required daily which is what they recommend. It is the best value.
I often use Pure Encapsulations. Their product is 2,000 FU per capsule requiring 5-6 capsules/day.
Nattokinase 3000 has 3,000 FU per capsule in an 84 capsule container. Thus this will last 3 weeks at 4 capsules/day.
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