Nattokinase is an enzyme (a protein that speeds up biochemical reactions) that is extracted from a popular Japanese food called natto. Natto is boiled soybeans that have been fermented with a bacterium called Bacillus natto. Natto has been used for hundreds of years to treat diseases of the heart and circulatory system. Find out more about how this supplement works on our “Ask a Pharmacist” podcast.
Fish oil can be obtained from eating fish or by taking supplements. Fish oil is used for a wide range of conditions. It is most often used for conditions related to the heart and blood system. Some people use fish oil to lower blood pressure or triglyceride levels (fats related to cholesterol). Fish oil has also been tried for preventing heart disease or stroke.
The market for dietary supplements in the U.S. is growing rapidly and will be $16.4 billion by 2018. The market is being driven by an aging population, rising consumer involvement in personal health, and a growing expectation of personalization for virtually all services and products. Many retailers are now rushing to cash in on this market boom. But as recent incidents in New York state have highlighted, buyers need to be careful that these private label products actually have the ingredients their labels claim the do.
