A Balance from Tradition: Cholesterol Improvements and Gut Microbiota

In today’s world, high-fat diets have become commonplace, contributing to a growing prevalence of hyperlipidemia. This condition not only increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases but also impacts overall health. Fortunately, scientific research has uncovered the potential of natto, a traditional fermented food, to combat hyperlipidemia. Let’s dive into how natto works and the science behind its health benefits.

What Is Hyperlipidemia?

Hyperlipidemia is a metabolic disorder characterized by elevated levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the blood, along with reduced levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). These changes can lead to atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and other cardiovascular conditions.

How Natto Works

Natto is traditionally made by fermenting soybeans with Bacillus subtilis, a probiotic bacterium. Natto contains various bioactive components, including:

Nattokinase: A so-called “heart-health enzyme” known for its ability to improve general cardiovascular health.

Probiotics: Bacillus subtilis, a Generally Recognized Safe probiotic which helps regulate gut microbiota.

Vitamins: Particularly vitamin K2, which supports bone and cardiovascular health.

Functional Insights - Lipid and Microbiota Balancing

A Study investigated natto’s effects on hyperlipidemia in high-fat-diet (HFD) fed mice using biochemical assays, gut microbiota sequencing, and fecal metabolomics. It analyzed lipid levels, gut microbiota composition, and metabolic changes to explore natto’s role in lipid regulation, gut health, and metabolism after 8 weeks of natto treatment (10 gram/day) :

Does natto improve lipid metabolism in hyperlipidemic mice?

Can natto regulate gut microbiota composition and function?

Is natto capable of modifying gut-derived metabolites linked to lipid metabolism?

Key Results

Lipid Metabolism Improvement

Natto significantly reduced TG, TC, and LDL-C while increasing HDL-C levels in the blood of HFD-fed mice. Surprisingly, it also reduced fasting blood glucose and improved oral glucose tolerance.

Gut Microbiota Regulation

Natto enhanced the abundance of beneficial bacteria (e.g., Lactobacillus, Oscillibacter) and reduced harmful bacteria (e.g., Alistipes, Prevotellaceae), balancing the microbiota.

Metabolite Alterations

Natto promoted the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and amino acid metabolism, by reducing markers of metabolic dysfunction such as acylcarnitines and increasing purine alkaloids (xanthine, hypoxanthine).

Takeaways

Apart from the cardiovascular health protection contributed from Nattokinase, the raw food of its origin, natto, also has a versatile benefit especially in the gut system. In this animal study, natto lowers lipid levels, improves glucose metabolism, and regulates gut microbiota by increasing beneficial bacteria and reducing harmful strains, supporting its role in hyperlipidemia prevention through microbiota-metabolism interactions.

If you’d like to enjoy natto, here’s our recommended recipe for starters!

Breakfast Deluxe: Pair natto with warm rice, raw egg, and soy sauce for a quick and healthy start to your day.

Salad Booster: Mix natto with fresh vegetables, olive oil, and a pinch of salt for a unique salad dressing.

Creative Storm: Add natto to soups, noodles, or wraps for a flavorful twist.

Want to enjoy all the cholesterol-lowering and gut-health benefits of natto – without the strong odor? Try nattiase®, our premium fermented natto product, designed for modern wellness. Order now!

Reference

Le-Yuan Shang et al., “Natto alleviates hyperlipidemia in high-fat diet-fed mice by modulating the composition and metabolic function of gut microbiota”, 2024

Full article at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2023.105968