My Supplements: Serrapeptase and Nattokinase

by Nils Osmar. Updated May 31, 2023
This post is not intended as, and should not be taken as, medical advice.
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I noticed years ago that if I’m stuffed up, my breathing gets better in about 20 minutes if I take serrapeptase, a proteolytic enzyme originally isolated from silkworms. (The kind sold in supplements is created by a fermentation process; no silkworms are harmed or killed.)

Serrapeptase is used medicinally in Europe and Japan but is available as a supplement in the United States. I became interested in it years ago because it dissolves biofilms and removes so-called old blood factors (protein fragments) from the blood. I often take it at night because I sleep better if my breathing is clear.

The brand I take and recommend is Doctor’s Best, available on Amazon: “Doctor’s Best High Potency Serrapeptase, 120,000 SPU.” I also sometimes take a similar product from Source Naturals.

From a Healthline article: “Serrapeptase: Benefits, Dosage, Dangers, and Side Effects“

Serrapeptase may increase the clearance of mucus and reduce inflammation in the lungs in people with chronic respiratory diseases (CRD). CRDs are diseases of the airways and other structures of the lungs. Common ones include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and pulmonary hypertension — a type of high blood pressure that affects the vessels in your lungs.

While CRDs are incurable, various treatments can help dilate the air passages or increase mucus clearance, improving quality of life.

In one 4-week study, 29 people with chronic bronchitis were randomly assigned to receive 30 mg of serrapeptase or a placebo daily. Bronchitis is one type of COPD that leads to coughing and difficulty breathing due to the overproduction of mucus.

People who were given serrapeptase had less mucus production compared to the placebo group and were better able to clear the mucus from their lungs. However, further studies are needed to support these findings.