1

Suppressive effects on high blood pressure and thrombosis (Prevention of lifestyle related diseases)

Eating natto can prevent and reduce high blood pressure and thrombosis as natto contains a large number of nutrient components, not only able to reduce blood pressure but also prevent the formation of thrombus and suppress arteriosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis advances as a result of blood vessels repeatedly becoming inflamed. There is a study conducted by professor Chisato Nagata from the Gifu University and her study team, targeting 30,000 female and male subjects residing in Takayama city, Gifu prefecture. The study, regarding the relationship between eating habits and the risk of death, was carried out for 16 years; and the result of the study shows that eating 1 – 2 packs of natto weekly can reduce an approximately 30% of the risk of getting cerebral apoplexy.

Physiological functions and effects on:

High blood pressure, cerebrovascular diseases (such as stroke, cerebral hemorrhage, etc.), ischemic cardiac diseases (such as angina, myocardial infarction, etc.), and arteriosclerosis.

Effective ingredients contained in natto

Nattokinase, polyamine (spermine and spermidine), isoflavone, proteins, potassium, lecithin, saponin, etc.

2

Aging and dementia prevention effects (Antiaging and prevention of lifestyle related diseases)

Natto contains a large amount of polyamine which prevents aging, and the amount of polyamine found in natto is 5 times higher than spinach. Polyamine are actively produced inside of human bodies when we are young. However, the production of polyamine decreases as we age. Additionally, natto contains various nutrients able to not only produce neurotransmitter and auxiliary substances related to cerebral memory and learning but also prevent cells from oxidizing as well as promote blood flow.

Physiological functions and effects on:

High blood pressure, arteriosclerosis (such as myocardial infarction, stroke, etc.), dementia, Alzheimer’s disease (for which suppressive effects have currently been studied), etc.

Effective ingredients contained in natto

Polyamine, choline, lecithin, vitamin E, vitamin K, linoleic acid, proteins, calcium, magnesium, saponin, isoflavone, nattokinase, etc.

3

Antibacterial and sterilizing effects

Natto has excellent antibacterial and sterilizing effects and contains many nutritious ingredients such as lysozyme, a type of enzyme which dissolves pathogenic bacteria, and bacillus natto, which restrains pathogenic bacteria from propagating. In addition to these, natto also contains dipicolinic acid, which is effective in anti-bacteria and sterilizing.

Physiological functions and effects on:

Typhoid bacillus, dysentery bacillus, pathogenic E. coli bacteria, Escherichia coli O-157, etc.

Effective ingredients contained in natto

Lysozyme, bacillus natto, dipicolinic acid, proteins, vitamin B1, minerals (zinc and magnesium), isoflavone, lecithin, saponin, etc.

4

Prevention and suppressive effects on common cold and influenza

Natto contains not only various nutritious ingredients able to boost immunity but also to supply nutrients lost from a fever, which is very effective for a common cold and influenza. Dipicolinic acid is produced due to the fermentation of bacillus natto, and it has strong antibacterial and sterilizing effects.

Physiological functions and effects on:

Common cold, influenza, etc.

Effective ingredients contained in natto

Dipicolinic acid, bacillus natto, saponin, proteins, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin E, zinc, isoflavone, minerals, etc.

5

Osteoporosis prevention effect (Prevention of lifestyle related diseases)

Osteoporosis is a disease, causing bones to become fragile as we age, and in particular, it is commonly found that postmenopausal women develop this disease. This is due to the fact that the secretion of female hormone “estrogen” is decreased, causing calcium in bones to dissolve. Along with calcium and proteins, natto contains a large amount of vitamin K2, which has an effect on fixing calcium to the bones and reducing the dissolution.

Physiological functions and effects on:

Osteoporosis

Effective ingredients contained in natto

Calcium, proteins, vitamin K2, isoflavone, etc.

6

Prevention and suppressive effects on hepatic dysfunction

In addition to the fact that natto contains a large number of proteins, which are one of the main ingredients of liver, and various nutrients able to improve liver functions, it helps to vitalize liver cells activities.

Effective ingredients contained in natto

Proteins, essential amino acids, vitamin B2, vitamin E, minerals (zinc, magnesium, potassium), lecithin, saponin, etc.

7

Prevention and suppressive effects on cancer (Prevention of lifestyle related diseases)

Due to the fact that “soybean isoflavone” contained in natto has an extremely similar structure as the female hormone “estrogen” (which relates to breast cancer) and the male hormone “androgen” (which relates to prostatic cancer), and on top of that cancer cells would mistakenly take isoflavone in, it can suppress the growth of cancer. In fact, according to the research conducted by the National Cancer Center Japan, it is proven that the soybean isoflavone contained in natto and miso has suppressive effects on breast cancer. Additionally, since bacillus natto, oligosaccharide, and dietary fibers are able to increase the number of beneficial bacteria and suppress the activities of the harmful bacteria living in our intestines, it has positive effect on preventing colorectal cancer as well. Soybeans also contain such substances as saponin and lecithin. Regarding saponin, it is also utilized as a Chinese medicine for cancer treatment and has effect on antioxidation as well as improving immunity.

Physiological functions and effects on:

Breast cancer, prostatic cancer, colorectal cancer, and the like.

Effective ingredients contained in natto

Isoflavone (in particular, natto’s Isoflavone can easily and effectively be absorbed by our bodies), nattokinase, polyamine, proteins, saponin, vitamin E, selenium, bacillus natto, dietary fibers, etc.

8

Beauty and diet effects (antiaging effect)

In addition to its rich proteins which are also one of the main ingredients for skin, natto contains many effective substances able to regenerate skin, remove active oxygen, and facilitate blood flow. Furthermore, natto can be helpful for beauty/ diet since it contains many nutrients which are easily to be digested and absorbed.

Effective ingredients contained in natto

Proteins, vitamin B2, vitamin E, potassium, magnesium, zinc, lecithin, isoflavone, saponin, mucin, dietary fibers, bacillus natto, polyamine, vitamin PQQ (which has been newly discovered and has prevention effect on dry skin).

9

Intestinal regulation and diet effects/ low-insulin diet effect

Despite the fact that natto contains a large amount of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibers, it is a low-calorie food suitable for diet. Additionally, since natto contains less amount of glucose, which is responsible for blood-sugar level increase, and its dietary fibers slow down fat absorption, a successful result from low insulin diet and constipation relief can be expected.

Effective ingredients contained in natto

Proteins, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, zinc, dietary fibers (natto contains well balanced insoluble and water-soluble dietary fibers, able to improve intestinal condition), bacillus natto (which facilitates fermentation inside of intestines and improves intestinal environment), etc.

10

Prevention and suppressive effects on female climacteric disturbance

Along with supplementing female hormone, natto contains many functional nutrients able to prevent climacteric disturbance. Due to a decrease in female hormone “estrogen” (which keeps us staying young) and the effect of follicle-stimulating hormone, the symptoms of climacteric disturbance such as dizziness, staggering, rush of blood to the head, oversensitiveness to cold, headaches, stiff shoulders, and irritating feel occur, and natto’s nutrients are able to prevent these symptoms.

Effective ingredients contained in natto

Isoflavone, proteins, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, saponin, etc.

11

Suppressive effects on neutral fat and cholesterol

Natto contains various nutrients able to reduce the causes of arteriosclerosis (such as excess neutral fat and cholesterol in blood) and remove active oxygen as well as protecting blood vessels. As cholesterol settles to the intima of arteries, arteriosclerosis occurs. Due to the oxidization of settled cholesterol, it induces inflammation; and spermine and spermidine demonstrate the power of suppressing aging factors.

Effective ingredients contained in natto

Proteins, lecithin, vitamin E, zinc, isoflavone, dietary fibers, etc.

12

Diabetes prevention effect (Prevention of lifestyle related diseases)

Natto contains an ingredient called “Nattokinase” which is able to moderate the absorption of sugar and prevent rapid raise of blood sugar level after a meal. Also, natto contains lecithin and saponin. If lecithin is insufficient, “insulin”, the only hormone able to reduce blood sugar level, cannot be properly produced. In addition to the effect of reducing blood sugar level, saponin also has such effects as lowering cholesterol, increasing immunity, and improving blood flow. In regard to preventing and improving the condition of diabetes, results of scientific investigations proof that natto is effective in preventing diabetes and improving its condition.

Effective ingredients contained in natto

Nattokinase, lecithin, saponin, proteins, vitamin B1, vitamin E, zinc, dietary fibers, etc.

13

Memory and concentration improvement effects

Natto contains a wide range of nutrients which are the ingredients of neurotransmitters and able to promote neural transmission. Hence, it is suitable for improving memory and concentration. Furthermore, natto also contains such substances as lecithin, choline, and vitamin K, which are extremely effective in vitalizing brain activities. Therefore, it has such functions as preventing brain from weakening and suppressing the progression of dementia.

Effective ingredients contained in natto

Proteins, lecithin, choline, vitamin B1, calcium, potassium, magnesium, PQQ (= pyrroloquinoline quinone which improves memory, concentration, and attentiveness; and it is proven that PQQ has a great prevention effect in memory deterioration due to aging, Alzheimer dementia, and Parkinson’s disease)

14

Fatigue recovery effect

Natto contains a wide range of nutrients, allowing energy sources to be effectively utilized as well as improving the activities of cells and blood flow, and is a superfood able to make contribution to fatigue recovery.

Effective ingredients contained in natto

Proteins, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin E, lecithin, potassium, zinc, etc.

15

Anti-ulceration effect

Natto contains a variety of nutrients able to suppress stomach and duodenal ulcers and repair the damaged mucous membrane. Furthermore, natto contains mucin, which can protect gastric mucosa and prevent gastritis as well as gastric ulcers; and soybean origosaccharide and bacillus natto, which have effect on increasing the number of beneficial bacteria inside of our intestines. All of these substances are able to improve and sustain the functions of the intestines. Additionally, as natto contains such digestive enzymes as amylase (a type of enzyme resolving starch), lipase (a type of enzyme resolving fat), and protease (a type of enzyme resolving proteins), it greatly helps gastric digestion.

Effective ingredients contained in natto

Proteins, vitamin B1, vitamin E, vitamin K, calcium, magnesium, zinc, saponin, etc.

16

Prevention and suppressive effects on allergic diseases such as pollinosis and atopic dermatitis

Natto contains a great number of nutrients, which remove the causes of pollinosis and allergies, able to enhance immunity and physical strength essential to fight back allergies. In particular, vitamin B2, magnesium, and zinc are indispensable to the metabolism of human bodies and they have an effect on suppressing such a type of allergy as atopic dermatitis induced by bad eicosanoids.

Effective ingredients contained in natto

Mucin, proteins, vitamin B2, magnesium, zinc, selenium, isoflavone, saponin, etc.

The Nutritional Composition of Itohiki Natto (sticky natto) (100g)

*In particular, the amount of proteins in natto is equivalent to three 55g eggs, which is small or medium size of eggs on average.