Serrapeptase: The natural anti-inflammatory

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Serrapeptase: The natural anti-inflammatory

 

For the millions of Americans who take anti-inflammatory medications

to relieve pain and to promote cardiovascular health,1 there is a

supplement that shows great promise. The name of this supplement is

Serrapeptase and doctors in Europe have been prescribing it to treat

everything from pain to atherosclerotic plaques.

 

Serrapeptase, technically called Serrato Peptidase, is a proteolytic

enzyme, which means that it chops up or digests protein. It is

produced by bacteria in the gut of silkworms and is used to digest

their cocoons. When this enzyme is isolated and coated in the form

of a tablet, it has been shown to act as an anti-inflammatory and a

pain-blocker, much like aspirin, ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal

anti-inflamitory drugs (NSAIDs).

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2003/sep2003_report_aas_01.htm

 

What's more, preliminary research indicates that Serrapeptase may

even help inhibit plaque build-up in arteries, thereby preventing

atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and a resulting heart

attack or stroke. Therefore, much like aspirin, this naturally

derived enzyme may work to prevent inflammation, pain, heart attack

and stroke. Unlike aspirin and other over-the-counter (OTC) NSAIDs,

Serrapeptase has not been shown to cause ulcers and stomach bleeding.

 

Serrapeptase is thought to work in three ways:

 

It may reduce inflammation by thinning the fluids formed from

injury, and facilitating the fluid's drainage. This in turn, also

speeds tissue repair.

It may help alleviate pain by inhibiting the release of pain-

inducing amines called bradykinin.

It may enhance cardiovascular health by breaking down the protein by-

products of blood coagulation called fibrin. Conveniently,

Serrapeptase is able to dissolve the fibrin and other dead or

damaged tissue without harming living tissue. This could enable the

dissolution of atherosclerotic plaques without causing any harm to

the inside of the arteries.

Serrapeptase has been used in Europe and Asia for over 25 years.

Because the enzyme digests or dissolves all nonliving tissue,

including blood clots, cysts and arterial plaque, it is used to

treat a variety of conditions, including sprains and torn ligaments,

postoperative swelling, venous thrombosis (clots in the legs), ear,

nose and throat infections and atherosclerosis.

 

Abroad, Serrapeptase is marketed under a variety of names including,

DanzenTM, AniflazymTM, and SerraZymeTM. In the United States, it has

been used and marketed as Serrapeptase since 1997. A pain-reliever

and anti-inflammatory supplement that has anti-clotting activities

without the risk of stomach bleeding? Sounds too good to be true?

Let's look at the research.

 

The data

When searching PubMed for Serrapeptase, one can find close to 40

clinical studies, most of which are from European or Asian

researchers, since Serrapeptase has not hit the mainstream in the

U.S. The studies, on the whole, conclude that Serrapeptase can have

tremendous benefits.

 

 

For example, one multi-center, double-blind, randomized trial done

at the Institute of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology at the University

of Naples, in Italy, found that Serrapeptase acted as an effective

anti-inflammatory to improve ear, nose and throat disorders, and the

supplement reduced pain. The study, which used 193 people and lasted

eight days, also found that Serrapeptase caused no significant side

effects.2

 

Another multi-center, double-blind study, published in the journal,

Pharmatherapeutica, found that Serrapeptase reduced swelling in

patients who underwent surgery to treat empyema (a collection of pus

in the cavity between the lung and the membrane that surrounds it).

This study included 174 patients and showed no adverse side effects.

Another study involving post-operative swelling, and done by German

researchers, showed that patients who had ankle surgery and were

given Serrapeptase had a 50% reduction in swelling, while those

patients who did not receive Serrapeptase had no reduction in

swelling. Patients taking the supplement were also relieved of all

pain by the tenth day after surgery.3

 

A small study (involving 20 patients) done over a period of six

weeks and published in the Journal of the Association of Physicians

in India, found that Serrapeptase may help improve carpal tunnel

syndrome. No significant side effects were observed.4

 

Another use for Serrapeptase involves the treatment of fibrocystic

breast disease. In one double-blind study published in the Singapore

Medical Journal, 70 women with breast engorgement were randomly

divided into a treatment and placebo group. There was more reduction

of breast pain and swelling in the women receiving Serrapeptase than

there was for the women who did not receive the supplement. Again,

no adverse reactions were reported.5

 

As for the cardiovascular benefits of Serrapeptase, the evidence

supporting this is mostly anecdotal and based in large part on the

research of the late Hans A. Nieper, M.D., an internist from

Hannover, Germany, who is widely known and also considered

antiestablishment. He studied the effects of Serrapeptase on plaque

accumulations in the arteries. A book about Dr. Nieper's work,

entitled, The Curious Man: The Life and Works of Dr. Hans Nieper

(Avery Penguin Putnam, December 1998), provides insight into his

studies. An Italian study done at the University of Naples in the

department of vascular surgery, did show that Serrapeptase was

effective and well tolerated in patients with inflammatory venous

diseases. But more research is necessary to accurately and

specifically determine the effects Serrapeptase can have on

cardiovascular health.

 

Safety

As with every substance one consumes (from food to pills), there is

the potential for risk. Just because something is " natural " doesn't

mean it is automatically harmless. Certainly, the ongoing and recent

controversy over the regulation of nutritional supplements indicates

that one needs to be cautious and informed when using any

supplement. While naturally derived supplements can be beneficial

and safe, they can also be harmful if used carelessly or without the

help of a medical professional.

 

That said, Serrapeptase is a powerful enzyme that comes with a few

cautions. In elderly people who use the product over a long period

of time, gastrointestinal irritation can occur, though this is rare.

There is also the increased risk of infection of the lung and

pneumonia when using Serrapeptase. This is rare (as evidenced by a

few isolated letters to the editor in medical journals)6 but is a

possibility because Serrapeptase thins mucus secretions, which can

lead to lung complications if one has a history of lung problems.

Also note that the studies involving Serrapeptase do not extend over

a long period of time. Therefore, the long-term effects of this

supplement have not yet been determined.

 

 

Dosage

The recommended dose is 10 mg to 30 mg per day. For prevention, 10

mg daily. For arthritis, sinusitis, fibrocystic breast, bronchitis

and cardiovascular problems, 20 mg daily. For pain, start with 10 mg

daily and work up to 20 mg if needed. For injury, trauma or post

surgery recovery, take 30 mg daily for two days, then go down to 20

mg daily until swelling and pain subside. Be sure to take

Serrapeptase on an empty stomach, meaning that Serrapeptase should

be taken at least two hours after eating, and no food should be

consumed for a half hour after taking Serrapeptase.

 

It is important to note that not all Serrapeptase products are

created equal. The enzyme activity is measured in units and clinical

studies are based on the ratio of 10 mg of Serrapeptase equaling

20,000 units of activity. When purchasing the product be sure that

the ratio of mg to units is 10 mg for every 20,000 units, or 5 mg

for 10,000 units and so on. The average dose, therefore, is 20 mg–or

40,000 units.