President and CEO of JBSL-USA, the U.S. distributor of NSK-SD nattokinase
President and CEO of SloIron Inc. and Guzen Development Inc.
Japan Bio Science Laboratories
www.jbsl-net.com/english
Japan Bio Science Laboratories (JBSL) headquartered in Osaka, Japan has been manufacturing natural ingredients for the food and supplement industry since 1974. JBSL’s first product Biozyme, a fermented vegetable extract and postbiotic produced using a fermentation process with 40 different vegetables and herbs. In 1998, JBSL was the first company to commercialize nattokinase, an enzyme rich in cardiovascular benefits that is derived from the Japan fermented soybean dish natto. JBSL’s brand of nattokinase, NSK-SD, is the original and authentic nattokinase distributed by JBSL-USA. It is the only nattokinase with published identity, safety and efficacy studies.
Vincent Hackel is president and chief executive officer of JBSL-USA, the U.S. distributor of NSK-SD nattokinase, as well as president and chief executive officer of SloIron Inc. and Guzen Development Inc. With a thorough understanding of global markets and strong Japanese language skills, his primary focus is helping Japanese firms to develop and expand sales opportunities for their products/services in the U.S. in addition to developing and distributing clinically proven and effective food and supplement ingredients.
NIE: What is NSK-SD and what benefits does it offer?
Hackel: NSK-SD is JBSL’s brand of nattokinase and the only nattokinase with published identity, safety and efficacy studies. In 1998, JBSL was the first company to commercialize nattokinase, a natural enzyme rich in cardiovascular benefits that was discovered in the Japanese fermented soybean dish natto. Since the discovery of nattokinase, NSK-SD has been the subject of more that 50 studies, 30 of which are human clinicals showing that NSK-SD has potential to help lower high blood pressure, improve circulation, prevent platelet and red blood cell aggregation, and lower inflammation. JBSL is committed to furthering the research on nattokinase and actively conducts two annual clinical studies. NSK-SD is GRAS (generally recognized as safe), EFSA (European Food Safety Authority)-approved, Health Canada-approved, and distributed in the U.S. by JBSL-USA (Guzen Development), and available in approximately 40 countries.
NIE: JBSL celebrates 50 years in 2025. What can we expect from the company?
Hackel: We’re always working to push the science forward. We’re working to get approval for additional health claims in the E.U. and other markets. We’re developing alternative delivery forms so companies can use NSK-SD in applications other than standard pills and capsules.
NIE: Research seems to be important to the company. Talk about some of the recent studies on JBSL’s ingredients.
Hackel: As a pioneer of nattokinase, Japan Bio Science Laboratory has conducted various studies. NSK-SD has not only passed various safety tests, but its effects of improving blood flow, lowering blood pressure, enhancing the fibrinolytic system and inhibiting the coagulation system have all been confirmed in human studies.
Recently, JBSL conducted studies aimed at expanding the market for elderly and female subjects with studies showing NSK-SD’s ability to improve sensitivity to the cold and inhibit aging accelerating substances (AGEs). Additional research also includes coronavirus prevention, immune activation and cavity prevention.
A recent study showed the potential for NSK-SD to prevent the progression of pathological changes in rats with STZ-induced short-term diabetes. Study results showed that at a high-dose, NSK-SD suppressed glycogen deposition in a dose-dependent manner while also downregulating AGE formation.
In another study published on July 6, 2023, NSK-SD accelerated skin temperature recovery after cold water immersion in human subjects. Skin temperature is largely controlled by skin surface blood flow, and the findings further substantiate the results of a previous study that showed nattokinase improves blood flow.
The results may especially pose the benefit of nattokinase for individuals more sensitive to the cold, such as women and the elderly, through its potential to prevent excessive vasoconstriction.
The study was published in CellPress on July 6, 2023 under the title, “A single dose of oral nattokinase accelerates skin temperature recovery after cold water immersion: A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study.”
NIE: As JBSL celebrates a major milestone, what are the plans for the future of the company?
Hackel: On the occasion of JBSL’s 50th anniversary, we are renewing our corporate theme to ‘’Through Science to The Healthier World.’’ Our commitment continues to raw materials derived from natural ingredients, which we have always valued, and our belief that it is necessary to pursue safety and reliability from the consumer’s view. However, we will vigorously promote our business with the desire to contribute to the health of the world by expanding globally our Japan-manufactured functional materials product line.
Furthermore, we will continue to challenge ourselves to develop ingredients utilizing cultivation technology amassed over the past 50 years. Starting in 2025, in addition to the Kyushu Factory where our postbiotic ingredient Biozyme is manufactured, a new Kyushu Cultivation Plant has been established to cultivate algae to launch astaxanthin as a natural ingredient.
