NOW Foods Serrapeptase – 90 Veg Capsules (120,000 SPU High Potency)
Looking for deep sinus clearance, respiratory relief, or smoother physical recovery without harsh stomach upset? NOW Serrapeptase 1200000 SU (standardized to 120,000 active Serratiopeptidase Units per vegetarian capsule) delivers maximum-strength systemic proteolytic enzyme activity directly into your bloodstream.
Quick Inverted-Pyramid Summary for Customers:
Primary Role: Cleanses non-living protein debris, breaks up trapped mucus in sinuses and airways, and supports joint mobility.
Active Strength: 120,000 Serratiopeptidase Units (SPU/SU) per capsule – double the strength of standard 60,000 unit formulas.
How to Take: 1 capsule daily on an empty stomach with a full 8 oz glass of water (at least 60 minutes before food or 2 hours after).
Pure & Allergen-Free: 100% vegetarian, non-GMO, dairy-free, and tested for zero harmful heavy metal contaminants.
✓ Item SKU: N2976
✓ UPC: 733739029768
✓ Quantity: 90 Vegetarian Capsules
✓ Verified NOW Brand Quality
How Serrapeptase Works in Plain English: Your Body's "Microscopic Janitor"
To understand serrapeptase, imagine your body running a natural maintenance crew every day. When your tissues experience irritation, past injuries, or respiratory congestion, they leave behind stubborn, sticky waste products made of dead protein fibers known as fibrin, excess fluid, and thickened cellular mucus.
Serrapeptase (scientifically called Serratiopeptidase) is a systemic proteolytic enzyme. "Proteolytic" simply means it breaks down proteins. What makes serrapeptase so unique is its precision:
1. Selective Digestion: It acts like biological scissors that only cut away non-living, coagulated debris – such as dense sinus phlegm, scar-like fibrin strands, and dead inflammatory waste – while leaving your living, healthy tissues completely unharmed.
2. Rapid Fluid Drainage: By disassembling trapped protein webs, it allows trapped interstitial fluid in swollen facial tissues or tender joints to drain freely through your lymphatic channels.
3. Systemic Circulation: Unlike ordinary digestive enzymes that sit in your stomach to process dinner, serrapeptase taken on an empty stomach absorbs intact directly through the small intestinal wall into your circulation to work anywhere your body needs cleanup.
Originally discovered in the digestive microbiome of the silkworm (which produces it to effortlessly dissolve its hard cocoon without hurting itself), NOW Foods Serrapeptase is cleanly cultivated through plant-derived, controlled bacterial fermentation using non-pathogenic Serratia marcescens.
Clinical Science & Peer-Reviewed Research: Verified Human Evidence
Unlike trendy wellness fads backed only by rumors, serratiopeptidase has undergone decades of rigorous clinical investigation in Europe and Asia. Here is what controlled human clinical trials demonstrate:
✓ Clears Upper Respiratory Pathways and Thinning Mucus
In a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating 193 patients suffering from acute and chronic ear, nose, and throat inflammation, patients receiving serratiopeptidase experienced rapid, statistically significant reductions in nasal secretions, obstruction, and localized tissue discomfort within 3 to 4 days compared to placebo.
Citation: Mazzone A, Catalani M, Costanzo M, et al. Evaluation of Serratia peptidase in acute or chronic inflammation of otorhinolaryngology pathology: a multicentre, double-blind, randomized trial versus placebo. J Int Med Res. 1990;18(5):379-388. [PMID: 2257960]
✓ Improves Bronchial Clearance and Sputum Viscosity
A clinical study investigating patients with chronic bronchial airway conditions showed that oral serrapeptase treatment significantly decreased sputum weight, reduced mucus viscosity, and dramatically lowered neutrophil (white blood cell) counts in airway secretions, allowing patients to expectorate and breathe with far less physical effort.
Citation: Nakamura S, Hashimoto Y, Mikami M, et al. Effect of the proteolytic enzyme serrapeptase in patients with chronic airway disease. Respirology. 2003;8(3):316-320. [PMID: 12911824]
✓ Resolves Post-Traumatic Swelling and Edema
A prospective, randomized, double-blind trial evaluating post-surgical tissue trauma demonstrated that serrapeptase produced marked, clinically verifiable reductions in localized facial swelling and jaw muscle tightness (trismus) on postoperative days 2, 3, and 7, highlighting its targeted anti-edema properties.
Citation: Al-Khateeb TH, Nusair Y. Effect of the proteolytic enzyme serrapeptase on swelling, pain and trismus after surgical extraction of mandibular third molars. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2008;37(3):264-268. [PMID: 18272344]
NOW Foods Lab Testing Rigor: ISO 17025 Accredited Purity & Contaminant Controls
In an unregulated supplement landscape flooded by unverified third-party marketplace sellers, purity and true enzyme activity are critical. NOW Foods sets the gold standard for quality control in the natural products industry, operating one of the largest and most sophisticated analytical testing complexes in North America.
ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Lab Accreditation
NOW's in-house analytical laboratories are independently accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 standards – the exact same international benchmark required of elite forensic and pharmaceutical facilities. NOW performs over 19,000 analytical tests every single month.
Heavy Metal Detection by ICP-MS
Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), every batch is screened down to parts-per-billion (ppb) for toxic heavy metals, including lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, ensuring total compliance with strict USP and California Prop 65 safety limits.
Pathogen & Microbial PCR Testing
State-of-the-art automated real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) instruments screen raw materials for pathogens, including Salmonella, E. coli, yeast, mold, and total aerobic microbes, preventing biological contamination.
HPLC Potency & Activity Verification
Rather than just weighing raw powder, NOW uses specialized enzymatic activity assays to verify that every single capsule contains a genuine 120,000 Serratiopeptidase Units of biologically viable, active enzyme capable of breaking down protein substrates.
NPA 'A' Rated cGMP Facility: NOW has maintained an 'A' compliance rating from the Natural Products Association (NPA) since the inception of the certification program, surpassing federal FDA 21 CFR Part 111 cGMP requirements.
Full ingredient transparency is vital for your health decisions. Below is the verified label specification for NOW Serrapeptase 1200000 SU / 120,000 SPU (90 Vegetarian Capsules):
Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1 Veg Capsule
Servings Per Container: 90
Amount Per Serving% Daily ValueSerrapeptase (from Serratia marcescens) (Supplying 120,000 Serratiopeptidase Units [SPU/SU])**
** Daily Value (DV) not established.
Other Ingredients: Microcrystalline Cellulose, Hypromellose (cellulose capsule), Maltodextrin, and Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT powder).
Allergen Free From: Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, or sesame ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.
Systemic enzymes must be taken correctly to deliver results. If you take serrapeptase the wrong way, you completely neutralize its effectiveness.
The #1 Mistake: Taking Serrapeptase with Food
If there is food in your stomach, serrapeptase will spend its enzymatic power digesting the proteins in your breakfast or lunch. It will never absorb into your bloodstream. To work systemically (on your sinuses, respiratory system, and joints), you must take it:
At least 60 minutes before your next meal, OR
At least 2 hours after your last meal, AND
Always with a full 8-ounce glass of water to swiftly carry the capsule past the stomach into the alkaline small intestine.
Real Safety Trade-Offs & Who Should NOT Take This:
Blood-Thinning Medications: Because serrapeptase hydrolyzes fibrin and supports healthy circulation, consult your doctor if you take anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs (e.g., Warfarin, Eliquis, Plavix, or daily aspirin). Combining them may increase bleeding risk.
Upcoming Surgery: Discontinue use at least two full weeks (14 days) prior to any scheduled surgical or dental procedure to ensure normal blood clotting.
Pregnancy and Nursing: Not recommended for pregnant or lactating mothers due to lack of extensive safety clinical trials in these groups.
Duration of Use: As advised on NOW's label, continuous uninterrupted use of high-potency serrapeptase for more than 30 consecutive days is not recommended except under the active supervision of a licensed healthcare physician.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does "1200000 SU" or "120,000 SPU" mean, and why is potency measured this way?
Enzymes are living biological catalysts, not inert chemical minerals. Measuring an enzyme by milligrams only tells you how much the powder weighs, not whether it is active. SPU (Serratiopeptidase Units) or SU measures biological activity – specifically, how rapidly the enzyme breaks down non-living protein bonds. NOW Foods Serrapeptase delivers a standardized high potency of 120,000 SPU per vegetarian capsule for therapeutic systemic support.
How long does it take for NOW Serrapeptase to start working?
For sinus drainage, nasal passage congestion, and bronchial mucus liquefaction, many individuals observe positive changes within 3 to 7 days of daily empty-stomach use. For deeper applications like joint mobility, post-workout recovery, or tissue remodeling, clinical evaluations typically assess results over 2 to 4 weeks.
How does NOW Foods test Serrapeptase for safety and contaminants?
NOW tests every lot in an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited analytical laboratory. They screen for heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury) using high-resolution ICP-MS down to parts-per-billion, confirm absence of pathogens via automated PCR, and test actual enzymatic fibrin-clearing activity before any bottle is released for distribution.
Can I open the capsule and mix it into applesauce or juice?
No. Serrapeptase enzymes are delicate proteins that can be degraded by strong gastric stomach acid (pH 1.5 to 3.0). The capsule must be swallowed whole with a full glass of plain water so it safely passes through the stomach into the alkaline small intestine where absorption occurs.
Why should I order NOW Serrapeptase from VitaNet rather than third-party online marketplaces?
Third-party open marketplaces frequently suffer from improper hot warehouse storage, near-expiration inventory, and unvetted sellers. VitaNet LLC has operated as an independent, family-owned health retailer since 1995[cite: 1]. We maintain direct manufacturer sourcing in climate-controlled conditions and provide an unconditional 100% money-back guarantee[cite: 1].
The VitaNet Difference: 31+ Years of Independent Family Retail Integrity
Since 1995, VitaNet®, LLC has served health-conscious Americans with authentic brand-name nutritional supplements[cite: 1]. Located in Hartville, Ohio, our family-owned business believes real customer relationships matter more than corporate markups[cite: 1].
We want you completely satisfied with your experience. We offer an industry-leading 100% money-back guarantee on all products – and unlike other retailers, we even pay the shipping back on returns whether the bottle is opened or unopened[cite: 1].
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your physician prior to using systemic enzymes if taking prescription medications or managing a medical condition.
