Research suggests that serrapeptase may help reduce the viscosity of nasal and airway mucus in people with chronic sinusitis and related conditions, potentially supporting the body's natural mucus-clearing mechanisms. Studies indicate that the enzyme selectively lowers mucus thickness without significantly altering its elasticity, and one small randomized controlled trial found that participants taking serrapeptase showed meaningful reductions in sputum volume, viscosity, and neutrophil counts alongside improved mucociliary transport. The available evidence includes two older clinical measurement studies, one open-label randomized controlled trial, and several narrative reviews, all of which point in a broadly supportive direction, though the overall body of evidence remains limited by small sample sizes, lack of blinding in key trials, and a reliance on surrogate measurements rather than long-term clinical outcomes. As such, while the mechanistic rationale and early findings are of interest, stronger and more rigorous trials would be needed before firm conclusions can be drawn about serrapeptase's practical value for sinus and congestion relief.
Citations from PubMed and preprint sources. Match score (0-100) reflects automated search ranking, not clinical appraisal.
| Title | Type | Year | Direction | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The effect of an orally administered proteolytic enzyme on the elasticity and... | Other | 1988 | Supports | 95 |
| Effects of orally administered drugs on dynamic viscoelasticity of human nasa... | Other | 1990 | Supports | 92 |
| Effect of the proteolytic enzyme serrapeptase in patients with chronic airway... | RCT | 2003 | Supports | 78 |
| The role of serratiopeptidase in the resolution of inflammation. | Review | 2017 | Supports | 72 |
| Sfericase, a novel proteolytic enzyme. | Review | 1983 | Supports | 70 |
| Enhanced production of recombinant serratiopeptidase in Escherichia coli and ... | Other | 2019 | Supports | 62 |
| Serratiopeptidase: An integrated View of Multifaceted Therapeutic Enzyme. | Review | 2022 | Supports | 60 |