What Is Akkermansia muciniphila? – The Science Behind This Probiotic

What Is Akkermansia muciniphila? – The Science Behind This Probiotic

Reviewed by Anneleen Segers, PhD

If you are looking to continue to grow in your health and wellness journey then you may already be familiar with the incredible probiotic called Akkermansia muciniphila. This probiotic species packs a lot of promise for offering protection for your gut as well as expanding the diversity of your gut microbiome. In this blog we will discuss Akkermansia muciniphila and how it may support your gut integrity and overall health.

 

What is Akkermansia muciniphila?

Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) is a beneficial bacterium found naturally in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that supports the health of our gut barrier. This anaerobic bacterium resides within the mucus layers where proteins with attached carbohydrates called mucins can be found.1,2

Akkermansia muciniphila is certainly industrious since it stimulates us (the host) to produce more mucin, which in turn, builds a stronger protective layer that aids in monitoring what enters the intestines — allowing necessary nutrients and water to pass, while preventing harmful bacteria.3,4 For this reason, A. muciniphila has been dubbed the gatekeeper of the intestinal lining while also helping to regulate the immune system.5

Eager to learn more about how this probiotic supports your gut (health) and your gut microbiome? Then let’s read on.

 

The Microbiome and the Role of A. muciniphila

Defining the Microbiome

An interest in gut health and the gut microbiome is growing exponentially and the discovery of next-generation probiotics, (good bacteria providing health benefits to the host), like Akkermansia muciniphila is showing some real promise in supporting your gut health and your gut microbiome.

You may know that there are trillions of different microorganisms in your body called microbes that make up the unique ecosystem in your gut, called your microbiota or microbiome.6 The microbiome houses both good bacteria and those bacteria that aren’t beneficial. However, in healthy individuals, all of these microbes can live in unison, in the right balance.6

 

Akkermansia muciniphila — Its Supporting Role

A. muciniphila is one of numerous bacteria that start to colonize in the human gut in infancy.7 From the time a baby is born and passes through the birth canal or takes its first breath of air from the outside environment, the blueprint for their microbiome is established.

Regarding Akkermansia muciniphila, approximately 3% of this bacterium is present in the intestines of adults who are healthy.7 Though abundant in healthy adults, numerous studies have demonstrated that the levels of the Akkermansia muciniphila species were significantly decreased in those individuals who have diagnoses of metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes mellitus, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease.9

 

Positive Health Promotion

Though there are many areas that Akkermansia muciniphila may support, it is important to keep in mind that health management and prevention require a multifactorial approach. This includes a person’s lifestyle, physical activity, nutritional intake as well as genetics and support of your health care practitioner.

Here are some highlights of the benefits of Akkermansia muciniphila:

  • Healthy weight support. A. muciniphila may influence positive weight change by improving glucose metabolism and well as endogenous insulin receptivity. It may also support healthy weight by regulating basal metabolism. Again, looking at improving the gut mucosal layer can help to decrease the chances of permeability which is often associated with obesity.10,11
  • Supports healthy glucose metabolism. Regarding abnormal glucose, a person’s gut microbiota may be an indication of imbalance which can fuel inflammation. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is directly related to healthy blood glucose levels as mentioned above.12
  • Good gut health. This super probiotic in the live or pasteurized form, a postbiotic, is beneficial for supporting your gut health and your gut microbiota. Its ability to maintain a protective intestinal barrier is key to health.

 

Healthy Takeaways

Though the number of our good flora changes over time due to stress, medication, and other external influences, we can work towards increasing our good bacteria with adding pre- and probiotic-rich foods to our diet as well as supplementation. Keeping in mind that reaching out to your healthcare practitioner would be a great place to start the conversation and be on your way to supporting your health and well-being with Akkermansia muciniphila.

Though we briefly touched on a few benefits of Akkermansia muciniphila, the next time we meet we will take a deep dive into the role of this bacterium and its contributions to supporting good gut and overall health.

 

Citations

  1. Grondin, Jensine A et al. “Mucins in Intestinal Mucosal Defense and Inflammation: Learning From Clinical and Experimental Studies.” Frontiers in immunology vol. 11 2054. 4 Sep. 2020, doi:10.3389/fimmu.2020.02054.
  2. Geerlings, Sharon, et al. “Akkermansia Muciniphila in the Human Gastrointestinal Tract: When, Where, and How?” Microorganisms, vol. 6, no. 3, July 2018, p. 75, https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms6030075.
  3. Khoshbin, Katayoun, and Michael Camilleri. “Effects of Dietary Components on Intestinal Permeability in Health and Disease.” American Journal of Physiology. Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology/American Journal of Physiology: Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, vol. 319, no. 5, Nov. 2020, pp. G589–608. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpgi.00245.2020.
  4. Iwaza, Rim, et al. “Akkermansia Muciniphila: The State of the Art, 18 Years after Its First Discovery.” Frontiers in Gastroenterology, vol. 1, 25 Oct.2022. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgstr.2022.1024393.
  5. De Vos, Willem M. “Microbe Profile: Akkermansia Muciniphila: A Conserved Intestinal Symbiont That Acts as the Gatekeeper of Our Mucosa.” Microbiology, vol. 163, no. 5, May 2017, pp. 646–48. https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.000444.
  6. “Microbiome.” National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/science/microbiome. Accessed 12 June 2024.
  7. Rodrigues, Vanessa Fernandes et al. “Akkermansia muciniphila and Gut Immune System: A Good Friendship That Attenuates Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Obesity, and Diabetes.” Frontiers in immunology vol. 13 934695. 7 Jul. 2022, doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.934695.
  8. Jeong, Sujin. “Factors influencing development of the infant microbiota: from prenatal period to early infancy.” Clinical and experimental pediatrics vol. 65,9 (2022): 439-447. doi:10.3345/cep.2021.00955.
  9. Xue, Chen et al. “Health and Disease: Akkermansia muciniphila, the Shining Star of the Gut Flora.” Research (Washington, D.C.) vol. 6 (2023): 0107. doi:10.34133/research.0107.
  10. Abuqwider, Jumana Nabil et al. “Akkermansia muciniphila, a New Generation of Beneficial Microbiota in Modulating Obesity: A Systematic Review.” Microorganisms vol. 9,5 1098. 20 May. 2021, doi:10.3390/microorganisms9051098.
  11. Zhou, Qi, et al. “Gut Bacteria Akkermansia Is Associated With Reduced Risk of Obesity: Evidence From the American Gut Project.” Nutrition & Metabolism, vol. 17, no. 1, Oct. 2020, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-020-00516-1.
  12. Sanjiwani, Made Indira Dianti et al. “Review of Literature on Akkermansia muciniphila and its Possible Role in the Etiopathogenesis and Therapy of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.” Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies vol. 37,1 (2022): 69-74. doi:10.15605/jafes.037.01.13
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