Consider a world where one bacterial species could unlock a healthier gut—a slimmer waistline, better blood sugar control. It sounds like a science fiction story, but it is becoming a reality by the current superstar of the health world, Akkermansia muciniphila. This tiny metabolic powerhouse calls your gut home, and it might just be the key to unlocking a healthier, charmer you. So, take a closer look at what makes Akkermansia muciniphila so special—plus, how you can boost its levels naturally.
This mucin-degrading human gut mucosal dwelling bacterium plays a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity and functionality of the human gut's intestinal barrier, and the top of this list are the reasons this fellow is so important.
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Mucin Degradation
It uses mucin as the main energy substratum, degrading it, and subsequently, therefore, the host is protected against mucosal barrier damage and bacterial and toxin translocation. The process of degradation consequently leads to mucin regeneration, thereby ensuring the rigidity and strength of the gut barrier.
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Metabolic Health
Several studies have been conducted, with a great conclusion drawn, relating increased levels of Akkermansia muciniphila with improved metabolic health. For example, a study that was conducted on overweight and physically inactive individuals showed that three months of daily supplementation with pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila caused an increase in insulin sensitivity by 28.62% and a reduction in insulin levels by 7.67%, which is a prospective mechanism for type 2 diabetes treatment.
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Anti-Inflammatory
It also acts in the modulation of the immune system and, in turn, reduces the inflammation in the gut. For example, inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis benefit from higher abundance of this bacterium, creating an anti-inflammatory environment and thus reducing the symptoms of these diseases.
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Improvement of Gut Barrier Function
An intact gut barrier is required to prevent any leakage of toxic substances into the bloodstream. Akkermansia muciniphila helps to enhance the barrier of the gut, which, in turn, minimizes gut permeability and, thereby, reduces the risk of chronic diseases, which comes with the leaky gut syndrome, such as autoimmune diseases and systemic inflammation.
Do you need more Akkermansia in the Gut
Akkermansia muciniphila abundance in us can vary from genetic, demographic, and lifestyle-related factors:
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Genetic Factors: Some genetic predisposition might determine the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila. Some people are having more of this bacterium from birth, with at least some due to genetic factors.
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Age and Demographics: Akkermansia muciniphila represents between 1 to 3% of the fecal microbiota in healthy adults and is found in over 90% of healthy individuals. Still, its abundance tends to decrease with age and, in general, it is low in people with metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.
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Lifestyle Factors: A more significant association with higher Akkermansia muciniphila has been related to high physical activity levels and a diet rich in fiber and polyphenols. Conversely, a more reduced level was associated with a diet high in fat and low in fiber.
How to Boost your Akkermansia
Specific interventions include caloric restriction and supplementation of supplements such as pomegranate extract, resveratrol, and inulin, all of which have been shown to increase Akkermansia:
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Prebiotic Foods: Foods that are rich in prebiotics, such as garlic, onions, asparagus, and bananas, feed the nutrients that Akkermansia needs to thrive. Akkermansia levels have been correlated with sources that are high in dietary fiber and low in fat.
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Polyphenol-Rich Foods: Another study found that high levels of Akkermansia are observed when these foods—berries, red wine, nuts, and green tea—are included in the diet. Indeed, more studies have shown that feeding polyphenols can increase the relative abundance of Akkermansia by up to 25%.
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Other healthy fats that come from something like olive oil, avocados, and fatty fish, can help support gut health and the proliferation of that good bacteria, Akkermansia.
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Dietary supplements: Now, Akkermansia muciniphila supplements sourced as a probiotic are finally getting access to the market. It is indeed a direct new way to augment your gut levels of this beneficial bacterium. NEO METABOLIC from PAREMINA is featured with 3 billion CFU of akkermansia mucinphila and their proprietary prebiotic complex, Floravit to support active growth of the beneficial bacterium.
The Science Behind Akkermansia's Benefits
Akkermansia muciniphila is beneficial to health based on its ability to degrade mucin. This mucin breakdown helps to not only maintain the mucus layer but, from that, produce short-chain fatty acids such as acetate and propionate, which have a systemic anti-inflammatory effect. These SCFAs then work to further feed other beneficial gut bacteria, creating a positive feedback loop to benefit the entire gut ecosystem. And this crosstalk between Akkermansia and the gut lining further helps modulate the immune system. The bacterium enhances the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines while lowering the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In other words, it helps modulate immune responses and lower chronic inflammation.
The potential of Akkermansia muciniphila in therapeutic applications is immense, especially in the field of longevity, metabolic health and weight loss. So, care for the Akkermansias living inside of you, and they might just take better care of you.