Supplementation with Akkermansia muciniphila improves metabolic parameters in overweight and obese people.
The worldwide prevalence of cardiometabolic disorders is increasing with the global obesity epidemic. Evidence from a new study suggests that supplementation with Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) may reduce the risk of developing several aspects of cardiometabolic disorders in overweight and obese people.
A. muciniphila is one of the most abundant microbial species in the human gut, comprising as much as 5 percent of the total bacteria. Its presence in the human gut is associated with reduced risk of obesity, cardiometabolic disorders, and chronic, low-grade inflammation.
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study involved 32 overweight or obese adults who were insulin-resistant, a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. The participants were randomized to receive either live A. muciniphila (1010 bacteria per day), pasteurized A. muciniphila (1010 bacteria per day), or a placebo daily for three months.
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At the end of the study period, participants who took pasteurized A. muciniphila experienced improved insulin sensitivity and reduced insulinemia, total cholesterol, and body weight compared to their baseline assessments and the placebo group. The findings from this pilot study demonstrate that A. muciniphila improves metabolic parameters in overweight or obese people and may have promise as a preventive therapy for various cardiometabolic disorders.