We left off by mentioning Dr. Mark Hyman’s explanation of how acquaintance with the mucus-loving bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila offers a glimpse of an exciting future, featuring drug-free therapy that achieves sustainable weight loss. (Today’s post follows on from a very recent one, so get up to speed here.)
And besides, there does not seem to be a need for age limits. Imagine an affordable obesity prevention solution, for kids!
The backstory: Confronted by a serious personal health situation, Dr. Hyman discovered in himself “gut infections and really low levels of beneficial bacteria.” The mucus-loving Akkermansia, which normally accounts for between 1% and 5% of a human’s gut bacteria, was pretty much missing in him. But emerging research showed promise for this life form as “the next generation of beneficial gut microbes.” The field was on the verge of “an explosion… It’s been linked to positive health outcomes like weight loss, improved insulin resistance, lower inflammation, and more.” He wrote,
Akkermansia muciniphila feeds on mucin, a glycoprotein that regulates the thickness of our gut’s intestinal mucosal layer…. Akkermansia produces propionate and acetate, two short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that feed other beneficial gut bacteria…. SCFAs strengthen tight junctions (the glue that holds our intestinal cells together) and prevent unwanted materials from passing through and into circulation.
Ideally, the only substances that should pass through are “macro and micronutrients from real whole foods.” Some of the icky substances we do not want circulating at will are food particles, allergens, endotoxins, and fecal matter. The very undesirable condition that allows other stuff to circulate is known as intestinal hyperpermeability or, informally, as “leaky gut,” and is recognized as the cause of many chronic diseases.
Having a leaky gut causes the immune system to go haywire and become hypersensitive, constantly reacting to antigens (foreign proteins from food and bacteria) that enter the bloodstream unannounced.
It became increasingly obvious that Akkermansia is a good thing to have a sufficient supply of, and studies of obese adults found that high levels of this organism correlate with “healthier metabolic status and better clinical outcomes (fasting blood sugar, body fat distribution, and insulin sensitivity).” In mice, high levels of it are also associated with lower blood lipid levels, lower insulin resistance, and less adipose tissue inflammation.
One way to encourage the good bugs is to avoid highly processed foods. Another is to take it as a supplement, and a very recent article from GoodHousekeeping.com explores the possibility.
From January 2004 to February 2022, the annual number of studies published on Akkermansia grew by 33.36%, and researchers say it “is likely to remain a research hotspot in the foreseeable future.” Journalist Kaitlyn Phoenix has studied the subject in depth and quotes Madiha Saeed, M.D., on the basic mechanism of this organism’s unique talent. Akkermansia eats mucin, a protein in mucus,
[…] and produces short chain fatty acids that “strengthen the tight junctions in between our gut cells, keeping the bad stuff out of our gut…. The more mucin Akkermansia uses, the more it encourages the epithelial cells to make more mucin, which then improves gut function and overall health.
Here is an interesting detail from Dr. Michael Ruscio, DNM, DC, a doctor and clinical researcher who explores the tireless ability of Akkermansia to populate the mucosal lining of the intestines, both small and large. It appears very likely that this life form exists for the sole purpose of reinforcing the intestines to prevent their contents from seeping into other areas.
(Please return next week for the rest of this fascinating story.)
Your responses and feedback are welcome!
Source: “Getting To Know Your Gut Bugs: Akkermansia Muciniphila,” DrHyman.com, 07/25/21
Source: “What Is Akkermansia? Here’s Everything to Know Before You Start Taking Supplements,” GoodHousekeeping.com, 05/13/25
Source: “Fact-Checking The 4 Most Popular Akkermansia Claims,” DrRuscio.com, 10/07/24
Image by BLASfemia8145/Pixabay
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