Akkermansia muciniphila: An Ally for Gastrointestinal Support

What is Akkermansia Muciniphila?

Akkermansia Muciniphila is a gut bacterium that was discovered in 2004 by researchers at Wageningen University. The bacterium is named after microbiologist Antoon Akkermans. “Muciniphila” literally means “mucin loving”, a reference to the fact that this bacterium feeds on mucin, a component of the mucus layer in the gut.

Since its discovery, the number of scientific publications about Akkermansia Muciniphila has exploded. From an unknown name to one of the most studied microorganisms in the gut flora. In healthy adults, Akkermansia accounts for approximately 0.5 to 5 percent of all gut bacteria, although this varies considerably from person to person.

Distinctive characteristics of Akkermansia

Akkermansia Muciniphila belongs to the Verrucomicrobia, a distinct group within the gut microbiome. What makes this bacterium special is its habitat: it settles in the mucus layer that lines the inside of the gut. Most gut bacteria depend on dietary fibres and other food remnants. Akkermansia does not. It possesses enzymes that can break down mucin, making it independent of what you eat.

Due to its position in the mucus layer, Akkermansia is in direct contact with the cells of the gut wall. This enables communication between bacterium and body. The bacterium breaks down old mucin, which stimulates the gut to produce new mucin. In this way, it contributes to a continuous renewal of the protective mucus layer.

How does Akkermansia work?

The effect of Akkermansia Muciniphila lies not in the bacterium itself, but in the proteins on its outer membrane. One of the most studied of these is Amuc_1100. This protein plays a role in the formation of so called pili: small protrusions that allow the bacterium to attach itself.

Amuc_1100 communicates with the Toll Like Receptor 2 (TLR 2), a receptor that plays an important role in maintaining the gut barrier. When Amuc_1100 interacts with TLR 2, it contributes to the integrity of the gut wall. A strong gut barrier prevents unwanted substances, such as lipopolysaccharides, from passing through the gut wall (Cani & de Vos, 2017).

Interestingly, Amuc_1100 remains stable after pasteurisation. In fact, researchers suspect that pasteurisation increases the accessibility of this protein, as the cell wall opens without damaging the protein structure. This explains why pasteurised Akkermansia proves at least as effective as the live variant in studies, and possibly more effective (Cani et al., 2022).

Why pasteurised Akkermansia?

In the EU, live Akkermansia Muciniphila is not permitted in food supplements. But even if it were, pasteurised would be the preferred choice. Pasteurisation kills the bacterium, but leaves the outer membrane fully intact, including the proteins such as Amuc_1100 that enable interaction with the gut wall.

An additional benefit: live Akkermansia is very sensitive to oxygen and moisture. Pasteurised Akkermansia is stable at room temperature, requires no refrigeration and retains its properties during transport and storage.

On our product page, we explain in detail how this works. Read more about pasteurised Akkermansia →

What to look for when choosing an Akkermansia supplement?

Not all Akkermansia supplements are equal. If you are considering trying Akkermansia, there are a few things to look out for:

Pasteurised, not live. As explained above, pasteurised Akkermansia is not only more stable, but possibly also more effective. Check whether the product explicitly states that it contains pasteurised bacteria.

Dosage in line with research. Clinical studies typically use a dosage of 10 to 30 billion cells per day. Products with lower dosages are not in line with what researchers use.

Capsule form versus tablets. Pressing tablets requires excipients: binders, lubricants, sometimes coatings. With some tablets, more than half of the weight consists of fillers. Capsules require considerably fewer excipients.

Transparency in production and testing. A reliable supplier publishes the product specifications. This allows you to verify for yourself whether the product meets the promised parameters, from cell concentration to heavy metals.

View our Akkermansia Capsules →

Questions about Akkermansia?

Do you still have questions about Akkermansia Muciniphila after reading this blog? Due to legal restrictions, we are not permitted to publish all information about the effects of this food supplement. For detailed questions or personal advice, you can reach us at: (+31) 070 345 0290. And by email: info@kalahealth.eu.

References

1. Cani, P.D. & de Vos, W.M. (2017). Next-generation beneficial microbes: The case of Akkermansia muciniphila. Frontiers in Microbiology, 8, Article 1765.
2. Cani, P.D., Depommier, C., Derrien, M., Everard, A. & de Vos, W.M. (2022). Akkermansia muciniphila: paradigm for next-generation beneficial microorganisms. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 19, 625–637.