Akkermansia Muciniphila Postbiotic - Pasteurised probiotic, aid to weight-loss diets

Akkermansia Muciniphila Postbiotic is a postbiotic dietary supplement containing 1 billion pasteurised cells per capsule.

It is based on extensive scientific literature which describes the bacteria as a “new-generation probiotic” with huge potential for combatting excess weight and metabolic syndrome. Benefiting from a patented production process (anaerobic fermentation followed by pasteurisation) and delivery in delayed-release capsules, this probiotic is the best Akkermansia muciniphila supplement on the market.

It is listed in our Slimming and Weight Controlcategory.

What’s behind the benefits of the postbiotic Akkermansia muciniphila?

Though discovered quite late, in 2004, Akkermansia muciniphila is actually one of the first bacteria to colonise the human digestive tract (1), and one of the most abundant - it represents almost 1% of the microorganisms in the microbiota (2). It has the particular feature of ‘feeding on’ mucins, the lubricating proteins which make up the protective mucus lining of the gut.

A number of studies have demonstrated a link between its abundance in the microbiota and the maintenance of good health in humans (3). Research is ongoing to better understand this relationship, but early results suggest that Akkermansia muciniphila activates numerous receptors in the gut barrier, which may help strengthen it and make it less permeable.

This benefit could be valuable in combatting metabolic syndrome, primarily characterised by a large waist circumference (due to excess abdominal weight), hypertension and abnormal fasting blood sugar levels.

What is the relationship between metabolic syndrome and strengthening the gut barrier?

Strengthening the intestinal barrier helps prevent lipopolysaccharides (LPS) migrating from the gut to the bloodstream, as well as obesity-related inflammation. This results in decreases in both the inflammatory tone of adipose tissue, and insulin resistance, and thus improves how the body stores sugar.

Why an Akkermansia muciniphila postbiotic rather than a probiotic?

Akkermansia muciniphila is a strictly anaerobic type of bacteria which means it is unable to tolerate oxygen: indeed, it dies on contact with it. In addition, it is very sensitive to the heat treatments required for the encapsulation process.

These two factors make its administration as a probiotic (in other words, a live organism) very complex, if not impossible on a large scale.

However, studies have shown that administration of Akkermansia muciniphila bacteria inactivated by pasteurisation (a gentle treatment which prevents degradation of their components) produces some of the beneficial effects of live bacteria. This technique does not keep the bacteria alive: our supplement is therefore not a probiotic, but a postbiotic. There is no chance of it secreting new substances or reproducing in the digestive tract, but its constituents will still be active.

Note: the effects of postbiotics normally stop once supplementation ceases, but the period of activity corresponding to the duration of supplementation is more than enough to exert significant (and measurable) benefits.

What natural ways are there of encouraging the growth of Akkermansia muciniphila?

• Eat high-fibre foods, such as white beans, lentils, psyllium, chickpeas … Undigested, fibre is used to increase beneficial bacteria in the microbiota, including Akkermansia muciniphila.
• Increase your consumption of polyphenol-rich foods, such as blueberries, cranberries, olive oil, dried fruit, nuts … Studies have shown that these natural molecules from the plant kingdom may support the growth of Akkermansia muciniphila (4).
• Include oily fish in your diet, such as mackerel, herring, sardines and salmon. They contain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids which help reduce the inflammation caused by metabolic syndrome.

How should Akkermansia Muciniphila Postbiotic be taken on a daily basis?

We recommend taking one capsule a day, while at the same time reducing your calorie intake, under the guidance of a health professional.

Be sure to keep your supplement refrigerated to prevent any risk of degradation of its cellular constituents, already weakened by the absence of water. The higher the ambient temperature, the greater the risk its components’ bonds will rupture, and the less effective the supplement will be.

This risk increases in proportion to how long your postbiotics are exposed to a higher temperature: there’s no need to worry if you leave them at room temperature for one night – this is not enough to generate the degradation that compromises the product’s benefits.

Which supplements should you take in parallel to tackle excess weight?

You can take other weight-loss supplements alongside our postbiotic, preferably under the guidance of a health professional:

• the probiotic Lactobacillus gasseri, particularly good for visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat;
• Organic MCT Oil, an oil concentrated in caprylic acid which is excellent for supporting a keto (ketogenic) diet;
• Appetite Control Formula, a formulation specifically designed to reduce appetite.

In addition, we recommend adopting a healthier lifestyle throughout the supplementation period: significant changes (a more balanced diet, better sleep, exercise, reduced salt consumption…) are often enough to have a positive effect on the biological factors of metabolic syndrome.

Adults. Take 1 capsule a day.

Precaution: best stored in a cool place.

1. Collado M.C, Derrien M. Isolauri, E. de Vos W.M, Salminen, S. Intestinal Integrity and Akkermansia muciniphila, a Mucin-Degrading Member of the Intestinal Microbiota Present in Infants, Adults, and the Elderly. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2007, 73, 7767–7770.
2. Derrien, M.; Collado, M.C.; Ben-Amor, K.; Salminen, S.; de Vos, W.M. The Mucin Degrader Akkermansia muciniphila Is an Abundant Resident of the Human Intestinal Tract. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2007, 74, 1646–1648.
3. O’Toole, P.W.; Marchesi, J.R.; Hill, C. Next-generation probiotics: The spectrum from probiotics to live biotherapeutics. Nat. Microbiol. 2017, 2, 17057.
4. Mezhibovsky E, Wu Y, Bawagan FG, Tveter KM, Szeto S, Roopchand D. Impact of grape polyphenols on Akkermansia muciniphila and the gut barrier. AIMS Microbiol. 2022 Dec 22;8(4):544-565. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2022035. PMID: 36694591; PMCID: PMC9834079.