Akkermansia muciniphila
Research reviewed: Up until 01/2025
Akkermansia muciniphila is a dietary supplement with 10 published peer-reviewed studies involving 11,359 participants, researched for Gastrointestinal Health, Insulin sensitivity and blood sugar, Muscle Strength and 3 more areas.
Evidence at a Glance
Strength is scored by study design, sample size, study type, and outcomes
Gastrointestinal Health
ModerateInsulin sensitivity and blood sugar
StrongMuscle Strength
ModerateRespiratory Health
ModerateLiver Health
ModerateCognitive Health
ModerateResearch Visualised
Visual breakdown of the clinical data.
Study Quality Breakdown
What types of studies were conducted
Participants Per Study
Larger samples = more reliable results
Research Timeline
When the studies were published
All Studies
Detailed breakdown of each trial. Click to expand.
Gastrointestinal Health
To investigate the effects of Akkermansia muciniphila on gut barrier function in overweight/obese adults.
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, controlled trial
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Akkermansia muciniphila on gut barrier function in overweight/obese adults.
Dose
10 billion bacteria/day either alive or pasteurised of Akkermansia muciniphila or placebo
Participants
32 overweight/obese adults with an average age of 52 years
Duration
3 months
Results
Researchers observed significantly lower blood lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels following Akkermansia muciniphila supplementation compared to placebo. Lower levels of LPS in the blood may mean that the gut lining is working better. When the gut lining is weak ("leaky gut"), harmful substances like LPS can escape into the bloodstream and cause inflammation. A stronger gut lining helps keep these substances out, leading to lower LPS levels in the blood.
Insulin sensitivity and blood sugar
To investigate the effects of Akkermansia muciniphila on gut barrier function in overweight/obese insulin resistant adults. Insulin resistance is a condition where the body's cells do not respond properly to insulin, making it harder to regulate blood sugar levels.
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, controlled trial
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Akkermansia muciniphila on gut barrier function in overweight/obese insulin resistant adults. Insulin resistance is a condition where the body's cells do not respond properly to insulin, making it harder to regulate blood sugar levels.
Dose
10 billion bacteria of Akkermansia muciniphila or placebo
Participants
40 overweight/obese insulin resistant male and female volunteers (32 completed the study) with an average age of 52 years
Duration
3 months
Results
Researchers observed an association between pasteurised Akkermansia muciniphila supplementation and significantly improved insulin sensitivity by around 30%. Insulin sensitivity indicates how well the body responds to insulin, a hormone that moves sugar from blood into cells for energy. Improved sensitivity helps maintain healthy blood sugar, reduces diabetes risk, and boosts energy and overall health. The participants also demonstrated a significant decrease in total cholesterol by 8.68%.
To investigate and compare the effects of multi-strain probiotics with or without Akkermansia muciniphila and Anaerobutyricum hallii on blood sugar and overall dietary management of diabetes on adults with type 2 diabetes.
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, controlled trial
Purpose
To investigate and compare the effects of multi-strain probiotics with or without Akkermansia muciniphila and Anaerobutyricum hallii on blood sugar and overall dietary management of diabetes on adults with type 2 diabetes.
Dose
Group 1: A multi-strain probiotic which contained inulin, Clostridium beijerinckii, Clostridium butyricum, and Bifidobacterium infantis Group 2: A multi-strain probiotic which contained inulin, Clostridium beijerinckii, Clostridium butyricum, Bifidobacterium infantis, Akkermansia muciniphila and Anaerobutyricum hallii Group 3: Placebo
Participants
51 male and female diabetics with an average age of 52 years
Duration
12 weeks
Results
Researchers observed that those who took the probiotic blend with Akkermansia muciniphila had significantly lower blood sugar levels after three hours compared to those taking the placebo or probiotic blend without Akkermansia muciniphila.
Muscle Strength
To explore the effects of Akkermansia municiphila supplementation on muscle performance in ageing adults.
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, controlled trial
Purpose
To explore the effects of Akkermansia municiphila supplementation on muscle performance in ageing adults.
Dose
10 billion cells/day of Akkermansia muciniphila or placebo
Participants
100 male and female older adults with an average age of 65 years (92 completed the study)
Duration
12 weeks
Results
The researchers observed an association between Akkermansia muciniphil supplementation and significantly improved strength of the left leg extensors and overall extensor muscles (muscles involved in pushing movements). In contrast, the placebo group exhibited a reduction in these measures.
Respiratory Health
To explore the effects of Akkermansia muciniphila supplementation on breathlessness and coughs in adults with respiratory symptoms.
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, controlled trial
Purpose
To explore the effects of Akkermansia muciniphila supplementation on breathlessness and coughs in adults with respiratory symptoms.
Dose
50 billions cells of Akkermansia muciniphila or placebo
Participants
133 male and females with respiratory symptoms with an average age of 41 years
Duration
12 weeks
Results
Participants reported significant improvements in breathlessness and coughs in questionnaires after the study.
How They Measured It
Respiratory symptoms were measured using a questionnaire designed to assess the severity of these symptoms.
Liver Health
To investigate the effects of Akkermansia muciniphila on gut barrier function in overweight/obese adults.
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, controlled trial
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Akkermansia muciniphila on gut barrier function in overweight/obese adults.
Dose
10 billion bacteria of Akkermansia muciniphila or placebo
Participants
32 overweight/obese adults with an average age of 52 years
Duration
3 months
Results
The researchers observed an association between Akkermansia muciniphila supplementation and significantly improved markers of liver dysfunction such as gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). This suggests that A. muciniphila may help reduce liver stress, which is often linked to obesity and metabolic issues.
Cognitive Health
To evaluate the association between levels of faecal Akkermansia muciniphila and their changes after calorie restriction diet. Methods of Evaluation: Researchers collected stool samples from participants and extracted the DNA from these samples to measure the amount of Akkermansia muciniphila.
Study Type
Observational study
Purpose
To evaluate the association between levels of faecal Akkermansia muciniphila and their changes after calorie restriction diet. Methods of Evaluation: Researchers collected stool samples from participants and extracted the DNA from these samples to measure the amount of Akkermansia muciniphila.
Participants
49 overweight and obese male and female adults with an average age of 42 years
Duration
12 weeks
Results
After a calorie restricted diet, the researchers observed that individuals with higher gut levels of Akkermansia muciniphila exhibited healthier metabolic profiles, including lower fasting glucose, subcutaneous adipocyte diameters (the size of fat cells under the skin), and waist-to-hip ratios. A lower waist-to-hip ratio means that the waist is smaller in proportion to the hips and is considered a positive indicator of health, as it reflects less fat stored around vital organs in the abdominal area. These subjects also experienced greater improvements in insulin sensitivity (the body’s ability to respond to insulin) and other metabolic markers.
To assess the association between levels of Akkermansia muciniphila in the gut and obesity risk and ageing.
Study Type
Secondary cross-sectional analysis of a longitudinal study
Purpose
To assess the association between levels of Akkermansia muciniphila in the gut and obesity risk and ageing.
Participants
10,534 participants aged 20 to 99 years from the United States and the United Kingdom
Results
The study found a weak but significant association between higher levels of Akkermansia in the gut and lower BMI. Researchers observed that obese individuals had significantly lower levels of Akkermansia compared to those with normal weight. The study also reports that younger people with higher Akkermansia muciniphila levels are 81% less likely to be obese, while older people are 23% less likely compared to those with lower levels.
How They Measured It
Researchers analyzed baseline data from a longitudinal study, which collected fecal samples. These samples were then analyzed using a method called 16S rRNA, which is a technique that helps identify and quantify specific bacteria in a sample.
To determine the association between gut microbiota profiles (including Akkermansia muciniphila) and metabolic health in adults with metabolic disorders
Study Type
Case-control study
Purpose
To determine the association between gut microbiota profiles (including Akkermansia muciniphila) and metabolic health in adults with metabolic disorders
Participants
134 Danish adults with prediabetes, overweight, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and low-grade inflammation and 134 age- and sex-matched individuals with normal glucose regulation
Results
The researchers observed that individuals with prediabetes have an altered intestinal microbiota with decreased A. muciniphila levels in the gut. This may suggest that having lower levels of Akkermansia muciniphila in the gut might contribute to poorer blood sugar regulation.
To investigate the microbial faecal content in prediabetics and type 2 diabetics to better understand how the gut bacteria and the body interact during different stages of a diabetes.
Study Type
Cohort Study
Purpose
To investigate the microbial faecal content in prediabetics and type 2 diabetics to better understand how the gut bacteria and the body interact during different stages of a diabetes.
Participants
254 participants, including 97 individuals with normal glucose tolerance, 80 prediabetic patients, and 77 treatment-naïve type 2 diabetic patients.
Results
The study found that the gut bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila was more abundant in individuals with normal glucose tolerance compared to those who were prediabetic or treatment-naïve type 2 diabetic.
How They Measured It
The levels of Akkermansia muciniphila were measured through an analysis of faecal samples collected from participants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Akkermansia muciniphila research
There are currently 10 peer-reviewed studies on Akkermansia muciniphila (Akkermansia muciniphila), involving 11,359 total participants. Research covers Gastrointestinal Health, Insulin sensitivity and blood sugar, Muscle Strength and 3 more areas. The overall evidence strength is rated as Strong.
The evidence is currently rated as "Strong Evidence". This rating is based on study design quality (randomisation, blinding, placebo controls), sample sizes, study types (10 human studies), and reported outcomes.
Akkermansia muciniphila has been researched for: Gastrointestinal Health, Insulin sensitivity and blood sugar, Muscle Strength, Respiratory Health, Liver Health, Cognitive Health. Each area has its own body of evidence which you can explore in the study breakdowns above.
Yes, 10 out of 10 studies are human trials. Human trials carry more weight in our evidence scoring system.
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