Does Akkermansia Help with Weight Loss?

Have you been worried about your weight and tried extreme fasting or intense exercise, but with little success? Currently, about 40% of Americans are obese, meaning 4 out of 10 people face this issue. Obesity not only affects appearance but also increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other serious health problems.

Akkermansia muciniphila, a gut microbe, has garnered attention over the past two decades with experiments showing it helps obese mice shed excess fat and become leaner.

This bacterium increases the thickness of the gut’s mucus barrier, preventing certain substances from passing through the gut into the bloodstream. This process also alters chemical signals from the digestive system, leading to changes in how fat is processed elsewhere in the body.

In this article, we’ll explore how the remarkable Akkermansia can make weight loss easier.

Does Akkermansia Help with Weight Loss?

Numerous studies have shown that Akkermansia muciniphila can support weight loss. Discovered in 2004, this bacterium primarily resides in the mucus layer covering the intestinal lining, playing a crucial role in maintaining the gut’s protective barrier.

Multiple studies indicate it can aid weight loss through mechanisms such as improving gut barrier function, regulating energy metabolism, reducing inflammation, and enhancing insulin sensitivity—all of which contribute to effective weight management.

How Does Akkermansia Help with Weight Loss? Explore the Science Behind

Akkermansia muciniphila is a gut bacterium that may play a supportive role in maintaining health and weight balance. That’s where Akkermansia muciniphila, a unique gut bacterium, comes into play.

Unlike many probiotics that feed on sugars or fiber, this microbe thrives by consuming the mucus layer lining your intestines. Far from being harmful, this process encourages your body to produce fresh mucus, strengthening the gut’s protective shield and keeping harmful bacteria at bay [2,7,10,3].

This fortified gut barrier is a key reason why Akkermansia is catching the eye of health experts.

In addition, Akkermansia also interacts with the endocannabinoid system, a network in your body that helps regulate blood sugar and energy use [5]. This makes it a promising candidate for next-generation probiotics, with potential to support weight management and overall metabolic wellness.

Studies in animals offer exciting clues about how Akkermansia might help. When mice on high-fat diets were given Akkermansia, they gained less weight, shed fat, and showed better insulin sensitivity. They also had less gut inflammation, a factor often linked to obesity [5,7].

Even more intriguing, Akkermansia boosted levels of gut hormones like PYY and GLP-1, which help curb hunger, stabilize blood sugar, and discourage fat storage [5].

One study found that mice on a high-fat diet had elevated fasting blood sugar, but those treated with Akkermansia saw significant improvements [5].

The benefits of Akkermansia extend beyond weight loss. This probiotic may reduce low-grade inflammation by decreasing LBP and leptin levels, support gut lining repair, and help modulate inflammatory responses triggered by toxins [5].

Dr. Brian Yeung, a naturopathic doctor at Toronto Cosmetic Surgery Clinic, sums it up: “Recent studies have shown that low levels of Akkermansia bacteria are associated with an increased risk of conditions like obesity and diabetes.”

Interest in Akkermansia has also been reflected in social media discussions.

In one Reddit discussion, a user shared that after taking Akkermansia daily for just a few days, they noticed a dramatic drop in appetite and a quick 2-pound weight loss—something they described as rare for them.*

They reported feeling full after small meals and losing interest in sugary foods, which had previously been hard to resist. While individual results may vary, this anecdote reflects the growing number of people who are exploring Akkermansia for its potential role in supporting healthier eating habits and weight control.*

Human studies, though fewer, also show promise.

A 2019 trial by Depommier et al. found that people taking live or pasteurized Akkermansia for three months noticed slight improvements in metabolism, with some experiencing modest weight loss [2].

However, results varied, suggesting individual factors like diet or gut health may influence outcomes. More research in humans is needed to fully understand its potential.

While Akkermansia offers exciting possibilities for supporting weight loss and metabolic health, it’s not a magic bullet. Its benefits are most likely to shine when paired with a healthy lifestyle, and further studies will help clarify how it can best be used.

Ways to Increase Akkermansia Levels

Natural Ways to Increase Akkermansia Levels

So, besides directly supplementing with functional products containing A. muciniphila, are there natural ways to boost this beneficial bacterium in the body? The answer is yes—and it doesn’t even have to be expensive.

You can support the growth of Akkermansia through daily meals by incorporating polyphenol-rich foods such as pomegranates, cranberries, cocoa, olives, or increasing the consumption of fiber-rich vegetables and fruits—ingredients associated with promoting the growth of this beneficial bacterium [1, 10].

Additionally, studies have noted a significant increase in A. muciniphila levels in overweight individuals after a period of controlled fasting [3]. Fasting should only be practiced under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider.

Akkermansia muciniphila plays an important role in gut health and weight regulation, strengthening your gut’s protective layer, helping burn fat, and even curbing hunger [3,5,7,8,9,10].

If you’re curious about supplements to boost this bacteria, they’re a convenient option to support weight control and metabolism. Below is a summary of the different forms of Akkermansia supplementation and their potential benefits.

Supplements come in two main forms: live Akkermansia (active bacteria) and pasteurized Akkermansia (heat-treated, inactive bacteria). Each has its perks, as shown below:

Both forms show promise, but research is still ongoing to confirm their long-term effects. Always check with a healthcare provider before starting supplements to find what suits you best.

Combining dietary choices with appropriate supplementation may help enhance Akkermansia levels and support gut health naturally.

Combining with Diet and Exercise

Evidence suggests that combining Akkermansia muciniphila supplementation with healthy dietary habits and regular exercise may yield more favorable outcomes.

Some studies indicate that when A. muciniphila levels in the gut are low, the body responds less effectively to a calorie-restricted diet in improving inflammation markers, insulin sensitivity, and blood glucose levels [8].

Additionally, research by Hossain et al. (2007) confirms that a sedentary lifestyle combined with a high-energy diet significantly increases the risk of metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes [7].

This suggests that supplementing with Akkermansia alone may not be sufficient; it must be accompanied by lifestyle changes, especially dietary adjustments—to fully maximize its metabolic benefits.

Risks and Side Effects of Akkermansia for Weight Loss

While Akkermansia muciniphila is considered a promising next-generation probiotic, it may pose certain risks and side effects.

• Direct intervention studies using A. muciniphila have mainly been conducted on animal models, and studies on humans remain limited. Therefore, there is still a lack of strong evidence regarding the safety of A. muciniphila in humans [3].
• In certain cases, A. muciniphila may act as a potential pathogenic factor. Its excessive colonization can disrupt the balance between mucin secretion and degradation, leading to a reduction in the thickness of the intestinal mucus layer, damage to the gut barrier function, and increased susceptibility to intestinal diseases [10].
• In genetically modified Apc mice (associated with colorectal cancer), A. muciniphila exacerbates the development of colorectal cancer by promoting tumor formation [10].
• In individuals who already have high levels of A. muciniphila, additional supplementation may not lead to further improvements in weight or metabolic parameters [6].

Comparison with Other Probiotics for Weight Loss

Among emerging probiotics, Akkermansia muciniphila has drawn interest for its potential role in metabolic regulation, though it remains less studied than established strains like Bifidobacterium.

Research on high-fat diets (HFD) and aging shows that both Akkermansia muciniphila and Bifidobacterium tend to decline under these conditions.

However, Bifidobacterium typically rebounds more effectively, contributing to better digestion and immune function.

In contrast, Akkermansia is more sensitive to dietary and age-related stress, often decreasing up to 10,000-fold. Despite this, it plays a role in protecting the gut lining and reducing inflammation—functions that are especially relevant to metabolic health.

When comparing the two, Bifidobacterium is well-documented, widely used, and considered safe. Its health benefits depend on the specific strain, but overall, it supports gut balance and immune regulation.

Akkermansia, while less studied in humans, has shown distinct advantages in early research, including its ability to activate genes involved in fat metabolism and reduce systemic inflammation.

Both probiotics offer complementary benefits. While Bifidobacterium provides broad, well-established gut health support, Akkermansia may deliver more targeted effects related to obesity and metabolic disorders.

Combining the two could potentially enhance overall outcomes, though more clinical trials are needed to confirm these synergies and compare their direct effectiveness [8].

Conclusion

Akkermansia muciniphila has demonstrated significant potential in supporting weight loss and improving metabolic health through its ability to strengthen the gut barrier, reduce inflammation, and regulate fat metabolism.

Studies suggest that when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise, supplementation with Akkermansia may help reduce 1–3 kg (particularly visceral fat) and improve blood sugar control.

However, the weight loss effect is not immediate and depends on factors such as a polyphenol- and fiber-rich diet, physical activity, and duration of use.

For optimal results, Akkermansia supplementation should be accompanied by a healthy lifestyle and guidance from health professionals. While not a magical weight loss solution, Akkermansia is a promising tool in the journey toward better weight management and overall health.