What is Akkermansia and Why Is It Crucial for Your Gut Health?

Ever wondered what's really going on inside your gut?

You’ve probably heard a lot about probiotics and the importance of a balanced gut microbiome, but there's one specific bacterium that might not be on your radar yet: Akkermansia muciniphila.

This powerful microbe plays a significant role in maintaining gut health, and recent research shows that it can have wide-ranging benefits for your overall wellness, from supporting digestion to boosting metabolism and even influencing the immune system. This little microbe maybe one of the best gut hack you learn about!

In this post, I'll share what Akkermansia is, why it’s essential for a healthy gut, and how you can nurture this beneficial bacterium. By the end, you’ll be more curious than ever about what’s happening inside your microbiome and eager to take control of your gut health.

What is Akkermansia?

Akkermansia muciniphila is a beneficial bacterium that resides in your gut, specifically in the mucus lining of the intestines. While it may not be as well-known as other gut bacteria (it was only discovered in 2004!), it’s gaining attention for its critical role in maintaining gut barrier integrity and overall health.

Akkermansia’s Key Roles:

• Maintaining the Gut Lining: Akkermansia thrives on the mucus that lines your intestines. I know it sounds gross, but the more mucus these bacteria eat the more your gut cells produce mucus which helps to keep the gut barrier strong. This prevents harmful substances from passing into your bloodstream and creating inflammatory and immune reactions.
• Regulating Inflammation: By supporting a healthy gut lining, Akkermansia also helps reduce inflammation—a key factor in preventing chronic disease. Lower levels of Akkermansia are also associated with inflammatory bowel disease and conditions like Crohn's or Ulcerative Colitis. 
• Supporting Metabolic Health: Studies show that higher levels of Akkermansia are associated with improved insulin sensitivity, making it beneficial for those concerned about blood sugar regulation, diabetes and metabolic health/weight loss. 
• Longevity: While the jury is still out on this one, there is evidence that Akkermansia is found to be abundant in centenarians indicating it may play a role in longevity. 

Why is Akkermansia Important for Your Gut and Overall Health?

A healthy gut isn’t just about feeling comfortable after meals—it’s central to your overall well-being. 

Here’s why Akkermansia is central to your overall health and well-being:

1. Strengthening the Gut Barrier: Your gut lining acts as a barrier, preventing harmful bacteria, toxins, and undigested food particles from entering your bloodstream. Akkermansia plays a vital role in keeping this barrier intact. When levels of this bacterium are low, you’re more likely to develop a leaky gut, which can lead to inflammation, food sensitivities, and even autoimmune conditions.

2. Supporting Weight and Metabolic Health: Research suggests that people with higher levels of Akkermansia tend to have healthier metabolic markers, including better insulin sensitivity and lower body fat. This bacterium may help regulate the way your body processes and stores fat, making it a valuable ally in maintaining a healthy weight. 

3. Reducing Inflammation: Inflammation is a common underlying factor in many chronic conditions, from heart disease to autoimmune disorders. By strengthening the gut barrier and promoting balance in the gut microbiome, Akkermansia helps reduce systemic inflammation, which can protect against these diseases.

4. Enhancing Immune Function: Since a large portion of your immune system resides in your gut, a balanced microbiome is essential for a strong immune response. Akkermansia helps support immune function by maintaining a healthy gut environment, ensuring that your body can fight off harmful pathogens more effectively.

What causes Akkermansia to be low? 

• Age: Akkermansia levels are shown to decrease with age
•  Poor Diet: Diets low in fiber (like our standard American diet) cause Akkermansia levels to be lower. They need fiber to survive and thrive! Additionally diets high in processed foods and sugars can damage the mucus layer of the gut, taking away the primary food source of these microbes.
• Repeated use of antibiotics: While antibiotics are a wonderful addition to our medical arsenal, they are overutilized. Regular use of antibiotics leads to a decimation of your gut bacteria, including the beneficial ones like Akkermansia. Always have a conversation with your provider about if you really need an antibiotic.... and if they tell you probably don't need one, Please Listen! 

How Can You Support Healthy Levels of Akkermansia?

Now that you know how important Akkermansia is for your gut and overall health, you might be wondering how to promote its growth. There are several ways you can naturally encourage its presence in your gut:

1. Eat Prebiotic-Rich Foods: Prebiotics are non-digestible fibers that feed beneficial bacteria like Akkermansia. Foods rich in prebiotics include asparagus, onions, garlic, leeks, and chicory root. Adding these foods to your diet can help nourish Akkermansia and support a balanced microbiome.

2. Include Polyphenol-Rich Foods: Polyphenols are plant compounds that act as antioxidants and fuel for beneficial gut bacteria. Foods like green tea, berries, pomegranates, and dark chocolate are rich in polyphenols and can help increase Akkermansia levels.

3. Incorporate Healthy Fats: Omega-3 fatty acids, found in foods like wild-caught salmon, flaxseeds, and chia seeds, have been shown to support the growth of Akkermansia by reducing inflammation in the gut.

4. Maintain a Balanced, Low-Sugar Diet: High-sugar and processed diets can feed harmful bacteria and reduce levels of beneficial bacteria like Akkermansia. Focusing on whole, nutrient-dense foods while limiting sugar can create a healthier environment for your gut microbes to thrive.

Why You Should Care About Your Gut Microbiome:

You may not be able to see what’s happening inside your gut, but your microbiome is working hard to keep your body healthy. Hippocrates, the "father of medicine" said All disease starts in the gut. With all the research that has been coming out on the microbiome in the past 20 years, this statement is even more true. 

If you’ve been experiencing digestive discomfort, weight struggles, or even unexplained fatigue or mood swings, your gut bacteria—including Akkermansia—might be at the root of the issue.

Curious about what’s going on in your microbiome? The balance of your gut bacteria is unique to you, and by understanding what’s happening in your gut, you can take steps to improve not only your digestion but also your overall health and vitality.

Take the First Step Toward Better Gut Health:

If you’re ready to get to the root of your gut health issues and support the beneficial bacteria like Akkermansia that can transform your well-being, functional medicine can help. Through personalized testing and holistic treatments, we can uncover the imbalances in your gut and create a plan to restore balance and health.

Book a consultation with me today to take control of your gut health and start feeling your best—inside and out.

References:

Biagi et al., 2016, Current Biology 26, 1480–1485 June 6, 2016 ª 2016 Elsevier Ltd. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2016.04.016

Effendi, R. M. R. A., Anshory, M., Kalim, H., Dwiyana, R. F., Suwarsa, O., Pardo, L. M., Nijsten, T. E. C., & Thio, H. B. (2022). Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in Immune-Related Diseases. Microorganisms, 10(12), 2382. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10122382

Rodrigues, V. F., Elias-Oliveira, J., Pereira, Í. S., Pereira, J. A., Barbosa, S. C., Machado, M. S. G., & Carlos, D. (2022). Akkermansia muciniphila and Gut Immune System: A Good Friendship That Attenuates Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Obesity, and Diabetes. Frontiers in immunology, 13, 934695. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.934695

Zhang, T., Li, Q., Cheng, L., Buch, H., & Zhang, F. (2019). Akkermansia muciniphila is a promising probiotic. Microbial biotechnology, 12(6), 1109–1125. https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.13410