Health Effects and Therapeutic Potential of the Gut Microbe Akkermansia muciniphila

Abstract

Akkermansia muciniphila is a bacterium commonly found in the human gastrointestinal tract that has received considerable interest as a potential probiotic for the improvement of gut health and overall metabolic function. A. muciniphila is enriched in the mucus layer of the intestinal lining, where it degrades mucin and plays a significant role in gut barrier maintenance and immune regulation. A higher abundance of A. muciniphila has been observed in the gut of healthy individuals relative to those with metabolic disorders, and multiple metabolic benefits, including improved glucose management, reduced body fat, and reduced inflammation have been linked to A. muciniphila. Current research on A. muciniphila primarily relies on mouse models, with limited human interventional studies available. While these animal studies offer valuable insights into the potential roles of A. muciniphila in health and disease, further clinical investigations in humans are needed to fully understand its impact. Here, we explore the current scope of A. muciniphila research and its potential as a therapeutic agent to improve gut and metabolic health while also emphasizing the need to optimize techniques to further improve studies of this organism.

Keywords: Akkermansia muciniphila; diabetes; gut microbiota; intestinal barrier; mucin; obesity; probiotic; short-chain fatty acids.

Figure 1

Beneficial effects of Akkermansia muciniphila reported on animal models and associations with improved health in human studies. Green up arrow indicates ‘increase/improvement’; red down arrow indicates ‘decrease/reduction’.