Akkermansia: A Unique Species of Gut Flora

Akkermansia is one of many favorable gut flora found in the gut microbiome. The gut flora (a.k.a. probiotics or good bacteria) are the natural bacterial barrier that lines the entire digestive tract and protects us from invasive, pathogenic (disease-causing) microorganisms such as yeast, opportunistic bad bacteria, and parasites. They also act as a barrier against the chemicals and toxins we swallow daily. Think of probiotics as the military force that protects your body from the outside world. Akkermansia is ideally populated at about 5 percent of the total bowel flora force and has unique characteristics and job duties.  Let’s meet Akkermansia.

A unique characteristic of Akkermansia gut flora populations is that they require proper balance—not too few and not too many. This species helps to promote healthy intestinal mucus by promoting mucus production. Akkermansia are fed, and thrive on, pre-biotic fibers eaten by the human host (that’s you and me).  Suppose Akkermansia does not have pre-biotic fibers to eat. In that case, another unique characteristic is that it will survive by consuming your mucosal lining, disintegrating the gut’s mucus lining, leading to intestinal inflammation, increased permeability, and endotoxemia – thus, the importance of balance. One of the pitfalls of a low-fiber Standard American Diet (SAD), or a carnivore, keto, or strict low-carb diet, is missing these important pre-biotic-fibers in plant foods. This leads to the overgrowth of Akkermansia which, in turn, can harm the gut.

We can prevent overgrowth, however! By consuming plentiful pre-biotic fibers, we help to feed Akkermansia and maintain the right population balance.  While the balance is not so delicate that it needs to be carefully monitored, we can strike a healthy balance by including foods and supplements that cultivate the species, such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, olive oil, and the supplement berberine, all of which exerts substantial benefits including:

• Improves insulin responses
• Increases butyrate production (protects gut barrier, modulates immune responses)
• Reduces blood sugar
• Reduces triglycerides
• Prevents fatty liver
• Strengthens the intestinal barrier and reduces inflammation there
• Reduces endotoxemia (fancy word for toxins in the blood stream due  to compromised gut barrier)

Feed your Akkermansia for a healthy gut. Starve your Akkermansia, and it will eat your gut! Eat your vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds! Be Well.

Akkermansia is available at The Woodlands Institute for Health and Wellness

References:

Davis, William. (2022). Super Gut. Hachette Books

PendulumLife.com/HCP

The Woodlands Institute for Health & Wellness - Mila McManus MD

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