Losing weight is hard, and keeping it off after significant weight loss is even harder, but new research suggests that one special gut microbe could be the key to stopping weight regain. Keep reading to find out which of Layer Origin’s communities it is.
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Weight loss is a hot topic right now. When diet and exercise isn’t enough, people are turning to expensive but effective GLP-1 weight medications. In the US alone, prescriptions for these glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists have more than tripled since 2020 [1].
However, they are not for everyone. Their high risk of side effects, like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea, are enough to put some people off. In the latest oral semaglutide (Wegovy pill) trial, 74% of participants experienced gastrointestinal side effects compared to 42.2% given a placebo [2].
▶ Read more about how Akkermansia boosts GLP-1 for gut and metabolic health in our blog.
That’s not all. They’re also really expensive, with costs spiralling up to $1400 per month without insurance, pricing many people out of the market. Whether you lose weight by adjusting your lifestyle or by taking weight loss medications, weight regain is incredibly common. Even people who use GLP-1 drugs regain weight when they stop their medication, with one study showing that stopping treatment resulted in individuals regaining 60 to 90% of their lost weight within a year [3].
From the outside looking in, this gain is often attributed to things like a lack of willpower or returning to old habits, but the reality is the body goes through a series of changes after weight loss to try and put the pounds back on. For example, increased hunger, metabolic changes, and hormonal fluctuations affecting appetite hormones are just a few.
So, finding ways to prevent weight regain following significant weight loss is the latest problem some researchers are trying to solve. And there has been a breakthrough in the shape of one particular gut microbe that could hold the secret to stop you packing the pounds back on after all your hard work. Enter Akkermansia muciniphila.
What is Akkermansia muciniphila?
Akkermansia muciniphila is a beneficial, mucin-degrading bacterium that is a natural inhabitant of the human gut. Like its name suggests, A. muciniphila feeds on the mucus layer in your colon and has been extensively studied for its ability to strengthen the lining of the gut, supporting a healthy metabolism, and reducing inflammation. It’s known as a next-generation probiotic.
A. Muciniphila has gained attention in recent years because of its links to improved health in many diseases. For example, people who have higher levels of this mucin-loving microbe in their gut are known to have better metabolic health, including regulated blood sugar levels, with one study showing that administering A. muciniphila reduced fasting blood glucose levels by more than 21% and improving glucose tolerance by 22.1% [4]. Therefore, this common bacteria could have benefits for preventing metabolic conditions like type 2 diabetes.
Low levels of Akkermansia, on the other hand, are often seen in people with obesity or type 2 diabetes. With research suggesting that higher Akkermansia levels in the gut are associated with a lower risk of obesity [5].
These findings have led researchers to focus further on the importance of Akkermansia muciniphila for human metabolic health, and health in general, including whether this microbe can stop you regaining lost weight.
Can Akkermansia muciniphila prevent weight regain?
Yes. In a recently published study by Mount and colleagues, supplementing Akkermansia muciniphila in overweight or obese people for 24 weeks following an 8-week weight loss programme, slowed down weight regain in the participants compared to those given a placebo.
Although Akkermansia did not fully prevent regain, the weight gain in those given a pasteruized A. muciniphila supplement was around half of the placebo group. This is promising, especially when weight regain is so common.
How was the study conducted?
The study involved 90 adults with obesity or who were overweight. They followed a low-energy diet for 8 weeks, which consisted of meal replacement soups and shakes that were equivalent to 800 to 900 calories per day.
After the eight weeks had finished, the participant who has lost at least 8% of their starting body weight were assigned to one of 2 groups for 24 weeks:
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Placebo, or
As well as taking either a daily placebo or Akkermansia supplement, the participants also followed a healthy diet that was aligned with Dutch dietary guidelines [6], but they could eat as much or as little as they wanted.
What is pastuerized A. muciniphila?
Pasteurized A. muciniphila is a heat treated form of the gut bacterium which is no longer alive. Some studies have found that pasteurized A. muciniphila improved its ability to reduce the development of fat mass, insulin resistance, and the imbalance of good and bad fats in the blood [7].
With mild heat treatment, a stable surface protein on the surface of A. muciniphila called Amuc_1100 is preserved. It is this protein which interacts directly with immune receptors in the gut to reduce inflammation and yield the health benefits of this microbe. So, pasteurized A. muciniphila is even more effective than the live version for controlling metabolic conditions.
What were the main results of the study?
By the end of the study, the participants who were given the daily Akkermansia supplements regained significantly less weight than those given a placebo. For example, the average weight regain in the A. muciniphila group was approximately 1.2 kg compared to 3.2 kg in the placebo group.
The Akkermansia group regained less than half of the weight that the placebo group did. Although. Taking a daily Akkermansia muciniphila supplement did not completely stop weight regain, it did slow it down following weight loss.
The researchers also observed that the participants in the Akkermansia group also had improvements in some cardiometabolic markers, such as improved insulin sensitivity. They also found that there were no serious adverse events, meaning that the Akkermansia muciniphila supplement was safe and well tolerated.
Should you take an A. muciniphila supplement to stop weight regain?
Yes, the results from this study support a daily supplement of Akkermansia muciniphila to slow down weight regain after significant weight loss. However, individual responses to Akkermansia can vary. The study was only small and lasted 6 months following the participants initial weight loss phase, so little is known about the effects long-term.
However, many studies have demonstrated a link between the gut microbiome, metabolism, and immunity [8], and how it can both affect the development of disease and support your health. So, it is important to choose a high-quality Akkermansia muciniphila supplement, like this one, and speak to your physician before starting any new treatments so they can make sure it is suitable for you.
Can I build my Akkermansia abundance through diet?
Yes, potentially, you may be able to bolster your A. muciniphila community through diet, but that is dependent on your existing gut population. If you have had a gut health test, which reveals that you have zero Akkermansia muciniphila, and it is possible, with some sources claiming that 18% of people have none at all, while 25% have low Akkermansia levels, then you may need to seed rather than feed your gut first.
To do this, you will need to introduce Akkermansia muciniphila into your gut using a high-quality daily supplement, like Layer Origin’s Akkermansia probiotic that is a combination of both live and pasteurized A. muciniphila that can help build your microbial community. Don’t just take our word for it though:
Once you have built a solid Akkermansia foundation, your focus should turn to building a favourable environment for them to thrive. You can do this by ensuring your diet is rich in fiber, especially prebiotic types that specifically feed your gut bacteria. Foods that are high in polyphenols, natural plant compounds that have known health benefits can also help your Akkermansia population thrive. Choose polyphenol-rich foods such as:
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flaxseeds
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grapes
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green tea
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pomegranate
Focusing on a healthy balanced diet that’s full of natural foods will promote an environment that will help your Akkermansia population thrive.
Summary
Akkermansia muciniphila has gained attention in recent years for its metabolic health benefits, but this latest research demonstrates that this gut bacterium can slow down weight regain after a period of significant weight loss. For many people, weight regain is common and disheartening, but this study shows that there may be secrets inside your gut that can help prolong your weight loss progress.
Author details
Written by: Leanne Edermaniger, M.Sc. Leanne is a professional science writer who specializes in human health and enjoys writing about all things related to the gut microbiome. She has written extensively on inflammatory bowel disease, prebiotics, and microbiome research.
Her work focuses on translating complex medical science into evidence-based, practical health guidance.
