via University of Louvain
In 2007, Patrice Cani (FNRS-WELBIO researcher) and his team at the Louvain Drug Research Institute of UCLouvain, in close collaboration with Willem de Vos, professor at UWageningen, discovered the beneficial effects of an intestinal bacteria, Akkermansia muciniphila1, able to moderate the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes, in mice. In 2017, the team discovered (still in the mouse) that the use of a pasteurized form of Akkermansia leads to an even greater protection than the living bacterium regarding various cardiovascular disease risk factors such as insulin resistance, hypercholesterolemia, or the storage of fat in adipose tissue.
Following these discoveries, the UCLouvain team, in collaboration with the Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc2, developed a clinical study in order to administer the bacteria to humans. For this, it was necessary to develop the capacity to produce the bacterium in large quantity and to make sure that the tests would be without risk for the participants.
The UCLouvain researchers administered Akkermansia to overweight or obese volunteers, all displaying insulin resistance (pre-diabetes type 2) and metabolic syndrome, in other words, having several elevated risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The volunteers were randomly divided into 3 groups (placebo, live bacteria and pasteurized bacteria) and were asked not to change their dietary habits or their physical activity. Akkermansia was provided as a nutritional supplement.
The primary goal of this UCLouvain study was to demonstrate the feasibility of daily ingesting Akkermansia for 3 months, without risk. Clara Depommier and Amandine Everard, UCLouvain researchers, observed excellent compliance (the supplements were easy to ingest) and tolerance (there were no side effects) in the groups taking live or pasteurized bacteria.
The conclusions are clear: the tests in humans confirm what had already been observed in mice. Ingestion of the (pasteurized) bacterium prevented the deterioration of the health status of the subjects (pre-diabetes, cardiovascular risks). Even better, the researchers observed a decrease in inflammation markers in the liver, a slight decrease in the body weight of the subjects (2.3 kg on average)3 as well as a lowering of cholesterol levels. In contrast, the metabolic parameters (insulin resistance or hypercholesterolemia) in placebo subjects continued to deteriorate over time.
Who does it benefit? According to the WHO, one in three people die every day from cardiovascular disease worldwide. In Western countries, one in two people is overweight and has increased cardiovascular risks. This research of the UCLouvain would limit these risks and therefore potentially have an impact (limit the effects) on half of the population, if properly used.
In conclusion, this pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of administrating (pasteurized) Akkermansia bacteria to humans in the form of a food supplement and reports encouraging results on the effectiveness of the Akkermansia-based dietary supplements to reduce cardio-metabolic risk factors. These results pave the way for a large-scale study, to confirm/elaborate these first results, but also endorse the commercialization of the bacteria as food supplements.
A generic email address has been created for the public who wants more information about Akkermansia bacteria: [email protected]
Learn and see more: A bacteria likely to reduce the cardiovascular risks of 1 in 2 people
The Latest on: Akkermansia
via Google News
The Latest on: Akkermansia
- Intestinal Permeability – A New Target for Disease Prevention and Therapyon January 19, 2021 at 4:00 pm
The terms "intestinal barrier" and "intestinal permeability" describe two different aspects of the same anatomical structure, the intestinal wall composed of four layers, the mucosa, the submucosa ...
- Your Microbiome Isn't Shaped Just By What You Feed Iton January 19, 2021 at 9:03 am
Exercise, cannabis use and antidepressants all seem to influence the bacteria in your gut. Scientists are evaluating how these factors affect your overall health.
- The Intestinal Barrier in Multiple Sclerosis: Implications for Pathophysiology and Therapeuticson January 18, 2021 at 4:00 pm
Intestinal Barrier Homeostasis, the Microbiome and Neuroinflammation: Possible Mechanisms Linking These Entities The interactions between the microbiome and the intestinal barrier, particularly ...
- A Gut Feeling about Body Weighton January 5, 2021 at 11:56 am
Akkermansia, in particular, is boosted through fructo-oligosaccharides, a type of prebiotic found naturally in banana, onion, artichoke, asparagus, and other plant foods, or through polyphenols such ...
- Probiotics for Women Containing Acidophilus Lactobacillus Probiotic May Aid Weight Losson December 21, 2020 at 5:45 am
Beneficial strains include the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genera and Akkermansia muciniphila. However, the benefits may be strain-specific; only some of the species included in the ...
- diet and nutritionon December 16, 2020 at 3:51 am
The bacteria got its name -- Akkermansia muciniphila -- just 15 years ago. But the species, which breaks down gel-like proteins in the intestines, may soon offer hope to those with obesity-related ...
- Diets high in sugar bad for gut health, study suggestson October 29, 2020 at 1:19 pm
“Bacteria known to produce mucus-degrading enzymes, such as Akkermansia, were found in greater numbers, while some other types of bugs considered good bacteria and commonly found in the ...
- How to be good to your gut (And why it matters)on August 12, 2020 at 11:27 pm
Here are a few things you can do to encourage your bacteria to flourish. Higher numbers of the bacteria Akkermansia are found in people who are naturally slim, leading to suggestions that these ...
- Russian scientists describe changes in intestinal microflora typical of diabeteson August 3, 2019 at 1:25 pm
Most importantly, the researchers were able to link the level of glucose intolerance with the presence of three specific types of microbiota: Blautia, Serratia, and Akkermansia bacteria.
- Gut bacteria may play a role in development of ALS, study suggestson July 22, 2019 at 10:22 am
Whereas the abundance of others, such as Akkermansia muciniphila, were reduced during disease progression. Scientists found that replenishing the levels of this bacteria improved symptoms and ...
via Bing News
 and his team at the Louvain Drug Research Institute of UCLouvain, in close collaboration with Willem de Vos, prof){kind=link}