From the Guidelines
Pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila is generally considered safe for human consumption. This beneficial gut bacterium has been studied for its potential health benefits, particularly for metabolic health and gut barrier function. When pasteurized, the bacteria are heat-treated to render them inactive while preserving their beneficial components, which may actually enhance certain health effects compared to live bacteria, as seen in studies where pasteurized A muciniphila provided stronger clinical benefits than live A muciniphila 1. Clinical studies have shown that pasteurized Akkermansia is well-tolerated in humans with no significant adverse effects reported at typical supplemental doses (around 10 billion bacteria daily) 1. The pasteurization process eliminates safety concerns associated with introducing live bacteria while maintaining the beneficial membrane proteins that interact with the gut lining. Some key benefits of pasteurized Akkermansia include:
- Reduction in body weight and fat mass
- Improvement in insulin-resistance and liver insulin signaling pathways
- Improved intestinal permeability and reduced endotoxemia
- Reduced aspartate aminotransferase, g-glutamyltransferase, and endotoxemia, as well as ALT levels 1 People with severely compromised immune systems should consult healthcare providers before taking any probiotic-type supplements, but for most individuals, pasteurized Akkermansia appears to be a safe supplement that may support metabolic health and gut function.
From the Research
Safety of Pasteurized Akkermansia
- The safety of pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila for human consumption has been evaluated in several studies 2, 3.
- A toxicological safety evaluation of pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila found no adverse effects in a 90-day toxicity study in rats, establishing a no-observed-adverse-effect level of 1500 mg/kg body weight/day 2.
- The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has also assessed the safety of pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila as a novel food and concluded that consumption of up to 3.4 × 10^10 cells/day is safe for the target population 3.
Mechanisms of Action
- Pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila has been shown to increase whole-body energy expenditure and fecal energy excretion in diet-induced obese mice, suggesting a potential mechanism for its beneficial effects on metabolism 4.
- The mechanisms of action of Akkermansia muciniphila are thought to involve the production of short-chain fatty acids, stimulation of beneficial mucosal microbial networks, and regulation of host metabolic and immune responses 5.
Effectiveness for Obesity Management
- A systematic review of the effectiveness of Akkermansia muciniphila supplementation for the management of obesity found supportive evidence from human and animal studies, suggesting that it may be a promising therapeutic approach for obesity and associated metabolic disorders 6.
- However, further clinical trials are needed to verify these outcomes and establish the safety and efficacy of pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila for human consumption.