Study: Gut Bacteria May Boost Metabolic Health

A team of researchers says it has found a gut microbe that could prove effective at improving leanness and metabolic health in overweight or obese individuals, which may lead to new treatment options for diabetes and other metabolic conditions.

In their study, a team led by Karine Clement, MD, PhD, director of the Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition (ICAN), found that a greater abundance of a bacterium known as Akkermansia muciniphila was associated with lower blood glucose and lipids, and healthier distribution of body fat.
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The authors enrolled 49 individuals in their study. Among the participants, 11 were overweight, and 38 were obese. All patients were required to follow a low-calorie diet that was supplemented with extra protein and fiber for 6 weeks, followed by a stabilization diet for an additional 6 weeks. Blood samples were collected from participants, as a way to measure blood glucose and lipid levels at study baseline and post-dietary intervention. The researchers also analyzed fecal samples in order to establish the presence of A. muciniphila in participants’ guts, as well as patients’ fat distribution.

Overall, Clement and colleagues found that participants with a greater abundance of A. muciniphila found in their guts at study baseline demonstrated lower blood pressure and insulin levels, in addition to having lower blood lipid levels and healthier body fat distribution. Those with higher A. muciniphila levels in combination with greater diversity of gut bacteria were found to have the healthiest metabolic profile. In addition, the authors note that the low-calorie diet reduced A. muciniphila levels in the participants, although those with higher levels of the bacterium at study baseline demonstrated the same at levels 100 times greater than participants with lower levels at study baseline.

“A. muciniphila produces a variety of fermentation products. These may serve as energy sources for other bacteria and the host,” the authors noted. “It is possible that through this cross-feeding, A. muciniphila may contribute to the expansion of other beneficial species, while it may itself have a direct effect on host metabolism, consistent with rodent studies.”

—Mark McGraw

Reference

Dao M, Everard A, et al. Akkermansia muciniphilaand improved metabolic health during a dietary intervention in obesity: relationship with gut microbiome richness and ecology. Gut.2015.