The Study
Pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila MucT for weight loss maintenance in people with overweight and obesity: a controlled randomized trial
This study gave one group a special powder and another group a fake powder after they lost weight, then saw who gained it back. The group with the powder gained less, so it probably helped — but we can't say for sure because we don't know if everyone knew which group they were in.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Scientists gave people who lost weight a special kind of dead gut bacteria to see if it helped them stay lean.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 575 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Losing 2 kg more than placebo means this bacteria helped people keep off a noticeable amount of weight — about the weight of a large bag of sugar.
- 2People who took the bacteria regained only 1.2 kg, while those who took a placebo regained 3.2 kg.
- 3Overall, the bacteria group lost 3.1 kg from their starting weight.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Nature Medicine
Year
2026
Authors
Sarah Mount, E. Canfora, J. Jocken, A. Umanets, G. Hul, Miranda Coenjaerds, Paula Aldaz Laquidain, M. Adriaens, J. J. Holst, K. Jardon, Anneleen Segers, Peter Suenaert, Willem M. de Vos, E. Blaak
Related Content
Claims (5)
In humans, taking pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila MucT during weight maintenance results in 2.0 kg less weight regain compared to taking a placebo.
In adults who lost at least 8% of their body weight, taking a daily supplement of pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila MucT for 24 weeks resulted in 2.0 kg less weight regain compared to taking a placebo.
In adults with overweight or obesity who have previously lost weight, taking a daily supplement of pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila MucT for 24 weeks leads to a 3.1 kg greater weight loss than taking a placebo.
Taking pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila MucT for 24 weeks after weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity does not lead to serious adverse events.
In adults who were overweight or obese and have lost weight, the amount of Akkermansia bacteria in the gut before treatment is linked to how much their cardiometabolic health improves after taking a pasteurized form of this bacteria.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.