The Study
Effect of pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila MucT on insulin sensitivity, body composition, and GLP-1 production in subjects with metabolic syndrome: impact of low baseline gut Akkermansia levels
This study is like a fair test where some people got a special pill and others got a fake one. It didn't work for everyone, but it did help people who already had very little of a certain good bacteria in their gut. So we can't say the pill helps everyone, but it might help a specific group.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Scientists gave people with metabolic syndrome a daily pill containing dead Akkermansia bacteria to see if it helps with weight and blood sugar.
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 584 / 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.
- 1Yes — losing 2 kg of weight regain and improving liver insulin sensitivity by 12% is clinically meaningful for people at risk of type 2 diabetes.
- 2People with low natural Akkermansia lost 2 kg more weight, had 12% better liver insulin sensitivity, and secreted more GLP-1 hormone after meals — but only if they started with low levels of this bacteria.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Gut Microbes
Year
2026
Authors
Peter Suenaert, Anneleen Segers, Leen Rymenans, H. Devroye, J. M. Moll, P. D. Cani, Willem M. de Vos
Related Content
Claims (6)
People with metabolic syndrome have different gut bacteria than healthy people living in the same areas, and the level of Akkermansia bacteria is not consistently lower in those with metabolic syndrome.
In adults with metabolic syndrome and low levels of Akkermansia muciniphila, taking 30 billion pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila cells daily for three months increases the amount of GLP-1 hormone released after consuming glucose.
In adults with metabolic syndrome and low levels of Akkermansia muciniphila, taking 30 billion pasteurized cells of this bacterium daily for four months reduces fat around the trunk and abdomen.
Taking a specific type of pasteurized bacteria daily for four months does not change how well the body uses insulin in adults with metabolic syndrome.
In adults with metabolic syndrome and prediabetes who have low levels of Akkermansia muciniphila in their gut, taking 30 billion pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila MucT cells daily for three months results in a 12% increase in hepatic insulin sensitivity, as measured by HOMA-S.
In humans, taking pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila MucT during weight maintenance results in 2.0 kg less weight regain compared to taking a placebo.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.