A specific gut microbe could help with long-term weight-loss goals. New research published in the journal Nature Medicine tested whether a pasteurized (not live) gut bacterium, called Akkermansia muciniphila MucT, could help people keep weight off after losing it.

Study Details

The study enrolled 90 overweight and obese adults from the Netherlands in an eight-week, low-energy diet where they were instructed to lose 8% of their body weight. The participants then started a 24-week weight-maintenance phase and were randomly assigned to take either the gut bacterium or a placebo.

People taking Akkermansia regained less weight than those taking the placebo, at an average of 2.6 pounds versus 7.1 pounds — a statistically significant difference, according to the study results. The researchers noted that the efficacy of the treatment depends on a person’s existing gut microbiome. There were no serious adverse events reported.

Expert Opinion

Dr. Peter Balazs, MD, a hormone and weight loss specialist practicing in New York and New Jersey, called this a ‘well-designed’ trial. ‘The finding that a single gut microbe, pasteurized Akkermansia, significantly reduced weight regain is particularly compelling,’ the expert, who was not involved in the research, told Fox News Digital.

Balazs pointed out that pasteurized Akkermansia isn’t a live probiotic, but works through ‘components of the bacteria, particularly a protein called Amuc_1100.’ ‘This protein helps strengthen the gut barrier, reduce low-grade inflammation and support healthy metabolic function,’ he said. ‘After weight loss, the body naturally tries to regain fat, but Akkermansia appears to help quiet some of those biological signals, making it easier to maintain results over time.’

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.