Rankings / Immune & Inflammation
Akkermansia muciniphila (pasteurized)
Immune & Inflammation · Next-generation probiotic
Tier B
What this is
Paradoxically, pasteurized (heat-killed) preparations had better metabolic effects than live bacteria in Depommier trials. Commercial products (Pendulum, others) now available. Small effect sizes on glucose and lipids in short trials. A 2026 Nature Medicine RCT extended the evidence to weight-loss maintenance, with results consistent with a modest supportive effect. Expensive.
Mechanism
Gram-negative mucin-degrading bacterium; depleted in obesity, metabolic syndrome, IBD; pasteurized form (non-viable) retains Amuc_1100 outer membrane protein that mediates metabolic benefits via TLR2
Dose & route
~10^10 pasteurized cells/day PO
Citations
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31263284/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28515974/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6839346/
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-026-04394-7
Links go to the source. If a link is dead or you want something re-checked, let me know.
This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.