Recent evidence is showing us that hundreds or even thousands of microbes in our gut is contributing to human health more than just aiding digestion.  A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences led by Patrice Cani and her team, who study the relationship between gut bacteria and metabolism, suggested that a specific gut microbe in the human body could help against obesity and metabolic disorders such as diabetes type 2. The specific gut bacterium, Akkermansia muciniphilia, makes up around 3-5% of the microbes in a healthy gut and can fluctuate depending on the diet. 

The researchers conducted an experiment to investigate the link.  They treated mice that were fed on a high fat diet with an oligofructose prebiotics-dietary supplement that promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria and eventually regulates the levels of A. mucinphilia back to normal. Control mice not on the high fat diet had about 100 times more A. mucinphilia than obese mice. The researchers also noted that when obese mice are treated with prebiotics, the mice lost weight, had better fat to body mass ratio, reduced insulin resistance, thicker lining of intestinal mucus, faster metabolism, and suffered less inflammation. Overall, treated mice showed improvements in other indicators related to obesity.

The team also proposed a pathway through which the bacterium may affect an animal’s metabolism. The increased levels of A. mucinphilia also led to the increase in chemical levels of endocannabinoids. Endocannabinoids are signaling molecules that control glucose levels and maintain a thick mucus lining that acts as a protective lubricant from infectious agents.

Although the link between gut microbes and obesity and metabolic disorder is only preliminary, Professor Patrice Cani is optimistic that scientists will fully utilize the intricate mechanisms of A. mucinphilia between the host and itself such that gut microbes could one day be used to treat obesity.