A Gut Microbe that Helps you Lose Weight

A few weeks ago, we reported that the balance of gut bacteria may make a difference in whether it is easy or hard for you to lose or gain weight.

While it’s an important advance to understand that your weight is affected by gut bacteria – the research, leading to this finding, left us wanting:  It identified only the genera of bacteria (firmiculetes or A Gut Microbe that Helps you Lose Weight). That leaves millions of bacteria to sort through to figure out the specific strains that play a role in weight loss.

So imagine our surprise and delight when scientists in the Netherlands announced that they had identified a specific gut bacterium that plays a major role in weight gain and, probably, diabetes:

Akkermansia muciniphila

Discovered by researchers at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium, Akkermansia muciniphila normally constitutes 3-5% of gut bacteria. However, its levels fall in obesity. In the incisive experiment by the Louvain researchers, overweight mice fed the bacteria lost two to three times more fat than normal, as well as half of their extra weight. The bacteria also increased the thickness of the mucus barrier in the gut, which stops some material passing from the gut to the blood. Here is the study:  Important Study Identifies Bacteria that Controls Obesity.

While Akkermansia muciniphila is not available commercially, the researchers also used oligofructose to increase Akkermansia muciniphila that’s already present.  Oligofructose is a soluble fiber found in many vegetables like artichokes, asparagus, and onion.

As soon as we read that, we skipped like lightening to the materials and methods and found that a commercial product, Orafti®P95<,was used in the research.  Orafti®P95 is made by Beneo, which supplies its oligofructose products to many sources including infant formalas ( See GRAS Notice for more information). However, the company does not make the product available in consumer-friendly sizes. So we are looking for other sources and considering suggesting oligofructose intake to LivingTheCRWay Healthful Weight Loss members.

Side effects: Oligofructose works because it is not digested like normal sugar. It remains unchanged in the body until it reaches the large intestine, where it is fermented, changing the gut microbiota. This may cause digestive upset and bloating for some people. So if you try oligofructose in a supplement or powder, please take is slowly and watch for changes in your gastrointestinal patterns.

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