Pasteurised Akkermansia muciniphila in obesity and metabolic syndrome: mechanisms of action and clinical potential

The aim of this review is to systematize current data on the mechanisms of action of pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila in obesity and metabolic syndrome and to evaluate its clinical potential. Obesity and metabolic syndrome are leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease. In recent years, compelling evidence has accumulated on the important role of intestinal microbiota dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of these conditions, opening up prospects for the development of new therapeutic strategies aimed at its correction. Pasteurized A. muciniphila is of interest as a potentially promising postbiotic capable of preserving the effects of live bacteria while simultaneously enhancing its safety profile. Pasteurized A. muciniphila has been shown to exert a multicomponent effect, including reduction of intestinal barrier permeability, metabolic endotoxemia, and chronic low-grade inflammation, modulation of intestinal glucose transport, interaction with the gut-brain axis, and regulation of energy metabolism. Currently, efficacy data remain limited and are based primarily on preclinical studies. A. muciniphila has been shown to reduce body weight and fat mass, improve glycemic control, increase insulin sensitivity, and reduce inflammatory and fibrotic changes in the liver and adipose tissue. However, there remains a need to standardize postbiotic formulations, including pasteurization and dosing regimens, and to conduct large, long-term randomized trials to determine clinical efficacy and safety.

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