Strategies to promote abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, an emerging probiotics in the gut, evidence from dietary intervention studies

Akkermansia muciniphila is a mucin-degrading bacterium commonly found in human gut. A. muciniphila has been inversely associated with obesity, diabetes, inflammation, and metabolic disorders. Due to its highly promising probiotic activities against obesity and diabetes, A. muciniphila has drawn intensive interest for research and development in recent years. A number of human and animal studies have shown that the abundance of A. muciniphila in the gut can be enhanced through dietary interventions. The present review focuses on evidence-based dietary strategies of improving A. muciniphila abundance in the gut by critically appraising up-to-date available human and animal intervention studies on A. muciniphila growth and their impact on risk factors of obesity and diabetes. Their potential mechanisms in promoting A. muciniphila are also discussed along with the discussions of mechanism of action for A. muciniphila to exert probiotic functions.