If you’ve been struggling with chronic bloating, gas, or digestive discomfort despite eating clean or following protocols, you might be missing one key piece of the puzzle: Akkermansia muciniphila. This beneficial gut microbe plays a crucial role in maintaining gut health, and when levels are low, it can trigger a cascade of symptoms — including stubborn bloating. Let’s explore why this connection exists and how you can naturally support your levels.
1. Gut Lining Support & Mucus Production: Akkermansia feeds on the mucus layer of the gut and, in doing so, helps stimulate healthy mucus production. A strong mucus layer protects the gut lining and keeps bad bacteria in check.
When Akkermansia is low, the mucus barrier can become thin or compromised, leaving the gut more vulnerable to inflammation, permeability (leaky gut), and overgrowth of gas-producing organisms — leading to bloating.
2. Regulating Inflammation: Akkermansia also plays a role in modulating inflammation in the gut.
Low levels can result in chronic low-grade inflammation, contributing to gas, bloating, abdominal discomfort, and digestive sluggishness.
3. Microbiome Balance: Low Akkermansia often coexists with dysbiosis (an imbalance of bacteria), allowing more fermentative, gas-producing microbes to overgrow — again, increasing bloating.
4. Gut Motility: A healthy mucus layer and balanced microbiome promote smooth, regular motility.
When Akkermansia is low, gut motility can slow down or become irregular, which allows stool and gas to sit longer in the colon, contributing to bloating and heaviness.
How to support Akkermansia naturally:
- Polyphenols (berries, pomegranate, dark chocolate 85%+ cacao, green tea)
- Prebiotic fibers (onions, garlic, leeks, asparagus — if tolerated)
- Cranberry extract, pomegranate extract, or Akkermansia supplements (like Pendulum’s Akkermansia)
- Reduce processed foods, sugars, and artificial sweeteners
If you’ve tried gut protocols before but still feel bloated, it might be time to address your Akkermansia levels. Start focusing on polyphenol-rich, fiber-filled foods, and consider targeted supplementation if needed. Gut healing takes time, but by supporting your microbial diversity and gut lining, you’ll notice not just less bloating — but better energy, mood, and metabolic health too.
BEFORE you try these or other tips, please note, it is possible that your Akkermansia is actually too high- we recommend you come in for stool testing to get a more complete picture of your microbiome and assess your akkermansia so we can support you!
If you’d like help crafting a personalized protocol to support Akkermansia, lower inflammation, and rebalance your gut, reach out — we’d love to guide you on the next step of your gut health journey! Call us today to enroll as a new patient at Modern Medicine.
Jade Green TNC CHHC
