Can Pendulum Akkermansia Probiotics Boost GLP-1?

Created by doctors and scientists, Pendulum probiotics are marketed to improve gut health and boost the production of the GLP-1 hormone. But do these claims live up to their promise? Here's our Pendulum Akkermansia probiotic review.

The probiotic market in the United States is booming, thanks to the increasing awareness of the importance of gut health and its role in overall wellbeing.

Once ingested, probiotics interact with the gut microbiome, the ecosystem of about 100 trillion microbes, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, that live in the intestines. When the microbiome is disrupted, dysbiosis occurs, which has been associated with multiple diseases, including digestive disorders and obesity.

Most of the microbiome's organisms reside on the gut lining, which can be damaged by antibiotics, diet, stress, and other lifestyle factors.

Strengthening the gut lining is one of the claims made by Pendulum Akkermansia probiotics, along with boosting GLP-1 production.

What are Pendulum Akkermansia probiotics?

The supplement primarily consists of its foundational probiotic strain, Akkermansia muciniphila, and chicory inulin, a soluble dietary fiber.

A. muciniphila bacteria naturally reside in the gut, promoting the thickening of the protein mucin, which forms a protective layer in the gut lining. As a result, A. muciniphila may help reinforce the intestinal barrier and reduce gut permeability to the harmful bacteria.

When the microbiome is balanced, it has a proper balance of so-called 'good' and 'bad' bacteria, both always present within our bodies. When the 'good' bacteria are killed, the 'bad' bacteria may have harmful impacts on our bodies.

Meanwhile, inulin is a prebiotic and stimulates the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, including A. muciniphila.

One capsule of Akkermansia probiotics contains 100 million active fluorescent units (AFU) of A. muciniphila, the amount typically used in probiotics, but it may differ depending on the brand. To ensure safe consumption, it is important to follow the dose recommended by the manufacturer.

With 276 mg of chicory inulin per capsule, the supplement significantly exceeds the recommended maximum daily inulin intake of 15-20 g.

Pendulum Akkermansia: the benefits

According to the Pendulum website, the probiotic fortifies the gut lining, reduces gut permeability, and supports overall gut health.

When the gut lining is healthy and works properly, it forms a barrier that allows nutrients to be absorbed into the bloodstream and protects against harmful substances. However, the gut lining may have cracks and holes, increasing the permeability of undesirable substances and raising the risk of diseases.

The number of studies looking into the benefits of A. muciniphila is growing, but most evidence for gut health improvements comes from pre-clinical trials, which involve animal models.

These studies assess the effectiveness and safety of supplements and drugs before human trials begin and are a regular part of their development. While animals aren't perfect replicas of humans, pre-clinical trials can provide important insights, although the findings don't always translate into humans.

In a 2013 study that included mice with diabetes and obesity, supplementation with A. muciniphila helped normalize decreased A. muciniphila abundance, which correlated with an improved metabolic profile.

Moreover, supplementation was associated with increased levels of neurotransmitters called endocannabinoids that control inflammation, the gut barrier, and gut peptide secretion.

Several human studies – although small in size – suggested a wider range of potential benefits of A. muciniphila.

A 2019 randomized clinical trial that included 50 overweight or obese volunteers with insulin resistance indicated that three months of supplementation with A. muciniphila (10 billion per day for three months) was safe and well tolerated.

Compared to the placebo, those who took A. muciniphila saw improvements in insulin sensitivity and reduction in insulinemia, which is abnormally high levels of insulin in the blood. They also experienced slight decreases in body weight, fat mass, and hip circumference. However, there were no effects on the overall gut microbiome structure.

Inulin's benefits for the gut barrier appear to be better studied. The soluble fiber is fermented in the colon by the gut bacteria and produces a series of metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which contribute to the health of the gut lining.

A 2017 clinical trial that included 60 overweight and obese people with diabetes found that 10 g of inulin daily for 45 days increased the population of A. muciniphila in the gut. Such an intervention resulted in significant effects on inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters and led to improvement of hypertension, according to the study.

A small trial that included 20 healthy adults who ate inulin-enriched pasta suggests that the fiber contributes to preserving intestinal barrier functioning and increasing the levels of zonulin, a protein that plays a key role in regulating the permeability of the intestinal lining.

Akkermansia probiotics and GLP-1

Akkermansia is proposed to increase the production of the hormone GLP-1, short for glucagon-like peptide-1, which, according to the Pendulum website, helps maintain a healthy weight.

There has been growing awareness of GLP-1 thanks to increasingly popular medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, which belong to a class of diabetes and obesity drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists.

They work by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone, which helps regulate blood sugar and promotes the feeling of satiety. While the medications are expensive and require prescription, there's a growing trend of supplements being marketed as naturally boosting GLP-1 levels.

Simone Venner, a nutritionist, says animal studies have linked A. muciniphila to increases in GLP‑1, likely due to its role in the production of propionate, an SCFA that is produced during the fermentation of fiber in the colon.

Meanwhile, in human trials, supplementation with inulin-propionate ester significantly increased post-meal GLP‑1 levels and improved metabolic markers, including blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity.

However, more human studies are needed to understand how it translates into real-life outcomes, Venner says and warns against focusing too heavily on a single prebiotic or bacterial strain.

What really matters is diversity. A wider variety of plant-based foods supports a more resilient microbiome. Not only does it help Akkermansia, but it also nurtures a whole network of beneficial microbes that work together to support digestion, inflammation, and metabolism.

Simone Venner

Lea Wetzell, MS, LN, CNS, calls early evidence on A. muciniphila effects on gut health and GLP-1 production exciting. She says pairing the probiotic strain with inulin may further enhance its impact by feeding beneficial microbes and supporting the mucous layer.

"While more large-scale studies are needed, the microbiome–GLP-1 connection is a promising step forward in the frontier of personalized nutrition," she says.

Venner emphasizes that naturally produced GLP-1 and GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic aren't the same. These medications are synthetic versions of the hormone, far more potent and longer-acting than what our bodies can create.

"Food and lifestyle support our body's natural GLP‑1 system. They don't replace medication but can work alongside it as part of a more holistic health approach," she explains.

Pendulum Akkermansia probiotics side effects

As Pendulum Akkermansia's side effects are not specified, let's examine the potential side effects of its individual ingredients.

Nausea, bloating, and gas are the most common adverse effects of inulin, while individuals with inflammatory bowel disease or allergies may experience more serious side effects.

There isn't sufficient research evaluating the side effects of A. muciniphila. However, the probiotic manufacturer says users can experience mild digestive changes in the first three weeks of using the supplement. Some consumer reviews on the website mention diarrhea and nausea.

Increasing the Akkermansia strain naturally

Some dietary changes may support A. muciniphila abundance in the gut microbiome, according to Wetzell.

She recommends foods high in polyphenols, such as pomegranate, cranberries, and green tea, as well as prebiotic-rich foods, including garlic, leeks, and slightly green bananas.

Intermittent fasting may also help create a more favorable gut environment for Akkermansia's growth.

Lea Wetzell, MS, LN, CNS

Veneer recommends increasing fiber diversity in a diet, as evidence suggests that people who consume 30 or more different plant foods per week have greater microbial diversity, including more A. muciniphila.

Other natural ways include consuming fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and yogurt, as well as reducing ultra-processed foods and added sugars. Moreover, increasing fiber should always be accompanied by good hydration.

The takeaway

According to Ana Reisdorf, MS, RD, the evidence of A. muciniphila benefits is relatively new. Combining it with prebiotics like inulin may increase its metabolic impact, but more large-scale trials are needed.

Venner also emphasizes the lack of long-term human data on probiotics containing A. muciniphila strain.

She adds, "However, we have reasonable data supporting microbial diversity through a diverse, fiber-rich diet and healthy lifestyle."