Ingredient profile
Akkermansia muciniphila in SlimTide: Early Science and an Unprinted Count
SlimTide lists Akkermansia muciniphila as one of three species in a 36 mg probiotic blend, with no CFU count, no strain code and no word on whether the cells are live or pasteurized. The main human study was a 3-month pilot of 32 people taking pasteurized cells: insulin sensitivity improved, but the weight difference was not significant (Akkermansia pilot study (2019)).
Written by the Slimtidebalance editorial teamUpdated
The basics
What is Akkermansia muciniphila?
Akkermansia muciniphila is a gut bacterium that lives in the mucus layer lining the intestine. Researchers have studied it for insulin sensitivity and body weight.
On the SlimTide label it is the third name in the Probiotic Blend, after Bifidobacterium infantis and Clostridium butyricum. The three share one 36 mg line.
The science on Akkermansia in people is early. Our main source is a single pilot study whose own authors call it exploratory (Akkermansia pilot study (2019)).
On the label
How much Akkermansia is in SlimTide?
The label does not say. It prints one weight, 36 mg, for a blend of three species, and no split between them.
| Label name | Akkermansia muciniphila (in the Probiotic Blend) |
|---|---|
| What it is | Akkermansia muciniphila, gut bacterium (probiotic strain) |
| Position on the label | Probiotic Blend, 3rd name listed |
| Per 1-capsule serving | Part of a 36 mg blend; its share, form and CFU are not printed |
| Amount used in research | About 10 billion pasteurized cells a day for 3 months in a 32-person pilot |
| Strength of evidence | Early, exploratory |
| Main use studied | Gut mucus-layer bacterium studied for insulin sensitivity |
| Main caution | In the pilot, weight change was not significant; the label does not say whether its cells are live or pasteurized. |
The full panel, word for word, is on our Supplement Facts page.
Weight vs count
Why is 36 mg not a probiotic count?
A weight in milligrams tells you how heavy the microbes are, not how many are alive. NIH says the listed weight can include dead cells, and that the useful number is the CFU count (NIH ODS: probiotics).
- 347 mg
Everything listed in one capsule: 211 mg of chicory root inulin, 100 mg of potato resistant starch and a 36 mg probiotic blend.
- 311 mg
Total fiber per capsule. Chicory inulin trials used a median of 10 g a day (Meta-analysis: chicory inulin and weight (2024), trade report), more than 30 times this whole amount.
- 36 mg
The probiotic blend is printed by weight only. NIH ODS notes that weight can include dead cells and that CFU is the useful count (NIH ODS: probiotics).
Each line per capsule, as printed
- Chicory root inulin211 mg
- Potato resistant starch100 mg
- Probiotic blend (3 strains)36 mg, CFU not printed
Amounts from the Supplement Facts panel. The split between the three probiotic strains is not printed, so no strain gets its own bar.
Weight can include dead cells
Labels must list the total weight of microorganisms. That total can include ones that are no longer alive (NIH ODS: probiotics).
CFU is voluntary
Listing colony-forming units is optional. NIH advises looking for the CFU count at the end of shelf life (NIH ODS: probiotics).
The split is unknown
Three species share 36 mg. Without a split, nobody outside the maker can say how much of it is Akkermansia.
Our topic page on probiotics, CFU and refrigeration covers how to read a probiotic label in more detail.
The evidence
What did the Akkermansia human study find?
The pilot found better insulin sensitivity but no significant weight change. People taking pasteurized Akkermansia improved insulin sensitivity by about 28.6% versus placebo (Akkermansia pilot study (2019)).
| Detail | 2019 pilot | SlimTide label |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 3 months | Not applicable |
| People who finished | 32 | No trial of SlimTide |
| Daily amount | About 10 billion cells (10^10) | Not published |
| Form | Pasteurized | Not published |
| Insulin sensitivity | About 28.6% better than placebo | Not tested |
| Weight | 2.27 kg difference, not significant (P=0.091) | Not tested |
The authors describe the study as exploratory and underpowered. That means it was built to look for signals, not to prove an effect.
Read more in our post on what we know about Akkermansia.
Form
Is the Akkermansia in SlimTide live or pasteurized?
The label does not say. That matters, because the pilot's result came from pasteurized cells (Akkermansia pilot study (2019)).
The expert group ISAPP defines probiotics as live microorganisms given in adequate amounts. It says the word should be used for products with well-defined strains and a viable count at the end of shelf life (ISAPP: probiotic consensus (2014)).
So the pilot does not tell us what live Akkermansia in a capsule would do. And it cannot tell us what SlimTide's Akkermansia does, since its form and amount are not printed. NCCIH adds that a benefit from one strain does not carry over to another (NCCIH: probiotics safety). No strain code appears on the SlimTide label.
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Should SlimTide be refrigerated for the probiotics?
Yes. The label says "Refrigerate for optimal quality," and the sales page says to refrigerate after opening to protect the probiotics. NIH notes that probiotics can die during shelf life and some need refrigeration (NIH ODS: probiotics).
Check the seal
Do not use the bottle if the safety seal is damaged or missing, as the label says.
Move it to the fridge
Once open, keep it cold. The fridge also meets the label's "cool, dry place" line.
Close the lid tightly
The label asks you to keep the capsules away from heat, light and humidity.
A storage study found that 4C kept probiotic bacteria alive better than 28C, and one product tested below its labeled count (Probiotic storage and viability (2018)). That study did not test Akkermansia or SlimTide, but it shows why cold storage is sensible.
Safety and fairness
Is Akkermansia in SlimTide safe, and what is good about it?
NCCIH says the risk of harm from probiotics is greater with severe illness or a weakened immune system (NCCIH: probiotics safety). It also reports that some products contain microbes other than those on the label.
If you have a severe illness or a weakened immune system, talk to your doctor before taking any probiotic. Keep the bottle away from children; FDA has warned about probiotics given to hospitalized preterm babies (FDA: probiotics and preterm infants (2023)).
Pros
- The species is named on the label
- Refrigeration advice fits how probiotics are kept
- Insulin sensitivity improved in the pilot
Cons
- No CFU count, strain code or form printed
- One small pilot; weight change not significant
- Its share of the 36 mg blend is unknown
What to do
What should you ask before buying for Akkermansia?
Ask for the missing numbers. Call the order desk at +1 (302) 200-3480 and request the CFU count at the end of shelf life, the strain codes and whether the Akkermansia is live or pasteurized.
- Get answers in writing before you rely on them
- Keep the open bottle in the fridge
- Judge any result by habits and steady weekly check-ins
The other two species in the blend are covered on the Bifidobacterium infantis page and in the ingredient list below.
FAQ
Akkermansia in SlimTide: FAQ
How much Akkermansia is in SlimTide?
The label does not say. Akkermansia muciniphila is one of three species in a 36 mg Probiotic Blend, and no split, CFU count or strain code is printed. You can ask the order desk for the CFU count at the end of shelf life.
Does Akkermansia help with weight loss?
The evidence is early and does not show it. In a 3-month pilot with 32 completers, pasteurized Akkermansia gave a 2.27 kg weight difference versus placebo that was not statistically significant (P=0.091) (Akkermansia pilot study (2019)). The authors called the study exploratory and underpowered.
What did the Akkermansia study show for insulin?
Insulin sensitivity improved by about 28.6% versus placebo in people taking about 10 billion pasteurized cells a day for 3 months (Akkermansia pilot study (2019)). It was a 32-person pilot, so the finding needs larger trials. SlimTide itself has not been tested.
Is SlimTide's Akkermansia live or pasteurized?
The label does not say. That matters because the pilot used pasteurized cells (Akkermansia pilot study (2019)), while the expert definition of a probiotic refers to live microorganisms in adequate amounts (ISAPP: probiotic consensus (2014)). Ask the order desk if this detail is important to you.
Why does SlimTide list probiotics in mg instead of CFU?
U.S. labels must list the total weight of microorganisms, and CFU is voluntary (NIH ODS: probiotics). Weight can include dead cells, so 36 mg does not tell you how many live bacteria you get. NIH advises looking for a CFU count at the end of shelf life.
Does Akkermansia need to be refrigerated?
SlimTide's label says to refrigerate for optimal quality, and the sales page says to refrigerate after opening. NIH notes that probiotics can die during shelf life and some need refrigeration (NIH ODS: probiotics). A storage study found 4C kept bacteria alive better than 28C (Probiotic storage and viability (2018)).
Who should not take Akkermansia supplements?
People with severe illness or a weakened immune system face greater risk from probiotics and should ask a doctor first (NCCIH: probiotics safety). The label also asks pregnant or nursing mothers, anyone under 18 and anyone with a medical condition to consult a physician.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
A small team that reads the SlimTide label line by line, checks every number against public health sources (NIH ODS, NCCIH, CDC, NIDDK, FDA, FTC) and published trials, and rewrites it in plain English. We do not write for the manufacturer, and we update a page whenever the label, the prices or the evidence changes.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a USA authorized retailer, not by the manufacturer. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
More about SlimTide
Probiotics and CFU
Three species, one 36 mg line, no CFU: how to read SlimTide's probiotics and keep them cold.
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Bifidobacterium infantis
First species in the 36 mg blend, with no strain code or count printed. What that means for you.
Read more
Side effects
Gas, bloating and probiotic cautions, ingredient by ingredient, plus who should ask a doctor first.
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