Branched Chain Amino Acids, BCAA’s, are a common addition to the diet for bodybuilders and athletes. Here’s a new research study, published this month, that shows BCAA’s help change your gut bacteria. Specifically, the encourage more Bifidobacteria (which boosts immune function but lowers inflammation) and Akkermansia (which helps build lean muscle mass and reduce fat). As there is much research now connecting aging with inflammation, even calling it “inflammaging”, these are both great things. It’s also somewhat of a departure from the thought of using probiotics and prebiotics to modulate the gut bacteria, adding amino acids to our microbiome toolbox!
BCAA Branched Chain Amino Acids and how they boost Bifidobacterium and Akkermansia
The Symbiont Factor Blog 
What sort of BCAA ?
Do you know what kills off akkermansia.?
I ask because I have had 4 ubiome tests, on the first two I had 2x the ref amount of akkermansia. But the last three I have none, zilch, zero! And yes I’m putting on weight and having inflammation.
All 5 tests show no lactobacillus and very low bifidobacterium.
I eat popcorn, kefir, inulin, cheeses etc but they don’t want to stick.
Hi James-sorry to hear of your Akk demise… can be a few things. Here’s a recent article about its importance and growing recognition first: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28530168 Copper and fructose can deplete it: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29025734 as can Azithromycin https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28835659. Acquisition of a food sensitivity can reduce Akkermansia: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29017394 Akkermansia is also considered a marker of microbiome changes in response to alcohol use: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28350851. Akkermansia is fed with foods high in polyphenols and anthocyanin https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28718724 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27940244
hope that helps. Good luck, and please share your success when you get it to grow back!
Richard