Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Akkermansia muciniphila: driving the multiple sclerosis-a systematic review
Clinical Snapshot
PICO Framework
| P — Population | Multiple sclerosis patients versus healthy controls |
| I — Intervention | Presence/levels of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Akkermansia muciniphila |
| C — Comparator | Healthy individuals without multiple sclerosis |
| O — Outcomes | Gut microbiota composition, bacterial abundance levels, association with MS development and progression |
Bottom Line
This systematic review of 16 studies across nine countries found consistent patterns of gut microbiota dysbiosis in multiple sclerosis patients, specifically decreased Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and increased Akkermansia muciniphila levels compared to healthy controls. While these findings support the gut-brain axis hypothesis in MS pathogenesis, the evidence remains observational and correlational. The review lacks methodological rigour including quality assessment, statistical synthesis, and heterogeneity evaluation. Although the consistent international findings are encouraging, this evidence is insufficient to support therapeutic interventions targeting these specific bacterial species. The research opens avenues for future biomarker development and probiotic trials but requires well-designed intervention studies before clinical application. Clinicians should view this as hypothesis-generating research rather than practice-changing evidence.
Key Findings
P Value: Not reported
Effect Size: Not quantified - qualitative synthesis only
Primary Outcome: Gut microbiota composition differences between MS patients and healthy controls
Nnt Or Sensitivity: Not applicable - observational systematic review
Confidence Interval: Not reported
Clinical Application
Limited - requires specialised microbiota analysis and lacks therapeutic interventions Relevant to Australian MS patients, though microbiota composition may vary by diet and environment. Could inform future TGA-regulated probiotic research but insufficient evidence for current therapeutic recommendations Multiple sclerosis patients and those at risk of developing MS
Abstract
The gut microbiota (GM) is a complex microbial ecosystem, and its alteration contributes to the development of several diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS). Progressive research concerning neurodegenerative diseases and GM reveals that GM dysbiosis has been linked to fostering the development and progression of MS. Among existing bacteria, F.prausnitzii and A.muciniphila are key species implicated in this disease. Thus, the present study systematically reviewed and synthesized the research on the involvement of F. prausnitzii and A. muciniphila in MS patients versus healthy individuals. We systematically searched PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases for relevant published articles from January 2010 till January 2023. Out of 400 articles, 16 met the required criteria. The included research investigations originated from the US, Germany, Norway, Egypt, Iran, Brazil, China, the UK, and Romania. Most publications reported decreased levels of F. prausnitzii and increased levels of A. muciniphila in MS patients compared to controls. This review underscored the importance of the F. prausnitzii and A. muciniphila in MS, which could explain the chronic inflammation that characterizes this disease and not only help in understanding its etiology and progression but also open new avenues for the treatment strategies focusing on gut health. Moreover, understanding the role of F. prausnitzii and A. muciniphila could lead to novel biomarkers for early detection and progression monitoring MS.
References
- 1.Ahmadi, S., Sedaghat, F. R., Asl, Y. M., Khabbaz, A., Hosseinzadeh, N., Poortahmasbe, V., Hasani, R., Hosseini, S., Yazdchi, M., Mehdizadehfar, E., Salehi-Pourmehr, H., Naseri, A., & Hasani, A. (2026). Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Akkermansia muciniphila: driving the multiple sclerosis-a systematic review. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek. https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.17754
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