Laleh Payahoo - Talented Student Center, Student Research Committee, Nutrition Research Center, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Yaser Khajebishak - Student Research Committee, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Alireza Ostadrahimi - Nutrition Research Center, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

Introduction and objectives: Obesity is considered as the main cause of chronic diseases. Oleoylethanolamide is the bioactive lipid components with similar biosynthetic and degradation pathways to the endocannabinoid system; however, it is unable to bind to the cannabinoid receptors. An imbalance in the gut microbiota, involve in the pathogenesis of obesity. The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of Oleoylethanolamide supplementation on the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila bacteria in the stools of obese people.Methods and Materials: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out on 60 healthy obese adult people in Tabriz, Iran, in 2016. The eligible subjects were divided into an intervention group (who received two 125 mg OEA capsules daily) and a placebo group (who received the same amount of starches) and treated for 8 weeks. A written consent form was completed at baseline by participants. Stool samples were collected in fasting state. The abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila bacteria in the stool samples were evaluated by real-time PCR.Results: Of 60 obese people recruited to the study, finally 56 participants completed the intervention. Mean ± SD ages of participants in the intervention and placebo groups were 37.37 ± 8.74 and 38.13 ± 9.28 years, respectively. The abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila bacteria was increased slightly but significantly in the intervention group (p<0.001).Conclusion: Considering the beneficial effects of A. muciniphila bacteria in the metabolism of body, extraction or using other ways that increase the abundance of this microbiota in the intestine is suggested.

Akkermansia muciniphila, Inflammation, Endocannabinoid system, Gut microbiota, Obesity