Christina O’Connor is a registered dietitian and the Senior Healthcare Account Manager at Pendulum Therapeutics. She received her Bachelor of Science at James Madison University and completed her Dietetic Internship through the Virginia Department of Health. Christina spent her early career working in pediatrics where she fell in love with microbiome science during her role as a NICU dietitian at The Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters.

Christina is shining a light on the amazing role of Akkermansia, a groundbreaking probiotic strain that supports the microbiome and is linked to longevity and health optimization. She shares insights from her work in neonatal intensive care units to cutting-edge biotech labs, showing Akkermansia's huge impact on gut barrier integrity and metabolism. We discuss the gut-brain connection, how dysbiosis can lead to various health issues, and the critical role of short-chain fatty acids like butyrate in activating the GLP-1 hormone. We also touch on the importance of sourcing quality probiotic supplements, and preview some upcoming collaborations at the Institute for Functional Medicine Conference.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

• How Akkermansia impacts gut health and longevity, linked to human milk and centenarians.

• Why probiotics are crucial for maintaining gut barrier integrity and boosting health.

• How the gut-brain axis affects physiological and psychological conditions like mood disorders.

• Why Akkermansia and Clostridium butyricum are vital for short-chain fatty acid production.

• How butyrate activates GLP-1 hormone, which is essential for weight management and metabolism.

• Why Akkermansia supplements require careful sourcing to ensure authenticity and efficacy.

• How Pendulum Therapeutics leads in manufacturing live Akkermansia with meticulous processes.

• Why gut microbiome transplants have significant implications for obesity management.

• How Akkermansia's role in gut permeability impacts skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

• How butyrate production in the colon supports colonic health and mitochondrial function.

• Why combining butyrate with Akkermansia might enhance patient outcomes.

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