SAN CLEMENTE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jeffrey Bland, Ph.D., FACN, FACB, CNS, Chief Science Officer for Metagenics, Inc., a nutrigenomics and lifestyle medicine company focused on reversing chronic illness and improving health, will address “Medicine in the 21st Century” at the Exchange 2011 conference, in Portland, Oregon, on Friday, November 18, 2011. Sponsored by the American Academy of Environmental Medicine and the American College for the Advancement in Medicine, the conference will focus on the emerging epidemic of diabetes, the co-morbidities of the disease and the prevalence of pre-diabetes.
“It is estimated that more than half of American adults suffer from one or more chronic illnesses such as diabetes,” said Dr. Bland, who is internationally known for his pioneering research and education in nutrigenomics—the science of how genes are influenced by nutrition. “We must expand the focus of medicine from primarily treating acute illness to also preventing chronic disease and promoting health.”
Under Dr. Bland’s direction, Metagenics’ scientific staff—among the largest in the nutrigenomics industry—has pioneered research showing how natural substances found in plants, in combination with therapeutic lifestyle changes, are effective in addressing chronic illness, thus offering safe, effective treatment alternatives. To date, this scientific team has published more than 80 articles in peer-reviewed journals and has been awarded more than 50 international or domestic patents.
Earlier this year, the Journal of Clinical Lipidology reported the findings of a 12 week multi-center clinical trial conducted at three universities that showed Metagenics’ UltraMeal® PLUS 360° medical food, combined with a low-glycemic Mediterranean diet and aerobic exercise, is almost twice as likely to lower certain cardiovascular risk factors as this same diet and exercise alone, and is 40 percent more likely to resolve the effects of metabolic syndrome.
Dr. Bland’s presentation will explore the convergence of discoveries from molecular and cellular biology, physiology, environmental science, clinical medicine, information science, systems biology, nutritional biochemistry, pharmacology and the traditional healing arts to craft an understanding of where medicine is going, who its practitioners will be, how it will be delivered and who will pay for it. An assessment of what will be required to reduce the burden of disease will also be presented, along with an integrated model for assessment and management of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, osteoporosis, and cancers of the breast, colon and prostate, based upon a systems biology approach to medicine.
As an example of the chronic illness epidemic in the U.S. today, nearly a third of adult Americans have metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and many other chronic diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diabetes affects 25.8 million people, more than eight percent of all Americans.
To learn more about the Metagenics solution for lifestyle medicine, visit FirstLine Therapy.
About Metagenics, Inc.
Metagenics, Inc. (www.metagenics.com) is a nutrigenomics and lifestyle medicine company focused on reversing chronic illness and improving health. Founded in 1983, Metagenics serves more than 75,000 healthcare providers worldwide through premium quality, science-based medical foods, nutritional formulas, and lifestyle therapy programs to help their patients achieve a lifetime of good health. Metagenics’ scientific staff—among the largest in the nutrigenomics industry—has published more than 80 articles in peer-reviewed journals and has been awarded more than 50 international or domestic patents. The company’s educational arm, Metagenics University, collaborates with renowned medical experts to annually deliver more than 200 events designed to help healthcare professionals stay on the leading edge of lifestyle medicine and incorporate nutrition into their clinical practice.
Metagenics maintains its corporate headquarters in San Clemente, CA; R&D headquarters in Gig Harbor, WA; and operating subsidiaries in Brussels, Belgium and Brisbane, Australia.