SAN CLEMENTE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The therapeutic nutrition in medical foods, a category recognized by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA), is one of the latest resources available to fight chronic illness and obesity, according to presentations given at the recent World Health Forum at Harvard Medical School. The series of workshops on clinical, regulatory, research and business trends of medical foods was hosted on October 26 by Jeffrey Bland, Ph.D., FACN, FACB, CNS, Chief Science Officer for Metagenics, Inc. The two day program also included presentations by Willy Pardiñas, B.S., M.B.A., Senior Vice President, General Manager of Americas for Metagenics, Inc., other Metagenics scientists, and noted researchers, economists, and public policy leaders in healthcare and biotech. Metagenics, a nutrigenomics and lifestyle medicine company dedicated to reducing chronic illness and improving health, is recognized internationally for its leadership and innovation in these fields and for pioneering the science of using food as medicine.
Originally developed to use in the treatment of genetic metabolic diseases in infants, medical foods are now used for a range of illnesses with dietary components. Their effectiveness in prevention of chronic illness has recently been validated by new research.
“Medical foods taken with a low-glycemic mediterranean diet has been tested and proven effective in reducing metabolic syndrome, a condition that increases the likelihood of an individual developing heart disease, diabetes, and other lifestyle-related conditions,” noted Bland. “This discovery is a tremendous benefit to the health care system. Now healthcare practitioners can expand their use of medical foods to help their patients to achieve better health today, and for the rest of their lives.”
The key to the medical foods breakthrough, according to Bland, lies in the science of nutrigenomics, the study of how food affects genetic expression at the cellular level. At Metagenics, Dr. Bland leads a team of more than 40 scientists in this research field, testing the phytonutrients found in plants for their health properties. Their research has led to the award of more than 50 international and U.S. patents and been published in more than 80 peer-reviewed research journal articles.
Other presenters noted that this scientific validation is the foundation for the acceptance and widespread use of promising medical foods.
“The companies that are succeeding with medical foods are those that demonstrate a commitment to real science and evidence-based medicine,” stated Metagenics’ Pardiñas. “They use the highest standards of clinical research including the double-blind, placebo controlled studies. Metagenics’ research group has pioneered the application of these standards in nutrigenomics. Now, traditional pharmaceutical companies are beginning to see the value of medical foods as part of their portfolio, when these products bring clinical proof and broad applicability for fighting chronic illness.”
J.D. Weir, M.B.A., President and CEO of Primus Pharmaceuticals, noted, “If we’re serious about giving healthcare practitioners real solutions for combating chronic disease, they need to know our solutions work and can deliver predictable outcomes. Our extensive investment in real science and well controlled clinical studies is what distinguishes companies like Primus and Metagenics.”
Robert Lerman, M.D., Ph.D., Medical Director for Metagenics, moderated the session on the clinical application of medical foods and cited research published earlier this year in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology on the effect of a medical food in helping reverse metabolic syndrome. The article reported the findings of a 12 week multi-center clinical trial conducted at three universities that showed Metagenics’ UltraMeal® PLUS 360° medical food and a low-glycemic Mediterranean diet is almost twice as likely to lower certain cardiovascular risk factors as this same diet alone, and is 40 percent more likely to resolve the effects of metabolic syndrome.
Currently, an estimated one/third of Americans have metabolic syndrome; most are not aware that they have this condition, or that it is putting them at greater risk of developing a chronic illness. Helping patients to reverse metabolic syndrome will significantly lower the number of individuals who develop heart disease and diabetes, which in turn will fight the rapidly growing epidemic of these ailments that is occurring around the world.
Deanna Minich, Ph.D., Vice President of Scientific Affairs for Metagenics, addressed the importance of phytonutrients in the medical food delivery form, while Matthew Tripp, Ph.D., Vice President, Research & Development, spoke on the specific actives in medical foods that have an impact on chronic disease.
Other presenters included David Sinclair, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School; David Moore, Ph.D., Professor, Baylor College of Medicine; Will Auchincloss, M.B.A., Senior Vice President, Business Development & International, NutriSystem, Inc.; and Susan Brienza, Ph.D., Regulatory Attorney, Ryley Carlock & Applegate.
“Participating in this world health event and seeing the recognition and attention that Metagenics’ leadership in medical foods research is receiving from all sectors is truly gratifying,” noted Dr. Lerman. “The potential for these medical foods to reverse the tide of chronic illnesses is tremendous.”
For more information on UltraMeal® PLUS 360°, visit www.metagenics.com/ump360/; for more information on Metagenics, visit www.metagenics.com.
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.