San Clemente, CA (Jan. 22, 2009)—Metagenics, Inc. today announced the publication of its research demonstrating that the effects of a popular therapeutic lifestyle change (TLC) program were enhanced with the addition of targeted plant-derived compounds, or phytochemicals. The study was published in the December issue of the peer-reviewed journal, Nutrition & Metabolism. Metagenics is a global developer and manufacturer of science-based, professional-grade nutraceuticals and medical foods and TLC programs to treat chronic illness.

“Our results clearly show that highly targeted phytochemicals (selective kinase response modulators derived from hops and acacia plus soy protein, and plant sterols) used in conjunction with a lifestyle intervention program of diet and exercise, can dramatically improve risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease,” said study co-author Jeffrey Bland, PhD, FACN, Chief Science Officer of Metagenics.

During a 12-week open-label, randomized, 2-arm study, 44 patients with metabolic syndrome (a cluster of factors that increases a person’s risk to developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke) were placed on a therapeutic lifestyle change program that included a Mediterranean-style, low-glycemic-load (LGL) diet with no calorie restrictions and a goal of 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week.

Subjects in the intervention arm additionally received the ingredients in UltraMeal PLUS^® 360°, a Metagenics medical food containing:

• Soy protein and plant sterols (shown to promote healthy cholesterol levels and lower the risk of heart disease) and
• Selective kinase response modulators (SKRMs) derived from hops and acacia (shown in earlier studies by Metagenics to positively affect the way cells utilize insulin and promote healthy triglyceride levels).

Both arms experienced similar weight loss despite having no calorie restrictions. However, the intervention group showed significantly better results in the following key cardiovascular risk factors:

• Statistically greater reductions in cholesterol, triglycerides, cholesterol/HDL ratio, and triglyceride/HDL ratio
• Significant increase in HDL (“good”) cholesterol
• Persistent lowering effects on apoB, considered a better indicator of cardiovascular disease than total cholesterol or LDL (“bad”) cholesterol
• Persistent lowering effects on apoB/apoA-1 ratio, a newly recognized, important indicator of cardiovascular disease risk
• Greater reduction in the Framingham 10-year CVD risk score

As the world’s dietary patterns have become more westernized, the incidence of lifestyle-related chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes has grown dramatically. Leading health organizations such as the American Heart Association (AHA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) now recommend therapeutic lifestyle changes including diet and exercise as first-line interventions for treating these and other chronic conditions. (The AHA and NIH do not endorse and are not associated with Metagenics.) “We believe our results may have important implications for preventing and managing some of today’s most prevalent lifestyle-related chronic diseases,” said Bland.

About Nutrition & Metabolism

Nutrition & Metabolism is an open-access, peer-reviewed, online journal focused on the integration of nutrition, exercise physiology, clinical investigations, and molecular and cellular biochemistry of metabolism. For research to be published in the journal, it must exemplify outstanding clinical or basic research with clear conclusions and appropriate methodology.