Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients Dec, 2005
Dr. Jeffrey Bland lecture at 2nd Annual World Obesity & Weight Loss Congress
Jeffrey S. Bland, PhD, FACN, president of Metagenics, Inc. and chief scientific officer, delivered a presentation entitled, "Nutrigenomics of the Metabolic Syndrome" at the 2nd Annual World Obesity & Weight Loss Congress in Washington, DC on September 14, 2005. Metabolic syndrome is an increasingly recognized condition that includes symptoms indicative of increased risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
"We were excited to present data from a recent study that demonstrates the potential for a nutrigenomic therapeutic approach to safely and effectively treat metabolic syndrome and obesity-related health problems," said Dr. Bland. "There are millions of patients who are never treated until it is too late. With nutrigenomics, healthcare professionals can apply an early, less invasive intervention to prevent the development of such serious diseases as heart disease and diabetes before therapies that carry many more risks and side effects are required."
Dr. Bland's presentation focused on the expanding understanding of the role that the emerging field of nutrigenomics plays in metabolic syndrome and obesity-related health problems. The presentation demonstrated a clinical relationship among specific nutrigenomic discoveries with insulin signalling, inflammatory signal transduction, adipocyte physiology and obesity. The conclusions provided in the presentation are based on a recent randomized, controlled trial in modestly obese, postmenopausal women, performed at Metagenics' Functional Medicine Research Center in Gig Harbor, Washington.
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About Metabolic Syndrome
Individuals with metabolic syndrome have several clinical imbalances in the body at the same time--such as obesity, high blood pressure, insulin resistance and high blood lipids. This syndrome affects approximately one out of every five overweight people. Metabolic syndrome, also referred to as "Syndrome X," is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Many scientists believe that insulin resistance is one of the major factors that either allows or causes the components of metabolic syndrome to develop. The body manufactures insulin to transport sugar (glucose) into cells so they can use it for energy. Insulin resistance, which is related to central obesity, makes it increasingly difficult for cells to respond to insulin, and ultimately, blood sugar levels rise, leading to diabetes.
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