Phytonutrient-based medical food and heart-healthy diet reduce CVD risk factors: Study

New research presented at the American Diabetes Association's 70^th Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Florida on June 27, 2010 suggests that a medical food developed by Metagenics, Inc. called UltraMeal® PLUS 360° enhances the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk-lowering benefits of a Mediterranean-style low-glycemic-load diet.

A team of researchers from the University of Florida College of Medicine in Jacksonville, FL compared the effects of two dietary interventions on CVD risk factors in 47 women with metabolic syndrome. In the 12-week, two-arm, randomized, parallel group study, participants received a Mediterranean-style, low-glycemic-load diet alone or in conjunction with UltraMeal PLUS 360°.

Both groups experienced improvements in the following markers of CVD risk:

• Improvements in total cholesterol, LDL-C, apolipoprotein B (apoB) and non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) compared to baseline
• Reduction in total LDL particle number

The group that additionally received UltraMeal PLUS 360° experienced:

• Reductions in triglycerides, apoB/apoA-1, cholesterol/HDL, and small LDL particle number
• Greater reductions in total cholesterol, LDL-C, non-HDL-C, apoB, total LDL particle number, and small LDL particle number

According to lead researcher, Mark McIntosh, MD, "All of our subjects benefited from switching to this heart-healthy diet for 12 weeks. But those who received a medical food which contained the plant sterols, hops rho iso-alpha acids and acacia proanthocyanidins experienced additional benefits. We believe this combination of healthy eating and targeted nutrients offers an effective therapeutic option for clinicians whose patients suffer from metabolic syndrome."

The study was conducted by Dr. McIntosh, Colleen J. Kalynych, Clare Vukich, Vivek Kumar, Michelle Lott (all of the University of Florida College of Medicine/Jacksonville) and Robert Lerman (of MetaProteomics, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Metagenics, Inc.) and sponsored by Metagenics, Inc.

A Mediterranean-style low-glycemic-load diet emphasizing "good" fats, whole grains, fresh produce, and fish, has been shown to be effective in addressing metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that affects nearly a third of adults in the U.S. and increases their risk to develop cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and many other chronic diseases. Metabolic syndrome is defined as the presence of three or more of the following: elevated blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, central obesity ("apple shape"), elevated blood triglycerides, and low HDL ("good cholesterol").

The key ingredients in UltraMeal PLUS 360° are soy protein (shown to have cholesterol-lowering effects and which may be more beneficial than animal protein in reducing the risk of heart disease); plant sterols (shown to promote healthy cholesterol levels); and hops rho iso-alpha acids and acacia proanthocyanidins (which function as selective kinase response modulators).