Medical Food, Mediterranean Diet Combo Reduces Cardiovascular Risk

A medical food combined with a low-glycemic, Mediterranean-style diet has been found almost twice as effective as taking the best diets alone for lowering risk factors for cardiovascular disease, according to a new study.

In addition, researchers at the University of Florida and Metagenics Inc. found the medical food UltraMeal(r) PLUS 360 degree is 40 percent more likely to resolve metabolic syndrome, a condition that increases the risk for heart disease and diabetes in adults.

They believe that patients who incorporate the medical food into their diets as well as make necessary life style changes can improve their health faster than by using a Mediterranean diet alone.

To come to the conclusion they conducted clinical trial at three universities including the University of Connecticut-Storrs, the University of Florida-Jacksonville, and the University of California-Irvine.

The study consisted of 89 women between the ages of 20 and 75.

"Patients who incorporate the medical food along with lifestyle therapy get healthier quickly and safely," said Robert H. Lerman, director of medicine and extramural clinical research for Metagenics Inc.

Mark S. McIntosh, one of the principal researchers added, "Programs like Metagenics' FirstLine Therapy(r) are needed to provide the tools and support for physicians to change the way they practice and to help patients make real lifestyle changes.

The study was published in the May/June issue of the Journal of Clinical Lipidology.

Source: ANI