Metagenics to host FirstLine Therapy certification event

October 26, 2012 — Metagenics Inc., a nutrigenomics and lifestyle medicine company focused on improving health and reversing chronic illness, will host a FirstLine Therapy certification event Nov. 8 in Vancouver, BC.

A key focus for the FirstLine Therapy program is the treatment of metabolic syndrome, a condition that affects one in five Canadian adults and increases the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

This certification program is designed to educate healthcare providers on how to successfully implement lifestyle medicine approaches to treat issues associated with metabolic syndrome. Physicians, osteopaths, naturopathic physicians, functional medicine providers and their staff will learn to practice lifestyle medicine with a complete practice management system — from clinical tools and protocols to business office management.

“Thousands of patients over the past 10 years have benefited from FirstLine Therapy,” said Jacob J. “Jack” Kornberg, MD, FACS, director of professional and clinical services for Metagenics. “This program was designed with the necessary tools for practitioners to offer an evidence-based, clinically effective system to help their patients resolve issues and reverse risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome, and help them achieve better overall health for the long term.”

In a case study and workshop-based format, the certification event will cover the most successful ways to prescribe and personalize the FirstLine Therapy program for patients, including key functional biomarkers and laboratory values for patient assessment. It will also demonstrate how to conduct and interpret bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to monitor body composition for patient tracking and motivation. Key takeaways for practitioners also include a structured system to teach patients behavior modification for a lifetime approach to healthy living, such as recommendations for phytonutrient-rich eating, exercise and stress management.

Kornberg adds, “Obtaining FirstLine Therapy certification is the first step practitioners can take to successfully address multiple conditions with this singular approach.”

Metabolic syndrome is defined as the presence of at least three of five of the following conditions or risk factors: high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, high blood sugar, abdominal obesity or low HDL cholesterol. Research has shown that people with metabolic syndrome are twice as likely to develop heart disease and five times as likely to develop diabetes.

FirstLine Therapy also incorporates nutritional products, such as Metagenics’ UltraMeal Plus 360? that was demonstrated in a recent multicenter clinical trial at the Universities of Florida, Connecticut, and California to resolve metabolic syndrome issues 40 percent more effectively in conjunction with the FirstLine Therapy food plan when compared to the food plan alone.

Source: Metagenics Inc., metagenics.com