Salugen, a personalized healthcare company, offers award-winning data illustrating how genes can help explain the results of a recent survey of 11,000 Americans which suggest that obese
Americans eat and exercise like their thinner counterparts. Just this week, Salugen was awarded Second Place for its research involving the nutrigenomics of obesity at the Scientific
Poster Session of the Natural Products Association's8217;s national convention (formerly NNFA), America's8217;s largest and oldest non-profit organization dedicated to the natural
products industry.
Additionally this past week, results from a survey of 11,000 Americans suggested that more than 75% of obese Americans (n=3,100) say they have healthy eating habits. According to this
survey, 40 percent of obese people also said they do 's8220;vigorous's8221; exercise at least three times per week.
In this survey by Thomson Medstat, a Michigan-based healthcare research firm, obese people reported similar behaviors in snacking, reading nutritional labels, and eating out when compared
to normal weight people.
Chief Executive Officer Brian Meshkin states, 's8220;This independent study of 11,000 Americans validates the frustration and stresses of millions of people worldwide who have been told
that all they need to do is 'seat healthy and exercise's to lose weight. The fact is many people who struggle with weight do eat well and exercise. We object to the soft bigotry that
characterizes all overweight people as irresponsibly eating poorly and not exercising. It is a stigma and it is wrong. Even recent studies suggest that this stress only adds to the
morbidity and mortality of obesity. The fact is sometimes diet and exercise are just not enough, and the reason why is that peoples's8217; shapes and sizes tend to run in the family. If a
solution does not address this hereditary component that is passed down by genes, then major factors which make people prone to weight problems are being neglected.'s8221;
According to Salugen Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Kenneth Blum, genetics play a critical role in weight. 's8220;Based upon research conducted over thirty years, we can begin to
biologically explain how weight is influenced by genes.'s8221; Dr. Blum goes onto say, 's8220;Even though we do not have all the answers, we can provide insights into a person's8217;s
genetic make-up and then use those insights as guideposts for more scientific and rational nutritional solutions.'s8221;
At the recent National Products Association Annual Meeting, Salugen researchers presented award-winning clinical data from phase 1 of the D.I.E.T. study of 901 subjects demonstrating that
persons holding the 's8220;Sweet Tooth Gene's8221; (Dopamine D2 Receptor A1 Allele) were 1.4 times more likely to be obese, and persons holding the A2 Allele were more likely to lose
weight and fat when taking a commonly used weight-loss dietary supplement, chromium picolinate. Salugen offers consumers GenoTrim, a DNA-customized nutritional solution for weight
management that tests five genes related to weight, including the 's8220;Sweet Tooth Gene's8221; and then delivers a customized nutritional supplement to address those genetic results
which includes a form of chromium.
About the Natural Products Association Scientific Poster Session
The Scientific Poster Session, held annually at the association's8217;s show, provides a forum for researchers to present their scientific data, findings and validation to attendees in an
intimate setting. Attendees are able to learn about developments and talk one-on-one with researchers and authors of the posters. Winning posters are chosen for awards based on an
evaluation of both the scientific content and presentation technique of the poster. Scientific content is to be judged on the basis of creativity, correctness of methods, significance of
the work and familiarity with prior research. The presentation technique is to be judged on the basis of the clarity of the poster, graphical design including readability.
About the Natural Products Association
Founded in 1936, the Natural Products Association (www.NaturalProductsAssoc.org) is the nation's8217;s largest and oldest non-profit
organization dedicated to the natural products industry. At the 2006 convention and trade show, the organization announced that its membership had overwhelmingly voted to change its name
from the National Nutritional Foods Association to the Natural Products Association. The association represents more than 9,600 retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors of
natural products, including foods, dietary supplements, and health/beauty aids.
About GenoTrim
GenoTrim is a DNA-customized nutritional solution for weight management. Based upon an analysis of five important genes effecting weight, GenoTrim ingredients and dosages are
genetically-guided to address the underlying genetic factors involved in hormones and metabolism that Harvard Medical Experts suggest influence 70% to 80% of overweight cases. By
addressing genetic factors that make individuals prone to weight problems, GenoTrim supports healthy sleep, digestion, mood, and fat metabolism which results in sustainable weight loss
and overall trimming. GenoTrim was unexpectedly test launched in The Netherlands in early 2006 and will be available in the United States in the second half of 2006. For more information
on GenoTrim, please visit www.genotrim.com.
About Salugen
Salugen, Inc., a leading personalized healthcare company, engages in the discovery, development and commercialization of patent-protected genetic tests and companion DNA-customized
therapeutics worldwide. With over 30 years of research conducted on the genetic causes and pharmacology of many healthcare concerns, Salugen is a pioneer and leader in delivering
personalized medicine. Currently, the Company commercializes nutrigenomic technologies where genetic analysis guides the formulation and delivery of nutritional solutions that are
customized to the individual. The company has headquarters in San Diego, CA, with its high-complexity CLIA-certified laboratory services in Los Angeles, CA. For additional information
about the company, please visit http://www.salugen.com.