Pathway
Genomics Corporation, a San Diego-based genetic testing laboratory,
has announced a clinical trial with the Veterans
Affairs San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS). Launched this summer,
researchers at VASDHS have begun a prospective randomized clinical trial
of Pathway
Fit®, the company's premier saliva-based nutrigenetic test. The
trial is focused on the genetic associations of weight loss and weight
regain in veterans enrolled in MOVE!®,
a national weight management program designed by the VA
National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (NCP).
"The trial aims to determine if veterans can lose more weight by linking
genetic changes with evidence-based lifestyle suggestions as part of
Pathway Fit," said Dr. Karen Herbst, the trial's lead investigator and
staff physician in the endocrinology division of VASDHS. "Veterans will
learn what diet best matches their genetic-based phenotypes and
metabolism, what kind of eating behaviors they may have, and the genetic
changes that provide information on how their bodies respond to
exercise. The overall goal is to help veterans modify their behavior in
order to achieve a superior outcome."
The trial comes at a time when an estimated 72.5
million Americans suffer from obesity, and approximately 70
percent of U.S. veterans are overweight or obese, many with
co-morbidities, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If the
trial is successful, Dr. Herbst and her colleagues would like to expand
the study to additional VA medical centers across the United States.
"We are pleased to be collaborating with the VA in this effort to serve
our nation's veterans and help them achieve or maintain optimum health
and wellness," said Dr. Michael Nova, Pathway's chief medical officer.
"This alignment can provide a model of the vital role genetic
information can play in behavior change and personalized medicine."
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