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Interleukin Genetics to Present Data Highlighting Link Between Inflammatory Gene Variations and Less Effective Weightloss

Posted on: Thursday, 22 January 2009, 06:00 CST

Findings to be Presented at This Week's Keystone Symposium - Obesity: Novel Aspects of the Regulation of Body Weight

WALTHAM, Mass., Jan. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Interleukin Genetics, Inc. (NYSE Alternext US: ILI) announced today that the company will present new research findings on the role genetics play in an individual's ability to lose weight and body fat while following a calorie-restricted diet, during tomorrow's Keystone Symposium titled, "Obesity: Novel Aspects of the Regulation of Body Weight." The Symposium, held January 20-25, 2009, is taking place at the Fairmont Banff Springs, Banff, Alberta, Canada.

Interleukin Genetics will present the study findings during poster session #3 taking place tomorrow, January 23, between 7:30 - 10:00 p.m. The poster, titled "Association of genes involved in chronic inflammation with weight management in response to the carbohydrate content of diet under calorie restriction," highlights new findings on the influence of genetic polymorphisms in the genes of interleukin-1 (IL-1) inflammatory pathway on dietary intervention induced weight and body fat loss.

"In this study, we investigated whether inflammatory gene variations were associated with response to weight-loss in overweight subjects," said Nazneen Aziz, Vice President of Research and Development at Interleukin Genetics. "We found that individuals with a specific genetic make-up were resistant to loss of body weight and body fat when they were placed on a calorie restriction diet, but individuals with the same genetic pattern were more likely to lose weight if their diet was not only calorie-restricted but also had a low glycemic content."

These results suggest that inflammatory gene variations could have important clinical utility in the design of optimal weight-loss programs in the overweight population.

The findings are the result of a study performed in collaboration with the Comprehensive Assessment of the Long-Term Effects of Restricting Intake of Energy (CALERIE) pilot research project, conducted at Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA. The one-year, randomized and well-controlled trial included high or low glycemic load calorie-restricted diets that were provided for the first six months, followed by extensive dietary guidance for the following six months. Body-weight, fat mass, resting metabolic rate (RMR) and insulin sensitivity were measured at baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Compliance to the diet was monitored using the double-labeled water technique for the above five time-points of the study. Interleukin Genetics, Inc. performed the genetic analysis for this study.

About Obesity

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) more than 72 million U.S. adults and 16 percent of U.S. children are obese, while obesity-related health care costs have totaled over $100 billion. Obesity rates among all groups in society -- irrespective of age, sex, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, education level, or geographic region -- have increased markedly. Obesity is a significant global health problem and it has been associated with increased risk of several co-morbidities, such as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and osteoarthritis. Inflammatory gene polymorphisms have been previously associated with body fat mass and implicated in inducing insulin resistance.

About Interleukin Genetics

Interleukin Genetics, Inc. (NYSE: Alternext US: ILI), is a genetics-focused personalized health company that develops preventive consumer products and genetic tests for sale to the emerging personalized health market. Focused on the future of health and medicine, Interleukin Genetics uses its leading genetics research and scientific capabilities to develop and test innovative preventive and therapeutic products. Interleukin Genetics is headquartered in Waltham, MA. For more information about Interleukin Genetics, its products and ongoing programs, please visit http://www.ilgenetics.com.

Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking" statements including statements regarding our ability to develop diagnostic, personalized nutritional and therapeutic products to prevent or treat diseases of inflammation and other genetic variations, our ability to screen nutritional compounds for their effects on inflammatory responses and other genetic variations, given specific genetic patterns and our ability to make progress in advancing our core technologies. Because such statements include risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the risk of market acceptance of our products, the risk of technology and product obsolescence, delays in product development, the performance of our commercial partners, the availability of adequate capital, the actions of our competitors and other competitive risks, and those risks and uncertainties described in our annual reports on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other documents we file with, or furnish to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. We disclaim any obligation or intention to update these forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Interleukin Genetics, Inc.

Source: PR Newswire

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