Paul Lewandowski

Publications (21) View all

• Article: Health impacts of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid

  Hintsa T Mateos, Paul A Lewandowski, Vanessa C Vaughan, Xiao Q Su
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  ABSTRACT: Long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFA) particularly, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 22: 5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22 : 6n-3) have been reported to reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD) including myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary artery disease and sudden cardiac death. In addition, these fatty acids play an important role in reduction of cancer risks, Alzheimer’s disease, depression and schizophrenia. Furthermore, studies also showed that EPA and DHA are important for foetal development, particularly neuronal and retinal functions. Several recent human trials have strengthened the evidence that EPA and DHA can reduce the risks of various chronic diseases although this has not been a uniform finding. In general, the high prevalence of mortality caused by chronic disease can be prevented by consumption of LC n-3 PUFA, which has been proven to have considerable health benefits. The aim of this paper was to review main scientific evidence regarding the health impact of LC n-3 PUFA, especially EPA and DHA on chronic disease including CVD, cancer, mental health, arthritis and infant development.
  CAB Reviews Perspectives in Agriculture Veterinary Science Nutrition and Natural Resources 03/2013; 8(007).
• Article: Cancer cachexia: impact, mechanisms and emerging treatments.

  Vanessa C Vaughan, Peter Martin, Paul A Lewandowski
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  ABSTRACT: Many forms of cancer present with a complex metabolic profile characterised by loss of lean body mass known as cancer cachexia. The physical impact of cachexia contributes to decreased patient quality of life, treatment success and survival due to gross alterations in protein metabolism, increased oxidative stress and systemic inflammation. The psychological impact also contributes to decreased quality of life for both patients and their families. Combination therapies that target multiple pathways, such as eicosapentaenoic acid administered in combination with exercise, appetite stimulants, antioxidants or anti-inflammatories, have potential in the treatment of this complex syndrome and require further development.
  Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle. 10/2012;
• Article: The growth performance of Jade Tiger cultured abalone fed diets supplemented with fish oil and vegetable oils.

  Hintsa T Mateos, Paul A Lewandowski, Xiao Q Su
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  ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The effects of fish oil (FO) supplementation and the dietary replacement of FO with flaxseed oil (FlaxO) and canola oil (CO) on the growth of cultured abalone was investigated. The study involved three growth experiments: (E1) diets containing 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5% of FO, respectively; (E2) diets in which FO was serially replaced by 25, 50, 75 and 100% FlaxO, respectively; and (E3) diets in which FO was serially replaced by 25, 50, 75 and 100% CO, respectively. RESULTS: In Experiment 1, abalone fed a diet supplemented with 1.5% FO showed a significantly higher (121.2 ± 1.1 mg day(-1) ) daily growth rate of weight (DGR(w) ) compared to control (70.1 ± 1.71 mg day(-1) ). In Experiment 2, abalone fed 1.5% FO diet and diets containing 25-75% FlaxO showed no significant differences in DGR(w) . The diet containing 100% FlaxO showed significantly lower (63.3 ± 6.7 mg day(-1) ) DGR(w) . In Experiment 3, abalone fed diets containing 25% and 50% CO showed similar DGR(w) as those fed a 1.5% FO diet. The diet containing 75% and 100% CO showed significantly lower (63.7 ± 5.0 to 95.4 ± 5.1 mg day(-1) ) DGR(w) . CONCLUSION: Supplementation with 1.5% of dietary FO can improve growth performance in cultured abalone. It is feasible to replace 75% of dietary FO with FlaxO and 50% of dietary FO with CO, without negative effect on growth performance.
  Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 09/2012; · 1.44 Impact Factor
• Article: Cardiovascular risk factors and psychological distress in Australian farming communities.

  Susan Brumby, Ananda Chandrasekara, Scott McCoombe, Peter Kremer, Paul Lewandowski
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  ABSTRACT: To examine the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, psychological distress and associations between physical and mental health parameters within a cohort of the Australian farming community. Cross-sectional descriptive study. Farming communities across Australia. Data of men (n = 957) and women (n = 835) farmers from 97 locations across Australia were stratified into categories based on National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines.   Prevalence of and interrelationship between overweight, obesity, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, diabetes risk and psychological distress. There was a higher prevalence of overweight (42.5%, 95% confidence interval (CI), 34.2-50.8), obesity (21.8%, 95% CI, 18.3-25.3), abdominal adiposity (38.4% 95% CI, 24.5-52.5), hypertension (54.0%, 95% CI, 34.4-73.5) and diabetes risk (25.3%, 95% CI, 17.7-36.7) in the farming cohort compared with national data. There was also a positive significant association between the prevalence of psychological distress and obesity, abdominal adiposity, body fat percentage and metabolic syndrome in older (age ≥ 50 years) participants. This study group of farming men and women exhibited an increased prevalence of CVD risk factors and co-morbidities. The findings indicate a positive association between psychological distress and risk for developing CVD, particularly in the older farmers. If the younger cohort were to maintain elevated rates of psychological distress, then it is foreseeable that the next generation of farmers could experience poorer physical health than their predecessors.
  Australian Journal of Rural Health 06/2012; 20(3):131-7. · 1.00 Impact Factor
• Article: Eicosapentaenoic Acid and oxypurinol in the treatment of muscle wasting in a mouse model of cancer cachexia.

  Vanessa C Vaughan, Melanie Sullivan-Gunn, Edward Hinch, Peter Martin, Paul A Lewandowski
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  ABSTRACT: Cancer cachexia is a wasting condition, driven by systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. This study investigated eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in combination with oxypurinol as a treatment in a mouse model of cancer cachexia. Mice with cancer cachexia were randomized into 4 treatment groups (EPA (0.4 g/kg/day), oxypurinol (1 mmol/L ad-lib), combination, or control), and euthanized after 29 days. Analysis of oxidative damage to DNA, mRNA analysis of pro-oxidant, antioxidant and proteolytic pathway components, along with enzyme activity of pro- and antioxidants were completed on gastrocnemius muscle. The control group displayed earlier onset of tumor compared to EPA and oxypurinol groups (P<0.001). The EPA group maintained body weight for an extended duration (20 days) compared to the oxypurinol (5 days) and combination (8 days) groups (P<0.05). EPA (18.2±3.2 pg/ml) and combination (18.4±3.7 pg/ml) groups had significantly higher 8-OH-dG levels than the control group (12.9±1.4 pg/ml, P≤0.05) indicating increased oxidative damage to DNA. mRNA levels of GPx1, MURF1 and MAFbx were higher following EPA treatment compared to control (P≤0.05). Whereas oxypurinol was associated with higher GPx1, MnSOD, CAT, XDH, MURF1, MAFbx and UbB mRNA compared to control (P≤0.05). Activity of total SOD was higher in the oxypurinol group (32.2±1.5 U/ml) compared to control (27.0±1.3 U/ml, P<0.01), GPx activity was lower in the EPA group (8.76±2.0 U/ml) compared to control (14.0±1.9 U/ml, P<0.05), and catalase activity was lower in the combination group (14.4±2.8 U/ml) compared to control (20.9±2.0 U/ml, P<0.01). There was no change in XO activity. The increased rate of weight decline in mice treated with oxypurinol indicates that XO may play a protective role during the progression of cancer cachexia, and its inhibition is detrimental to outcomes. In combination with EPA, there was little significant improvement from control, indicating oxypurinol is unlikely to be a viable treatment compound in cancer cachexia.
  PLoS ONE 01/2012; 7(9):e45900. · 4.09 Impact Factor