Peter McLennan is foundation Professor of Physiology in Graduate Medicine, University of Wollongong where he teaches an integrated curriculum including medical physiology, nutrition and prevention. Peter has over 100 peer-reviewed papers with citations in physiology, cardiology and nutrition. Over 30 years, his research developed a new paradigm for dietary lipids and heart health, identifying omega-3 fatty acid cardioprotection by nutritional preconditioning of myocardial membranes. His research with animal models identified omega-3 in membranes as modulators of fatal heart rhythm disturbances, intrinsic heart rate, cardiac function, heart failure and muscle fatigue. Ongoing research aims to clarify omega-3 fatty acid mechanisms of action and confirm their essential role in cardiac and muscle function through translational research with application to nutritional prevention of heart failure and muscle fatigue and support of physical activity into old age for living well longer.
Pressure-overload cardiac hypertrophy is prevented but not reversed by omega-3 fatty acids in the rat, at low dietary intakes achievable by a usual human diet.