John W. Newman, Ph.D.

Education

• B.A, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz
• Ph.D., Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of California, Davis

Research Interests

Dr. Newman's research group is developing and applying targeted and untargeted metabolomics tools to investigate metabolic responses to diet and their implications in the context of obesity and its associated co-morbidities. Active research areas include: 1) Investigating the functional implications of lipoprotein particle metabolomics structure on vascular and adipose physiology; 2) Investigating cross-talk between mediators of energy metabolism, inflammation, tissue growth and satiety; 3) Mapping the natural variance in metabolic responses to dietary challenges; 4) Investigating the impact of diet quality and weight maintenance/loss on metabolic indices of health.

Selected Publications

1. Frankenhouser, D., T. DeWees, I.F. Snodgrass, R. Cole, S. Steck, D. Thomas, C. Kalu, M. Belury, S. Clinton,J.W. Newman, L. Yee. Randomized dose-response trial of n-3 fatty acids in hormone receptor negative breast cancer survivors-impact on breast adipose oxylipin and DNA methylation patterns. 2025. Am J Clin Nutr. 122:70-82. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.04.021.
2. Dhillon J., S. Pandeya,J.W. Newman, O. Fiehn, R.M. Ortiz. 2025. Almond consumption for 8 weeks differentially modulates metabolomic responses to an acute glucose challenge compared to crackers in young adults. Nutr Res. 135:67-81. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2025.01.003.
3. Abbattista, R., N.G. Feinberg, I.F. Snodgrass,J.W. Newman, A.M. Dandekar. 2024. Unveiling the "hidden quality" of walnut pellicle: A precious source of bioactive lipids. Front Plant Sci. 15:1395543. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1395543.
4. Yee, S.W., L. Ferrández-Peral, P. Alentorn, C. Fontsere-Alemany, M. Ceylan, M.L. Koleske, N. Handin, V.M. Artegoitia, G. Lara, H-C. Chien, X. Zhou, J. Dainat, A. Zelevsky, A. Sali, C.M. Brand, J.A. Capra, P. Artursson,J.W. Newman, T. Marques-Bonet, K.M. Giacomini. 2024. Illuminating the function of the orphan transporter, SLC22A10, in humans and other primates. Nat Comm. 15:4380. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-48569-7.
5. Deol, P., P. Reugger, G. Logan, A. Shawki, J. Li, J. Mitchell, J. Yu, V. Piamthai, S.H. Radi, K. Borkowski, J.W. Newman, O. Fiehn, D. McCole, M. Nair, A. Hsiao, J. Borneman, F.M. Sladek. 2023. Diet high in linoleic acid dysregulates intestinal endocannabinoid system and increases susceptibility to colitis in mice. Gut Microbes. 15(1):2229945doi: 10.1080/19490976.2023.2229945.
6. Wen, A., Y. Zhu, S.W. Yee, B. Park, K.M. Giacomini, A.S. Greenberg, J.W. Newman. 2023. The impacts of slc19a3 deletion and intestinal SLC19A3 insertion on thiamine vitamer distribution and brain metabolism in the mouse. Metabolites. 13(8):885. doi: 10.3390/metabo13080885..
7. Newman, J.W., S. Krishnan, K. Borkowski, S.H. Adams, C.B. Stephensen, N.L. Keim. 2022. Assessing insulin sensitivity and postprandial triglyceridemic response phenotypes with a mixed macronutrient tolerance test. Front Nutr. 9:877696. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.877696.
8. Richardson, C.E., S. Krishnan, I.J. Gray, N.L. Keim, J.W. Newman. 2022. The Omega-3 Index response to an 8 week randomized intervention containing three fatty fish meals per week is influenced by adiposity in overweight to obese women. Front Nutr. 9:1-12. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.810003.
9. Pedersen, T.L, I.J. Gray, J.W. Newman. 2020. Plasma and serum oxylipin, endocannabinoid, bile acid, steroid, fatty acid and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug quantification in a 96-well plate format. Anal Chim Acta. 1143:189-200. doi: 10.1016/j.aca.2020.11.019.
10. Borkowski, K., S.J. Yim, R.R. Holt, R.M. Hackman, C.L. Keen, J.W. Newman, G.C. Shearer. 2019. Walnuts change lipoprotein composition suppressing TNFa-stimulated cytokine production by diabetic adipocyte. J Nutr Biochem. 68:51-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2019.03.004.
11. La Frano, M.R., A. Hernandez-Carretero, N. Weber, K. Borkowski, T.L. Pedersen, O. Osborn, J.W. Newman. 2017. Diet induced-obesity and weight loss alter bile acid profiles and gene expression in insulin target tissues. Nutr Res. 46:11-21. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2017.07.006.
12. Friedman A.N., J. Kim, S. Kaiser, T.L. Pedersen, J.W. Newman, B.A. Watkins. 2016. Relationship between plasma endocannabinoids and appetite in hemodialysis patients: A pilot study. Nutr Res. 36(7):658-62. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2016.03.009.
13. Midtbø, L.K., A.G. Borkowska, A. Bernhard, A.K. Rønnevik, E-J. Lock, M.L.  Fitzgerald, B.E. Torstensen, B. Liaset, T. Brattelid, T.L. Pedersen, J.W. Newman, K. Kristiansen, L. Madsen. 2014. Intake of farmed Atlantic salmon fed soybean oil increases hepatic levels of arachidonic acid-derived oxylipins and ceramides in mice. J Nutr Biochem. 26(6):585-95. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2014.12.005.
14. Newman, J.W., T.L. Pedersen, V. Brandenburg, W.S. Harris, Shearer, G.C. 2014. Effect of omega-3 fatty acids on the oxylipin composition of lipoproteins in hypertriglyceridemic, statin-treated subjects. PLoS One. 9(11):e111471. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111471.
15. O’Sullivan, A., P. Armstrong, G. Schuster, T.L. Pedersen, H. Allayee, C.B. Stephensen, J.W. Newman. 2013. Habitual diets rich in dark green vegetables are associated with an increased response to omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in Americans of African ancestry. J Nutr. 144(2):123-31. doi: 10.3945/jn.113.181875.
16. Grapov, D., S.H. Adams, T.L. Pedersen, W.T. Garvey, J.W. Newman. 2012. Type 2 diabetes associated changes in circulating non-esterified fatty acids, oxylipins, and endocannabinoids. PLoS One. 7(11): e48852. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048852.
17. Keenan, A.H., T.L. Pedersen, K. Fillaus, G.C. Shearer, J.W. Newman. 2012. Basal omega-3 fatty acid status affects fatty acid and oxylipin responses to high-dose n3-HUFA in healthy volunteers. J Lipid Res. 53:1662-1669. doi: 10.1194/jlr.P025577.