Katja Pahkala
Professor, Head of Paavo Nurmi Centre
| Centre for Population Health Research, Paavo Nurmi Centre
katpah@utu.fi
+358 40 578 6122
Kiinamyllynkatu 10
Turku
|
Cardiovascular health, prevention, childhood, physical activity, diet, epidemiology, longitudinal studies
I have devoted my research career to examining early life determinants of cardiometabolic health with the ultimate aim to improve primordial prevention of cardiometabolic diseases.
I am a long-standing senior researcher and the vice director of the Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine (CAPC), and a member of the executive committee of the Centre for Population Health Research. I am also the vice principal investigator of the globally unique atherosclerosis prevention trial, the STRIP study (Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project), which commenced in 1989 and has extensively studied the 1062 participants since age 7 months to 26 years with repeated assessment of diet, lifestyle and versatile cardiometabolic health markers. I am also an active member of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study, started in the late 1970´s. The study involves originally 3596 participants from different parts of Finland. As highlights of my career, in 2014 I received the Academy of Finland’s Postdoctoral Researcher grant, and in 2019 I was invited to receive A/Professorship in Preventive Medicine (tenure track), and I was also awarded the Academy of Finland’s Research Fellowship. In 2023, I achieved full-Professorship in Preventive Medicine. In 2024, I began as a Head of the Paavo Nurmi Centre, a centre of expertise in sports & exercise medicine.
I have supervised 15 undergraduate studies and six doctoral studies. Currently I supervise six doctoral students and one undergraduate student.
- Genome-wide association analysis identifies three new susceptibility loci for childhood body mass index (2016) Felix JF, Bradfield JP, Monnereau C, van der Valk RJP, Stergiakouli E, Chesi A, Gaillard R, Feenstra B, Thiering E, Kreiner-Moller E, Mahajan A, Pitkanen N, Joro R, Cavadino A, Huikari V, Franks S, Groen-Blokhuis MM, Cousminer DL, Marsh JA, Lehtimaki T, Curtin JA, Vioque J, Ahluwalia TS, Myhre R, Price TS, Vilor-Tejedor N, Yengo L, Grarup N, Ntalla I, Ang W, Atalay M, Bisgaard H, Blakemore AI, Bonnefond A, Carstensen L, Eriksson J, Flexeder C, Franke L, Geller F, Geserick M, Hartikainen AL, Haworth CMA, Hirschhorn JN, Hofman A, Holm JC, Horikoshi M, Hottenga JJ, Huang JY, Kadarmideen HN, Kahonen M, Kiess W, Lakka HM, Lakka TA, Lewin AM, Liang L, Lyytikainen LP, Ma BS, Magnus P, McCormack SE, McMahon G, Mentch FD, Middeldorp CM, Murray CS, Pahkala K, Pers TH, Pfaffle R, Postma DS, Power C, Simpson A, Sengpiel V, Tiesler CMT, Torrent M, Uitterlinden AG, van Meurs JB, Vinding R, Waage J, Wardle J, Zeggini E, Zemel BS, Dedoussis GV, Pedersen O, Froguel P, Sunyer J, Plomin R, Jacobsson B, Hansen T, Gonzalez JR, Custovic A, Raitakari OT, Pennell CE, Widen E, Boomsma DI, Koppelman GH, Sebert S, Jarvelin MR, Hypponen E, McCarthy MI, Lindi V, Harri N, Korner A, Bonnelykke K, Heinrich J, Melbye M, Rivadeneira F, Hakonarson H, Ring SM, Smith GD, Sorensen TIA, Timpson NJ, Grant SFA, Jaddoe VWV
- Genome-wide associations for birth weight and correlations with adult disease (2016) Horikoshi M, Beaumont RN, Day FR, Warrington NM, Kooijman MN, Fernandez-Tajes J, Feenstra B, van Zuydam NR, Gaulton KJ, Grarup N, Bradfield JP, Strachan DP, Li-Gao R, Ahluwalia TS, Kreiner E, Rueedi R, Lyytikainen LP, Cousminer DL, Wu Y, Thiering E, Wang CA, Have CT, Hottenga JJ, Vilor-Tejedor N, Joshi PK, Boh ETH, Ntalla I, Pitkanen N, Mahajan A, van Leeuwen EM, Joro R, Lagou V, Nodzenski M, Diver LA, Zondervan KT, Bustamante M, Marques-Vidal P, Mercader JM, Bennett AJ, Rahmioglu N, Nyholt DR, Ma RCW, Tam CHT, Tam WH, Ganesh SK, van Rooij FJA, Jones SE, Loh PR, Ruth KS, Tuke MA, Tyrrell J, Wood AR, Yaghootkar H, Scholtens DM, Paternoster L, Prokopenko I, Kovacs P, Atalay M, Willems SM, Panoutsopoulou K, Wang X, Carstensen L, Geller F, Schraut KE, Murcia M, van Beijsterveldt CEM, Willemsen G, Appel EVR, Fonvig CE, Trier C, Tiesler CMT, Standl M, Kutalik Z, Bonas-Guarch S, Hougaard DM, Sanchez F, Torrents D, Waage J, Hollegaard MV, de Haan HG, Rosendaal FR, Medina-Gomez C, Ring SM, Hemani G, McMahon G, Robertson NR, Groves CJ, Langenberg C, Luan J, Scott RA, Zhao JH, Mentch FD, MacKenzie SM, Reynolds RM, Lowe WL, Tonjes A, Stumvoll M, Lindi V, Lakka TA, van Duijn CM, Kiess W, Korner A, Sorensen TIA, Niinikoski H, Pahkala K, Raitakari OT, Zeggini E, Dedoussis GV, Teo YY, Saw SM, Melbye M, Campbell H, Wilson JF, Vrijheid M, de Geus EJCN, Boomsma DI, Kadarmideen HN, Holm JC, Hansen T, Sebert S, Hattersley AT, Beilin LJ, Newnham JP, Pennell CE, Heinrich J, Adair LS, Borja JB, Mohlke KL, Eriksson JG, Widen E, Kahonen M, Viikari JS, Lehtimaki T, Vollenweider P, Bonnelykke K, Bisgaard H, Mook-Kanamori DO, Hofman A, Rivadeneira F, Uitterlinden AG, Pisinger C, Pedersen O, Power C, Hypponen E, Wareham NJ, Hakonarson H, Davies E, Walker BR, Jaddoe VWV, Jarvelin MR, Grant SFA, Vaag AA, Lawlor DA, Frayling TM, Smith GD, Morris AP, Ong KK, Felix JF, Timpson NJ, Perry JRB, Evans DM, McCarthy MI, Freathy RM
- Trajectories of Physical Activity Predict the Onset of Depressive Symptoms but Not Their Progression: A Prospective Cohort Study (2016)
- Journal of Sports Medicine
Kaseva K, Rosenström T, Hintsa T, Pulkki-Råback L, Tammelin T, Lipsanen J, Yang X, Hintsanen M, Hakulinen C, Pahkala K, Hirvensalo M, Hutri-Kähönen N, Raitakari OT, Keltikangas-Järvinen L
- TV viewing and subclinical cardiac diastolic dysfunction in early midlife. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. (2016) Helajärvi H, Ruohonen S, Pahkala K, Heinonen OJ, Viikari J, Raitakari OT
- A novel common variant in DCST2 is associated with length in early life and height in adulthood (2015) van der Valk RJP, Kreiner-Moller E, Kooijman MN, Guxens M, Stergiakouli E, Saaf A, Bradfield JP, Geller F, Hayes MG, Cousminer DL, Korner A, Thiering E, Curtin JA, Myhre R, Huikari V, Joro R, Kerkhof M, Warrington NM, Pitkanen N, Ntalla I, Horikoshi M, Veijola R, Freathy RM, Teo YY, Barton SJ, Evans DM, Kemp JP, St Pourcain B, Ring SM, Smith GD, Bergstrom A, Kull I, Hakonarson H, Mentch FD, Bisgaard H, Chawes B, Stokholm J, Waage J, Eriksen P, Sevelsted A, Melbye M, van Duijn CM, Medina-Gomez C, Hofman A, de Jongste JC, Taal HR, Uitterlinden AG, Armstrong LL, Eriksson J, Palotie A, Bustamante M, Estivill X, Gonzalez JR, Llop S, Kiess W, Mahajan A, Flexeder C, Tiesler CMT, Murray CS, Simpson A, Magnus P, Sengpiel V, Hartikainen AL, Keinanen-Kiukaanniemi S, Lewin A, Alves ADC, Blakemore AI, Buxton JL, Kaakinen M, Rodriguez A, Sebert S, Vaarasmaki M, Lakka T, Lindi V, Gehring U, Postma DS, Ang W, Newnham JP, Lyytikainen LP, Pahkala K, Raitakari OT, Panoutsopoulou K, Zeggini E, Boomsma DI, Groen-Blokhuis M, Ilonen J, Franke L, Hirschhorn JN, Pers TH, Liang L, Huang J, Hocher B, Knip M, Saw SM, Holloway JW, Melen E, Grant SFA, Feenstra B, Lowe WL, Widen E, Sergeyev E, Grallert H, Custovic A, Jacobsson B, Jarvelin MR, Atalay M, Koppelman GH, Pennell CE, Niinikoski H, Dedoussis GV, Mccarthy MI, Frayling TM, Sunyer J, Timpson NJ, Rivadeneira F, Bonnelykke K, Jaddoe VWV
- Association of adiponectin with adolescent cardiovascular health in a dietary intervention study (2015) Jaakkola J, Pahkala K, Viitala M, Rönnemaa T, Viikari J, Niinikoski H, Lagström H, Jula A, Simell O, Raitakari O.
- Childhood 25-OH Vitamin D Levels and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Adulthood: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (2015)
- Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
Juonala M, Voipio A, Pahkala K, Viikari JSA, Mikkila V, Kahonen M, Hutri-Kahonen N, Jula A, Burgner D, Sabin MA, Marniemi J, Loo BM, Laitinen T, Jokinen E, Taittonen L, Magnussen CG, Raitakari OT
- Cumulative Effect of Psychosocial Factors in Youth on Ideal Cardiovascular Health in Adulthood The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (2015) Pulkki-Raback L, Elovainio M, Hakulinen C, Lipsanen J, Hintsanen M, Jokela M, Kubzansky LD, Hintsa T, Serlachius A, Laitinen T, Pahkala K, Mikkila V, Nevalainen J, Hutri-Kahonen N, Juonala M, Viikari J, Raitakari OT, Keltikangas-Jarvinen L
- Determinants of serum 25(OH)D concentration in young and middle-aged adults. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (2015) Atte J. W. Voipio, Katja A. Pahkala, Jorma S. A. Viikari, Vera Mikkilä, Costan G. Magnussen, Nina Hutri-Kähönen, Mika Kähönen, Terho Lehtimäki, Satu Männistö, Britt-Marie Loo, Antti Jula, Jukka Marniemi, Markus Juonala, Olli T. Raitakari
- Distensibility of the Aorta and Carotid Artery and Left Ventricular Mass From Childhood to Early Adulthood. (2015) Hanna Mikola, Katja Pahkala, Tapani Rönnemaa, Jorma S.A. Viikari, Harri Niinikoski, Eero Jokinen, Pia Salo, Olli Simell, Markus Juonala, Olli T. Raitakari
- High Lipoprotein(a) Concentrations Are Associated with Impaired Endothelial Function in Children (2015) Lapinleimu J, Raitakari OT, Lapinleimu H, Pahkala K, Ronnemaa T, Simell OG, Viikari JSA
- Lifetime measures of ideal cardiovascular health and their association with subclinical atherosclerosis: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (2015)
- International Journal of Cardiology
Laitinen TT, Pahkala K, Magnussen CG, Oikonen M, Viikari JSA, Sabin MA, Daniels SR, Heinonen OJ, Taittonen L, Hartiala O, Mikkila V, Hutri-Kahonen N, Laitinen T, Kahonen M, Raitakari OT, Juonala M
- Metabolic Syndrome From Adolescence to Early Adulthood Effect of Infancy-Onset Dietary Counseling of Low Saturated Fat: The Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project (STRIP) (2015) Nupponen M, Pahkala K, Juonala M, Magnussen CG, Niinikoski H, Ronnemaa T, Viikari JSA, Saarinen M, Lagstrom H, Jula A, Simell O, Raitakari OT
- Psychological wellbeing in 20-year-old adults receiving repeated lifestyle counselling since infancy (2015) Kaseva K, Pulkki-Raback L, Elovainio M, Pahkala K, Keltikangas-Jarvinen L, Hintsanen M, Hakulinen C, Lagstrom H, Jula A, Niinikoski H, Ronnemaa T, Viikari J, Simell O, Raitakari O
- Television viewing and fatty liver in early midlife. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (2015) Helajarvi H, Pahkala K, Heinonen OJ, Juonala M, Oikonen M, Tammelin T, Hutri-Kahonen N, Lehtimaki T, Mikkila V, Viikari J, Raitakari OT
- The Association of Dietary Alpha-Linolenic Acid with Blood Pressure and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in People Born Small for Gestational Age: The Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project Study (2015) Skilton MR, Pahkala K, Viikari JSA, Ronnemaa T, Simell O, Jula A, Niinikoski H, Celermajer DS, Raitakari OT
- TV Viewing and cognitive performance in early midlife. The cardiovascular risk in young Finns study. (2015)
- Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
Helajärvi Harri, Rovio Suvi, Pahkala Katja, Heinonen Olli J, Tammelin Tuija, Viikari Jorma, Raitakari Olli T
- Association of physical activity in childhood and early adulthood with carotid artery elasticity 21 years later: the cardiovascular risk in Young Finns Study. (2014)
- Journal of the American Heart Association
Pälve KS, Pahkala K, Magnussen CG, Koivistoinen T, Juonala M, Kähönen M, Lehtimäki T, Rönnemaa T, Viikari JS, Raitakari OT
- Exploring Causality between TV Viewing and Weight Change in Young and Middle-Aged Adults. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (2014) Helajarvi H, Rosenstrom T, Pahkala K, Kahonen M, Lehtimaki T, Heinonen OJ, Oikonen M, Tammelin T, Viikari JSA, Raitakari OT
- Genome-wide association study of sexual maturation in males and females highlights a role for body mass and menarche loci in male puberty (2014) Cousminer DL, Stergiakouli E, Berry DJ, Ang W, Groen-Blokhuis MM, Korner A, Siitonen N, Ntalla I, Marinelli M, Perry JRB, Kettunen J, Jansen R, Surakka I, Timpson NJ, Ring S, Mcmahon G, Power C, Wang C, Kahonen M, Viikari J, Lehtimaki T, Middeldorp CM, Pol HEH, Neef M, Weise S, Pahkala K, Niinikoski H, Zeggini E, Panoutsopoulou K, Bustamante M, Penninx BWJH, Murabito J, Torrent M, Dedoussis GV, Kiess W, Boomsma DI, Pennell CE, Raitakari OT, Hypponen E, Smith GD, Ripatti S, McCarthy MI, Widen E
