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.
- Interactions between genetic variants and dietary lipid composition: effects on circulating LDL cholesterol in children. (2014)
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Ahola-Olli AV, Pitkänen N, Kettunen J, Oikonen MK, Mikkilä V, Lehtimäki T, Kähönen M, Pahkala K, Niinikoski H, Kangas AJ, Soininen P, Ala-Korpela M, Viikari JS, Rönnemaa T, Simell O, Raitakari OT
- Parent-of-origin-specific allelic associations among 106 genomic loci for age at menarche (2014) Perry JR, Day F, Elks CE, Sulem P, Thompson DJ, Ferreira T, He C, Chasman DI, Esko T, Thorleifsson G, Albrecht E, Ang WQ, Corre T, Cousminer DL, Feenstra B, Franceschini N, Ganna A, Johnson AD, Kjellqvist S, Lunetta KL, McMahon G, Nolte IM, Paternoster L, Porcu E, Smith AV, Stolk L, Teumer A, Tšernikova N, Tikkanen E, Ulivi S, Wagner EK, Amin N, Bierut LJ, Byrne EM, Hottenga JJ, Koller DL, Mangino M, Pers TH, Yerges-Armstrong LM, Hua Zhao J, Andrulis IL, Anton-Culver H, Atsma F, Bandinelli S, Beckmann MW, Benitez J, Blomqvist C, Bojesen SE, Bolla MK, Bonanni B, Brauch H, Brenner H, Buring JE, Chang-Claude J, Chanock S, Chen J, Chenevix-Trench G, Collée JM, Couch FJ, Couper D, Coviello AD, Cox A, Czene K, D'adamo AP, Davey Smith G, De Vivo I, Demerath EW, Dennis J, Devilee P, Dieffenbach AK, Dunning AM, Eiriksdottir G, Eriksson JG, Fasching PA, Ferrucci L, Flesch-Janys D, Flyger H, Foroud T, Franke L, Garcia ME, García-Closas M, Geller F, de Geus EE, Giles GG, Gudbjartsson DF, Gudnason V, Guénel P, Guo S, Hall P, Hamann U, Haring R, Hartman CA, Heath AC, Hofman A, Hooning MJ, Hopper JL, Hu FB, Hunter DJ, Karasik D, Kiel DP, Knight JA, Kosma VM, Kutalik Z, Lai S, Lambrechts D, Lindblom A, Mägi R, Magnusson PK, Mannermaa A, Martin NG, Masson G, McArdle PF, McArdle WL, Melbye M, Michailidou K, Mihailov E, Milani L, Milne RL, Nevanlinna H, Neven P, Nohr EA, Oldehinkel AJ, Oostra BA, Palotie A, Peacock M, Pedersen NL, Peterlongo P, Peto J, Pharoah PD, Postma DS, Pouta A, Pylkäs K, Radice P, Ring S, Rivadeneira F, Robino A, Rose LM, Rudolph A, Salomaa V, Sanna S, Schlessinger D, Schmidt MK, Southey MC, Sovio U, Stampfer MJ, Stöckl D, Storniolo AM, Timpson NJ, Tyrer J, Visser JA, Vollenweider P, Völzke H, Waeber G, Waldenberger M, Wallaschofski H, Wang Q, Willemsen G, Winqvist R, Wolffenbuttel BH, Wright MJ; Australian Ovarian Cancer Study; GENICA Network; kConFab; LifeLines Cohort Study; InterAct Consortium; Early Growth Genetics (EGG) Consortium, Boomsma DI, Econs MJ, Khaw KT, Loos RJ, McCarthy MI, Montgomery GW, Rice JP, Streeten EA, Thorsteinsdottir U, van Duijn CM, Alizadeh BZ, Bergmann S, Boerwinkle E, Boyd HA, Crisponi L, Gasparini P, Gieger C, Harris TB, Ingelsson E, Järvelin MR, Kraft P, Lawlor D, Metspalu A, Pennell CE, Ridker PM, Snieder H, Sørensen TI, Spector TD, Strachan DP, Uitterlinden AG, Wareham NJ, Widen E, Zygmunt M, Murray A, Easton DF, Stefansson K, Murabito JM, Ong KK, Cousminer DL, Stergiakouli E, Berry DJ, Ang W, Groen-Blokhuis MM, Körner A, Siitonen N, Ntalla I, Marinelli M, Perry JR, Kettunen J, Jansen R, Surakka I, Timpson NJ, Ring S, McMahon G, Power C, Wang C, Kähönen M, Viikari J, Lehtimäki T, Middeldorp CM, Hulshoff Pol HE, Neef M, Weise S, Pahkala K, Niinikoski H, Zeggini E, Panoutsopoulou K, Bustamante M, Penninx BW, Murabito J, Torrent M, Dedoussis GV, Kiess W, Boomsma DI, Pennell CE, Raitakari OT, Hyppönen E, Davey Smith G, Ripatti S, McCarthy MI, Widén E, Alizadeh BZ, de Boer RA, Boezen HM, Bruinenberg M, Franke L, van der Harst P, Hillege HL, van der Klauw MM, Navis G, Ormel J, Postma D, Rosmalen JG, Slaets JP, Snieder H, Stolk RP, Wolffenbuttel BH, Wijmenga C, Forouhi N, Kerrison ND, Langenberg C, Scott RA, Sharp SJ, Sims M, Barroso I, Deloukas P, McCarthy MI, Arriola L, Balkau B, Barricarte A, Boeing H, Franks PW, Gonzalez C, Grioni S, Kaaks R, Key TJ, Navarro C, Nilsson PM, Overvad K, Palli D, Panico S, Quirós J, Rolandsson O, Sacerdote C, Sánchez MJ, Slimani N, Tjonneland A, Tumino R, van der A DL, van der Schouw YT, Riboli E, Wareham NJ, Bowtell DD, Green A, Chenevix-Trench G, deFazio A, Gertig D, Webb PM, Brauch H, Justenhoven C, Hamann U, Ko YD, Baisch C, Fischer HP, Pesch B, Rabstein S, Spickenheuer A, Harth V, Aghmesheh M, Amor D, Andrews L, Antill Y, Armitage S, Arnold L, Balleine R, Bankier A, Bastick P, Beesley J, Beilby J, Bennett I, Bennett B, Berry G, Blackburn A, Bogwitz M, Brennan M, Brown M, Buckley M, Burgess M, Burke J, Butow P, Byron K, Callen D, Campbell I, Chauhan D, Chenevix-Trench G, Christian A, Clarke C, Colley A, Cotton D, Crook A, Cui J, Culling B, Cummings M, Dawson SJ, deFazio A, Delatycki M, Dickson R, Dixon J, Dobrovic A, Dudding T, Edkins T, Edwards S, Eisenbruch M, Farshid G, Fawcett S, Fellows A, Fenton G, Field M, Firgaira F, Flanagan J, Fleming J, Fong P, Forbes J, Fox S, French J, Friedlander M, Gaff C, Gardner M, Gattas M, George P, Giles G, Gill G, Goldblatt J, Greening S, Grist S, Eric H, Hardie K, Harris M, Hart S, Hayward N, Healey S, Heiniger L, Hopper J, Humphrey E, Hunt C, James P, Jenkins M, Jones A, Kefford R, Kidd A, Kiely B, Kirk J, Koehler J, Kollias J, Kovalenko S, Lakhani S, Leaming A, Leary J, Lim J, Lindeman G, Lipton L, Lobb L, Mann G, Marsh D, McLachlan SA, Meiser B, Meldrum C, Milne R, Mitchell G, Newman B, O'Connell S, O'Loughlin I, Osborne R, Pachter N, Patterson B, Peters L, Phillips K, Price M, Purser L, Reeve J, Reeve T, Richards R, Rickard E, Robinson B, Rudzki B, Saleh M, Salisbury E, Sambrook J, Saunders C, Saunus J, Sayer R, Scott E, Scott R, Scott C, Seshadri R, Sexton A, Sharma R, Shelling A, Simpson P, Southey M, Spurdle A, Suthers G, Sykes P, Taylor D, Taylor J, Thierry B, Thompson E, Thorne H, Townshend S, Trainer A, Tran L, Tucker K, Tyler J, Visvader J, Walker L, Walpole I, Waring P, Warner B, Warren G, Williams R, Wilson J, Winship I, Wu K, Young MA
- Prospective Relationship of Change in Ideal Cardiovascular Health Status and Arterial Stiffness: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (2014)
- Journal of the American Heart Association
Aatola H, Hutri-Kahonen N, Juonala M, Laitinen TT, Pahkala K, Mikkila V, Telama R, Koivistoinen T, Lehtimaki T, Viikari JSA, Raitakari OT, Kahonen M
- Sydän- ja verisuonisairauksien ehkäisy lapsuudesta alkaen (2014) Pahkala K, Niinikoski H, Raitakari O
- The STRIP Study: Long-Term Impact of a Low Saturated Fat/Low Cholesterol Diet (2014)
- Current Cardiovascular Risk Reports
Niinikoski H., Pahkala K., Viikari J., Rönnemaa T., Jula A., Lagström H., Simell O., Raitakari O.
- TV Viewing and Fatty Liver. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (2014)
- Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
Helajarvi H, Pahkala K, Heinonen OJ, Oikonen M, Tammelin T, Viikari JSA, Raitakari OT
- Association of Fitness With Vascular Intima-Media Thickness and Elasticity in Adolescence (2013) Pahkala K, Laitinen TT, Heinonen OJ, Viikari JSA, Ronnemaa T, Niinikoski H, Helajarvi H, Juonala M, Simell O, Raitakari OT
- Body mass index, fitness and physical activity from childhood through adolescence (2013)
- British Journal of Sports Medicine
Pahkala K, Hernelahti M, Heinonen OJ, Raittinen P, Hakanen M, Lagstrom H, Viikari JSA, Ronnemaa T, Raitakari OT, Simell O
- Childhood lifestyle and clinical determinants of adult ideal cardiovascular health: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study, the Childhood Determinants of Adult Health Study, the Princeton Follow-up Study. (2013)
- International Journal of Cardiology
Laitinen TT, Pahkala K, Venn A, Woo JG, Oikonen M, Dwyer T, Mikkilä V, Hutri-Kähönen N, Smith KJ, Gall SL, Morrison JA, Viikari JS, Raitakari OT, Magnussen CG, Juonala M
- Ideal Cardiovascular Health in Adolescence Effect of Lifestyle Intervention and Association With Vascular Intima-Media Thickness and Elasticity (The Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project for Children [STRIP] Study) (2013) Pahkala K, Hietalampi H, Laitinen TT, Viikari JSA, Ronnemaa T, Niinikoski H, Lagstrom H, Talvia S, Jula A, Heinonen OJ, Juonala M, Simell O, Raitakari OT
- Ideal cardiovascular health in young adult populations from the United States, Finland, and Australia and its association with cIMT: the international childhood cardiovascular cohort consortium. (2013)
- Journal of the American Heart Association
Oikonen M, Laitinen TT, Magnussen CG, Steinberger J, Sinaiko AR, Dwyer T, Venn A, Smith KJ, Hutri-Kähönen N, Pahkala K, Mikkilä V, Prineas R, Viikari JS, Morrison JA, Woo JG, Chen W, Nicklas T, Srinivasan SR, Berenson G, Juonala M, Raitakari OT
- Infancy-onset dietary counseling improves insulin sensitivity in healthy adolescents. The special Turku coronary risk factor intervention project (STRIP) (2013) Oranta O, Pahkala K, Ruottinen S, Niinikoski H, Lagstrom H, Viikari JSA, Jula A, Loo BM, Ronnemaa T, Raitakari OT
- Infancy-Onset Dietary Counseling of Low-Saturated-Fat Diet Improves Insulin Sensitivity in Healthy Adolescents 15-20 Years of Age The Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project (STRIP) study (2013) Oranta O, Pahkala K, Ruottinen S, Niinikoski H, Lagstrom H, Viikari JSA, Jula A, Loo BM, Simell O, Ronnemaa T, Raitakari OT
- Istu ja pala! – Onko istuminen uusi terveysuhka? – Reduced sitting time improves health (2013) Helajärvi Harri, Pahkala Katja, Raitakari Olli, Tammelin Tuija, Viikari Jorma, Heinonen Olli
- Sedentary Behavior and Markers of Hepatic Lipid Load. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (2013)
- Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
Helajarvi HT, Pahkala K, Heinonen OJ, Oikonen M, Viikari J, Raitakari O
- Sedentary behaviours and obesity in adults. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. (2013) Heinonen I, Helajarvi H, Pahkala K, Heinonen OJ, Hirvensalo M, Palve K, Tammelin T, Yang X, Juonala M, Mikkila V, Kahonen M, Lehtimaki T, Viikari J, Raitakari OT
- Childhood Nutrition in Predicting Metabolic Syndrome in Adults (2012) Jaaskelainen P, Magnussen CG, Pahkala K, Mikkila V, Kahonen M, Sabin MA, Fogelholm M, Hutri-Kahonen N, Taittonen L, Telama R, Laitinen T, Jokinen E, Lehtimaki T, Viikari JSA, Raitakari OT, Juonala M
- Clustered metabolic risk and leisure-time physical activity in adolescents: effect of dose? (2012)
- British Journal of Sports Medicine
Pahkala K., Heinonen O.J., Lagström H., Hakala P., Hakanen M., Hernelahti M., Ruottinen S., Sillanmäki L., Rönnemaa T., Viikari J., Raitakari O.T., Simell O.
- Effect of Repeated Dietary Counseling on Serum Lipoproteins From Infancy to Adulthood (2012) Niinikoski H, Pahkala K, Ala-Korpela M, Viikari J, Ronnemaa T, Lagstrom H, Jokinen E, Jula A, Savolainen MJ, Simell O, Raitakari OT
- Fitness, Physical Activity And Aortic Intima-media Thickness In Adolescents (2012)
- Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
Pahkala K, Heinonen OJ, Simell O, Viikari JSA, Ronnemaa T, Helajarvi H, Niinikoski H, Raitakari OT
