PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Heikki Tikkanen

Publications and source records attributed to Heikki Tikkanen.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Muscle fiber-type distribution predicts weight gain and unfavorable left ventricular geometry: a 19 year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Skeletal muscle consists of type-I (slow-twitch) and type-II (fast-twitch) fibers, with proportions highly variable between individuals and mostly determined by genetic factors. Cross-sectional studies have associated low percentage of type-I fibers (type-I%) with many cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: We investigated whether baseline type-I% predicts left ventricular (LV) structure and function at 19-year follow-up, and if so, which are the strongest mediating factors. At baseline in 1984 muscle fiber-type distribution (by actomyosin ATPase staining) was studied in 63 healthy men (aged 32-58 years). The follow-up in 2003 included echocardiography, measurement of obesity related variables, physical activity and blood pressure. RESULTS: In the 40 men not using cardiovascular drugs at follow-up, low type-I% predicted higher heart rate, blood pressure, and LV fractional shortening suggesting increased sympathetic tone. Low type-I% predicted smaller LV chamber diameters (P < or = 0.009) and greater relative wall thickness (P = 0.034) without increase in LV mass (concentric remodeling). This was explained by the association of type-I% with obesity related variables. Type-I% was an independent predictor of follow-up body fat percentage, waist/hip ratio, weight gain in adulthood, and physical activity (in all P < or = 0.001). After including these risk factors in the regression models, weight gain was the strongest predictor of LV geometry explaining 64% of the variation in LV end-diastolic diameter, 72% in end-systolic diameter, and 53% in relative wall thickness. CONCLUSION: Low type-I% predicts obesity and weight gain especially in the mid-abdomen, and consequently unfavourable LV geometry indicating increased cardiovascular risk.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Leisure time physical activity is associated with poor glycemic control in type 1 diabetic women: the FinnDiane study.

OBJECTIVE: We studied the association between leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and glycemic control, insulin dose, and estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR) in type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of 1,030 type 1 diabetic patients participating in the Finnish Diabetic Nephropathy Study, a nationwide multicenter study. LTPA was assessed by a validated 12-month questionnaire and expressed in metabolic equivalent (MET) units. Patients were grouped as sedentary (LTPA <10 MET h/week, n = 247), moderately active (LTPA 10-40 MET h/week, n = 568), and active (LTPA >40 MET h/week, n = 215). Outcome measures were HbA(1c), insulin dose, and eGDR (estimate of insulin sensitivity based on waist-to-hip ratio, hypertension, and HbA(1c)). RESULTS: LTPA correlated with HbA(1c) in women (r = -0.12, P = 0.007) but not in men (r = -0.03, P = 0.592). Sedentary women had higher HbA(1c) than moderately active and active women: 8.8 +/- 1.4% vs. 8.3 +/- 1.4% vs. 8.3 +/- 1.4% (P = 0.004), whereas HbA(1c) in men was 8.4 +/- 1.3% vs. 8.2 +/- 1.4% vs. 8.2 +/- 1.3% (P = 0.774), respectively. In men, insulin doses were 0.74 +/- 0.21 vs. 0.71 +/- 0.20 vs. 0.68 +/- 0.23 IU . kg(-1) . 24 h(-1) (P = 0.003). In both sexes, sedentary patients had lower eGDRs than active patients [median (interquartile range) 5.5 (4.0-8.2) vs. 6.8 (4.7-8.8) vs. 6.7 (4.6-8.6) mg . kg(-1) . min(-1); P < 0.01 for sedentary vs. others]. Age, obesity, smoking, insulin dose, social class, diabetic nephropathy, or cardiovascular disease did not explain the results. CONCLUSIONS: Low levels of LTPA were associated with poor glycemic control in type 1 diabetic women. Men seem to use less insulin when physically active. Increased LTPA levels were associated with increased estimated insulin sensitivity. Longitudinal studies are needed to further clarify the effects of LTPA on type 1 diabetes.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Occurrence of chronic disease in former top-level athletes. Predominance of benefits, risks or selection effects?

Former elite athletes from most sports disciplines have lower overall morbidity risk and enjoy better self-rated health in later years compared with the general population and matched controls who were healthy at young age. This is seen particularly among former endurance athletes who have a lower incidence of coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Most often data are available only for men. Based on the available data, participation in elite sports cannot be regarded as an overall health hazard. However, aside from a high risk of acute injury in specific sports, possible negative effects of long-standing athletic activity on the development of osteoarthritis should not be neglected. It should also be remembered that elite athletes are a biologically and genetically select group who are not representative of the population at large. Given the nature of the available data, the possible health consequences of recent changes in different characteristics of sports, such as training practices, professionalism and use of doping, cannot be properly predicted.

Aged↗