Maria Westerståhl
- Department of Laboratory Medicine
- Division of Clinical Physiology at Labmed
About me
- I am a senior lecturer at the Karolinska institutet (KI) and have a BSc in
nutrition and a associate professorship in Physiology. I teach physiology at
several courses and programs at the KI. In my research I focus on the
change in physical capacity during life.
Elected member of the KI Pedagogical Academy 2011
Master in Nutrition
Associate professor in physiology
Research
My research focuses on health effects of lifestyle. I am responsible for a longitudinal study
examining the life changes in and predictors of physical fitness and physical
activity from adolescence to middle
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In our research we use methods for assessing physical capacity (e.g
submaximal oxygen uptake, maximal strength), physical activity (e.g
questionnaires and accelerometers), body composition (e.g. skinfold, BIA, MR, ultrasound),
lifestyle habits (questionnaires) and function of the cardiovascular system
(e.g. ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, arterial stiffness, ultrasound). We also examine muscle tissue for structural and functional changes with age, using for example ENeG, motor unit number estmation, immunohistochemistry and enzymatic staining.I have
supervise PhD-students in their projects concerning cardiovascular risk in
obese children and in early prevention of obesity.
Teaching
- I use various pedagogical methods in my teaching and I have developed
learning activities for both distance- and campus-based education. I teach
students at the nursing-, occupational therapy-, physiotherapy-,
nutritionist-, and bio̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ scientist programs at KI. I am a teacher,
course leader and examiner for various courses in e.g. anatomy and
physiology, nutrition, nutritional assessment, obesity prevention and
treatment and teach both at campus- and web based courses. I have designed
courses in nutrition and physiology by defining the curriculum, creating the
learning activities and the examinations. I examine and/or supervise students
at the undergraduate, master and doctoral level.
Articles
- Article: JOURNAL OF LIPID RESEARCH. 2021;62:100065Pedrelli M; Parini P; Kindberg J; Arnemo JM; Bjorkhem I; Aasa U; Westerstahl M; Walentinsson A; Pavanello C; Turri M; Calabresi L; Oorni K; Camejo G; Frobert O; Hurt-Camejo E
- Article: ACTA PAEDIATRICA. 2020;109(8):1665-1671Johansson L; Brissman M; Morinder G; Westerstahl M; Marcus C
- Journal article: TRANSLATIONAL SPORTS MEDICINE. 2020;3(1):55-62Lundell S; Mian L; Aasa U; Westerstahl M
- Article: SAGE OPEN MEDICINE. 2019;7:2050312119880734Sjowall D; Thorell LB; Mandic M; Westerstahl M
- Article: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 2018;8(1):14767Westerstahl M; Jansson E; Barnekow-Bergkvist M; Aasa U
- Article: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS. 2017;27(4):418-429Aasa U; Lundell S; Barnekow-Bergkvist M; Jansson E; Westerstahl M
- Article: JOURNAL OF PAIN RESEARCH. 2016;9:303-310Borg JH; Westerstahl M; Lundell S; Madison G; Aasa U
- Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NUTRITION. 2016;55(2):781-792Svensson V; Sobko T; Ek A; Forssen M; Ekbom K; Johansson E; Nowicka P; Westerstahl M; Riserus U; Marcus C
- Article: SPINE. 2015;40(24):1926-1933Aasa U; Lundell S; Aasa B; Westerstahl M
- Article: ACTA PAEDIATRICA. 2014;103(4):411-417Kallerman PH; Hagman E; Bonamy A-KE; Zemack H; Marcus C; Norman M; Westerstahl M
- Article: ACTA PAEDIATRICA. 2014;103(2):225-230Westerstahl M; Kallerman PH; Hagman E; Ek AE; Rossner SM; Marcus C
- Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBESITY. 2010;34(3):472-477Westerstahl M; Marcus C
- Article: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS. 2005;15(5):287-297Westerståhl M; Barnekow-Bergkvist M; Jansson E
- Article: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS. 2003;13(2):128-137Westerstahl M; Barnekow-Bergkvist M; Hedberg G; Jansson E
- Article: ACTA PAEDIATRICA. 2003;92(5):602-609Westerståhl M; Barnekow-Bergkvist M; Hedberg G; Jansson E
All other publications
- Conference publication: ATHEROSCLEROSIS. 2020;315:E69-E70Pedrelli M; Parini P; Kindberg J; Arnemo JM; Bjorkhem I; Aasa U; Westerstahl M; Walentinsson A; Oorni K; Camejo G; Frobert O; Hurt-Camejo E
- Letter: ARCHIVES OF DISEASE IN CHILDHOOD. 2018;103(1):113-114Westerstahl M; Forss M; Persson L; Bouma K; Gustavsson T; Wuehl E; Krmar RT
- Conference publication: MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS & EXERCISE. 2016;48(5):16Norman B; Westerstahl M; Glenmark B; Jansson E
- Conference publication: DIABETES OBESITY & METABOLISM. 2010;12:58Westerstahl M; Hedvall P; Roessner SM; Marcus C
- Conference publication: DIABETES OBESITY & METABOLISM. 2010;12:50Hedvall P; Norman M; Marcus C; Westerstahl M
- Doctoral thesis: 2003Westerståhl M
Grants
- A longitudinal approach to characterize loss of muscle mass and function in aging humansSwedish Research Council for Sport Science1 January 2024 - 31 December 2023
- longitudinal approach to characterize loss of muscle mass and function in aging humans – the importance of peripheral nerve integrity- part 2Swedish Research Council1 January 2024 - 31 December 2023
- Swedish Research Council1 January 2024 - 31 December 2026The increasing number of older people being disabled by aging threatens the sustainability of the health systems. Thus, there is an urgent need to counteract aging-induced disabling conditions as muscle wasting. The proposed project is based on longitudinal observations across the lifespan of adults in a cohort born in 1956/58 (SPAF-1958). This cohort has been followed from age 16 to 63 years using objective measures of physical performance, physical activity, and lifestyle variables at four time points, available and skeletal muscle biopsies (at 27 and 63 years) and blood samples (at ages 52 and 63 years). The SPAF-1958 cohort provides a unique opportunity to detect longitudinal changes, i.e., individual trajectories, thus elucidating the preclinical and clinical course of sarcopenia and revealing underlying factors at the individual level. In the proposed study, measurements will be repeated at age 67 years since it is reasonable to shorten the intervals between follow-ups as the effects of aging increase with time. A unique feature of the current study as individuals enter early-aging, is the combination of analyses of neurogenic components. This includes examination of motor and sensory nerve conduction, number of motor units combined with measurements of muscle mass and quality by MRI and muscle tissue morphology and gene expression from biopsies. The current study may also add information about biological aging biomarkers in blood and individual genetic makeup.
- A longitudinal approach to characterize loss of muscle mass and function in aging humansSwedish Research Council for Sport Science1 January 2023 - 31 December 2023
- Varför tappar individer olika mängd muskelmassa under åldrandet? En studie som kan leda till ökad självständighet och delaktighet i vardagenStiftelsen Ragnhild och Einar Lundströms minne1 January 2022 - 31 December 2022
- Swedish Research Council1 January 2021 - 31 December 2023
- Varför tappar individer olika mängd muskelmassa under åldrandet? En studie som kan leda till ökad självständighet och delaktighet i vardagenStiftelsen Tornspiran31 March 2020 - 31 December 2022
- Resebidrag: 17th European Congress on Obesity | May 6-9 2009, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsSwedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare1 April 2009 - 31 May 2009
Employments
- Senior Lecturer, Department of Laboratory Medicine, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 2011-
Degrees and Education
- Docent, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 2020
- Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Laboratory Medicine, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 2003