About the study

What is Adventist Health Study-2?
Who is conducting the study?
Study Schedule
Who can participate?
How do you enroll in AHS-2?
What does the study involve?
Questions to be answered
The significance of AHS-2
The uniqueness of Adventists
The benefits to the church
Further information contact

• Adventists, due in part to their unique dietary habits, have a lower risk than other Americans of heart disease, several cancers, and probably high blood pressure, arthritis, and diabetes. This, along with their wide variety of dietary habits, provides a special opportunity for careful research to answer a host of scientific questions about how diet (and other health habits) may change the risk of suffering from many chronic diseases.
  
• Two previous studies on Adventist health involving 24,000 and 34,000 Californian Adventists have been directed from Loma Linda University over the last 40 years. These have been among the first to raise scientific awareness of the close relationship between diet and health. This groundbreaking work has brought visibility and accolades to the lifestyle recommended by Seventh-day Adventists from both the scientific and lay communities. (See the prime-time media coverage on these studies.)
  
• We now know that even larger studies are necessary to answer many of the most pertinent questions.
  
• Adventist Health Study-2 is a new and bigger study that will include more than 100,000 Adventists from the U.S. and Canada.

• Dr. Gary Fraser with a team of researchers from the School of Public Health, Loma Linda University is conducting the study.
  
• Oakwood College, Huntsville, Alabama is recognized as an important partner in the study and is particularly involved in the recruitment of black participants and the dissemination of information.
  
• The North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists and Union and Local Conference administrations enthusiastically support and endorse the study.
  
• Adventist churches in the U.S. and Canada are actively involved in promotion and recruitment of subjects and are recognized as indispensable partners in this project.
  
• The study is funded by the National Institutes of Health for an initial period from 2001 to 2006.

Study schedule

• Of this group it is expected that 45,000 will be of African descent and 80,000 others. There is no upper age limit.
  
• All Adventists in the age range are urged to enroll. All are needed.
  
• We need all kinds of Adventists - healthy or not, vegetarian or not, active or not, regular church attendees or not. The strength of the study is in the diversity of the diet and lifestyle of Adventists.
  
• Participants are required to read and understand English to answer the questionnaire.
  
• Church members will be enrolled during the five-year period from 2002 to 2006.

1. Fill out and mail an enrollment form that is either inserted in some issues of Adventist Review and Union magazines or distributed in Adventist churches.
   

    
2. Call toll-free: 1 (877) 700-7077.
3. Use our online enrollment form.
4. Email ahs2extra@llu.edu (include full name, address, phone number, and church).

What does the study involve?

1. All those who enroll will be sent a confidential questionnaire to complete. The questionnaire, with instructions, will be mailed directly to the member's address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.
   
   • This questionnaire contains questions about medical history, diet, and exercise, etc., and, for women only, questions about reproductive history.
     
   • Members are encouraged to complete the questionnaire as soon as possible (ideally within three weeks) and return mail it in the postage-paid envelope that is provided.
     
   • The questionnaire will take an average of two hours to complete. Most people find it easier to complete it in 2 or 3 sittings. All questions are important and the information provided is kept in the strictest confidence. Strict protocols are in place to completely protect the privacy of all personal data. (See privacy policy.)
   
   
2. All those returning the questionnaire will receive:
   
   • A small gift as a token of their participation.
     
   • An annual newsletter with the latest reports about the study (See previous Newsletters.)
     
3. Every two years there will be a brief follow-up questionnaire that will ask questions about hospital admissions and the diagnosis of any cancer or heart disease.
   
4. We expect the study will continue for at least 10 years as we will apply to NIH for an additional 5 years of funding from 2006.

• What specific foods enhance quality of life?
  
• Do soy products really help prevent breast and prostate cancer?
  
• What foods help prevent cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's, and arthritis?
  
• Heredity or lifestyle--which is more important?
  
• Does faith contribute to a healthier life? ...And many more questions.

• One of the best, largest, and most exciting health studies of its kind ever designed.
  
• If the study is done right it will have national importance and international significance. Remember, if major media coverage was given to the first two studies involving just 24,000 and 34,000 Adventists in California, imagine the impact of more than 100,000 Adventist from the U.S. and Canada.
  
• One of the largest health studies ever of Blacks/African Americans.
  
• It will help answer why Blacks/African Americans have a disproportionate amount of cancers and heart disease.
  
• There are still many unanswered questions about the causes and prevention of cancer (particularly prostate and breast cancer) and heart disease.
  
• It is estimated that 40 percent of cancers could be prevented by a proper diet.
  
• It will increase the understanding of the benefits of healthy eating.
  
• It will answer questions on the role of soy in the diet.

• Have a special interest in health.
  
• Have a variety of diets--from strict vegan and lacto-ovo vegetarians to occasional meat eaters and those who eat the same as most of the population. The strength of this study lies in the diversity of diets represented in the Adventist population.
  
• Are highly motivated to participate in health research.
  
• Are willing to complete detailed questionnaires.
  
• Are compliant with follow-up in long-term studies.
  
• Have a sense of mission and interest in sharing the health message with their communities.
  
• Are similar in certain lifestyle behaviors (e.g. non-smoking) and hence reduce the likelihood of confounding that would be present in other study groups.

• The personal advantage of increased information and awareness of one's own health.
  
• Numerous national, regional, and local media opportunities as witnessed by the National Geographic article and the significant amount of media attention it generated in the mainstream news media.
  
• Revitalization and a positive refocus on the health message.
  
• Opportunity to contact and involve inactive members.
  
• A national project that will create a sense of identity, unity, and solidarity for the church.
  
• For participants and study volunteers, a sense of achievement in belonging to a unique group that is on the cutting edge of health research and making a contribution to national wellness and improving community and world wide health.
  
• Opportunities for mission and outreach to local communities.
  
• Corporate benefits for the North American Division, Adventist health, and institutions (particularly Loma Linda University and Oakwood College)--enhance reputation and increase funding and research opportunities.
  
• Adventists will have pride in the church and its health outreach, and the church can reestablish itself as a leader in health.

Further information contact:

Adventist Health Study-2
Evans Hall Room 203
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda CA 92350

(909) 558 4868
Toll-free (800) 247-1699

Email: ahs2@llu.edu

Web site: www.adventisthealthstudy.org

• Adventist Health Study home
• About the study
• Enrollment form
• Common questions
• Enrollment Statistics
• News and Events
• Resources
• The Research Team
• Contact us
• Previous studies
• Selected references
• Bibliography
• Back

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