Adventist Health Study-2
Part two of a landmark study on diet and health

Interpretations of scripture, and sometimes the emergence of what some call "new light," are often at the heart of movements leading to the formation of new church denominations. In many ways the growth and development of early Adventism was no different. The central doctrines of Christ's imminent second coming, and reverence for the seventh-day Sabbath as a weekly observance of God's creative power, emerged so strongly as to find their expression in the very name of the new denomination. But from the very beginning, there was another emphasis.

Drawing from the biblical admonition to regard the body as a "temple," that is, a sacred place where worship could, quite literally, be internalized, the new church was health-focused. Early Adventists were energetic in evangelism and raising up new church congregations, but unlike their Protestant counterparts were also preaching a "health message," as the new Adventists called it.

At the outset, abstinence from alcohol and tobacco, and the importance of water and fresh air were vigorously promoted by the emerging denomination. Later, new ideas about treatment of disease and medical practice influenced the formation of a variety of what were then considered quite revolutionary health-care institutions.

At its height, the Adventist "health reform" movement led to the establishment of Battle Creek Sanitarium in Battle Creek, Michigan, and the international prominence of Dr. John Harvey Kellogg's ideas about how to become, and stay, healthy. At that time, the role of nutrition in the development of a physically and spiritually "fit" individual fostered the beginnings of the American cereal industry and the morning eating habits of millions.

Decades later, the Adventist Church still promotes a lifestyle that excludes alcohol, use of tobacco in any form, and caffeine. The Church advises its members to exercise regularly, eat a plant-based diet, and to seek the best that modern medicine has to offer both preventively and for treatment of illness. Although some Adventists' lifestyles may differ from the Church's "ideal," there is sufficient distinction to make this an attractive population for health and nutrition research. In fact, studies began as early as 1958 with the Adventist Mortality Study showing lower death rates, compared to the non-SDA population, for cancer, heart disease and stroke.

A subsequent study (1974) indicated an association between diet and cancer. In that study, Adventist subjects had fewer cancers of the lungs, stomach, pancreas, colon, and bladder than what occurred in the general population.

In that same study, the risk for heart disease was related to the consumption of whole wheat bread and beef. Those who regularly ate whole wheat bread had a 41% lower risk for nonfatal heart disease and an 11% lower relative risk for fatal heart disease compared to those who ate mainly white bread. Consumption of beef carried a risk nearly two times greater among men who ate beef up to three times per week compared to those who never ate beef. Similar food preferences also showed an increased heart disease risk for young and middle aged women.

Recent analyses of the Adventist Health Study also show that consumption of nuts reduces the risk of both fatal and nonfatal coronary heart disease, and may well be one of the most important findings of the decades-long study.

The School of Public Health has recently begun yet another phase of the Adventist Health Study, known as Adventist Health Study-2. This new research project is led by Principal Investigator Gary Fraser, MD, PhD, and a team of research colleagues in the School. It seeks to include 125,000 Adventist subjects from across the nation. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the first phase of the new study will continue through 2006 and includes 45,000 Black/African American Adventists and 80,000 others. Although initially funded for five years, the project is expected to continue for at least 10 years, and will be one of the most in-depth and comprehensive studies of its kind.

Questions to be addressed in the Adventist Health Study-2 will help to answer some of the most perplexing and crucially-important questions regarding the correlation between diet and health:

• What specific foods enhance the quality of life?
• What foods help prevent cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's, and arthritis?
• Do soy products really help prevent breast and prostate cancer?
• Heredity or lifestyle--which is more important?
• Does faith contribute to a healthier life?
• Why do Blacks/African Americans have a disproportionate amount of cancers and heart disease?

These and many other issues concerned with the relationship between nutrition and health will be among the $11 million study's primary areas of interest.

According to Dr. Fraser, the National Institutes of Health continues to be interested in studies of the nutritional practices of Adventists for a number of reasons. Adventists' historical interest in healthy lifestyles provides a good foundation, but their sense of mission--still highly motivated by the vision of Church's founders--is a key affirming factor. Also, he says, the fact that few Adventists are smokers yields a group that excludes a factor that could confound the results.

Over many years, researchers have also noted the willingness of Adventists to comply with the requirements of long term follow-up, and to respond to detailed questionnaires that demand considerable time and effort to complete.

Seventh-day Adventist readers are encouraged participate in Adventist Health Study-2. To enroll, call 1-877-700-7077, or visit the study web site at www.llu.edu/llu/health/index.html.

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