Seventh-day Adventist Health

"Adventist Mortality Study"
This study began in 1960.
California Adventist vs California Controls
Men lived 6 years longer
Women lived 4 years longer


"Adventist Health Study"
This study began in 1976.
Men lived 7 years longer
Women lived 4.5 years longer

Largest benefit to Vegetarians SDAs is in the men from 45 to 60 who have ½ the rate of Fatal Myocardial infarctions as Non vegetarian SDAs.

Adventist are the longest lived population studied population surpassing the Japanese.

Quality of Life.

"There is worse thing than dying."
Fewer Hospital days, surgical procedures, X-rays, Medications among vegetarian Adventist.
Post pone disability.

Adventist are 35% vegetarian and 3% Vegan.

A 30 yr. old SDA man can on average expect 51 more years - 81

A 30 yr. old non SDA man can expect on average 44 more years - 74

Males Alive at 65 years

Males Alive at 85 years

Females Alive at 85 years

Non SDAs

72%

20%

39%

All SDAs

86.7%

41%

54%

Vegetarian SDAs

89.2%

48%

60%

 

Male to Female Rations

Californian women live 5.7 years longer than Californian Men
Californian SDA women live 2 years longer than Californian SDA Men

Californian Adventists

Californians

60 years old

50%

48%

80 years old

47%

39%

90 years old

40%

32%

More Adventist older couples

Adventist Vegetarian live on average 2+ years longer than Non Adventist Vegetarians - Why?
Is it the lack of meat or other life practices

Adventist vegetarians, exercise more, thinner, lower Bp, eat more nuts, eat more beans, less likely to drink alcohol, and drink less coffee than non vegetarian Adventist.

What are the Choices that make the difference.

Life Style Factor

Years gained on average

Vegetarian Diet

1 ½

Exercise (Vigorous 3+ time a week)

2.27

Nuts consumption (not peanuts) 4 to 5 x wk

2.26

Not overweight

1.8

Non smoker

1.6

Post menopausal hormone use ( females only)

1.06

Total

10.5

 

Comments

1. Some Adventist do smoke, but most are trying to stop, therefore smoke is more of a risk factor in the general population than the table makes it appear.

2. The table is for both men and women combined. The life style factors (as we have seen prior) benefit men relatively more than women. Men do not take estrogen but even without the hormone factor the above life style factors would add 11 year to a Adventist mans life.

3.Only 5% of Californian Adventist follow all of the above.

4. 50% follow ½ of the above and this is the reason Adventist men only live 7.3 years longer than non Adventist. And Adventist women live only 4.5 years longer. It could be 10 to 12 years longer.

5. 97.5% of Adventist men losing 1 year or more

6. 95% of Adventist Women losing 1 year or more

7. The average Californian Adventist is losing 4 year of life by not following the above life style factors.

Choices make a big difference.

54% of Adventist Vegetarians are alive at 85years old compared to 30% of non Adventist.

What does the Adventist Vegetarian than die of - Heart disease, Strokes, Cancer etc. Just 6 to 7 year later then the general population. (They have slightly more pneumonia and flu listed as the cause of death because they are an older population).

Vegans vs. Lacto-ovo Vegetarians

LDL Cholesterol is lower in Vegans
Weight is lower in Vegans
Blood pressure is lower in Vegans

Only 3% are Vegans and the numbers are not enough in study to show any mortality improvement.

Other factors studied

1. Hold Church office - decreased mortality

2. Church attendance - mild decreased mortality

3. Prayer meeting - no advantage