Adventist Health Study-2: Early Findings

Participants: 96,000 Adventists living in the U.S. and Canada

Questionnaires

Every participant filled out a 50-page diet and lifestyle questionnaire. Every two years after that, participants fill out hospital history forms and list any hospitalizations and diagnoses of cancers, stroke, heart attack and diabetes during the previous two years.

Profile of Study Members

From 2001 and 2007, we enrolled as participants 96,000 Adventists, ages 30 to 112, from all 50 U.S. states and Canada. Additional profile data:

  • 64% were members of the Adventist church by the age of 15 years.
  • 65.1% are female, with a mean age of 60.2 at enrollment.
  • 65.3% are white (non-Hispanic) 26.9% are Black/African American.
  • 1.1% report being current smokers.
  • 6.6% report current alcohol use.

Dietary Status of Study Members

  • 8% are vegan (no red meat, fish, poultry, dairy or eggs).
  • 28% are lacto-ovo vegetarian (consume milk and/or eggs, but no red meat, fish or poultry).
  • 10% are pesco-vegetarian (eat fish, milk and eggs but no red meat or poultry).
  • 6% are semi-vegetarian (eat red meat, poultry and fish less than once per week).
  • 48% are non-vegetarian (eat red meat, poultry, fish, milk and eggs more than once a week).

Below are links to summaries of relevant findings so far from Adventist Health Study-2.

Additional Findings