About the study

What is Adventist Health Study-2?
Who is conducting the study?
Study Schedule 
Questions to be answered
The significance of AHS-2
The uniqueness of Adventists
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.)
  

Who is conducting the study?

• 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 was 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 were actively involved in promotion of the study and the recruitment of participants and are recognized as indispensable partners in this project.
• The study received funding from the National Institutes of Health for period from 2001 to 2008.

Study schedule

• 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.
  
• AHS-2 will have national importance and international significance. 
  
• It is 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.