THE HEALTHY SEVENTH-DAY-ADVENTIST LIFE-STYLE - WHAT IS THE NORWEGIAN EXPERIENCE

The health effect of being a Seventh-day Adventist was studied by comp uter-linking the official church rosters with National Health Registri es. Birth weight in children born by Seventh-day Adventist mothers was 99 g higher (P < 0.001) than that of matched control subjects. Total cholesterol was 0.86 mmol/L lower in the Seventh-day Adventist men (P < 0.001) and 0.48 mmol/L lower in women (P < 0.001). Cancer incidence was not significantly lower in Seventh-day Adventists [standardized in cidence ratio (SIR) in men, 91; women, 97]. Total mortality was signif icantly lower only in Seventh-day Adventist men [standardized mortalit y ratio (SMR), 82; P < 0.001], especially cardiovascular mortality. En tering the church at an early age had a large effect on later mortalit y. The study supports previous findings in Seventh-day Adventists, wit h the exception of cancer incidence and mortality. An early establishm ent of a healthy lifestyle seems to be of decisive importance in the r isk of later disease.