Diet as primordial prevention in Seventh-Day Adventists

Epidemiologic studies of Seventh-Day Adventists have clearly shown that die tary habits are associated with risk of coronary heart disease (CBD) and ot her chronic diseases. However, a few surprising results emerge. Meat consum ption is clearly hazardous for Adventist men by raising CHD mortality, Howe ver, no such effect was seen in women. Possible reasons are discussed, Our data and that of others, strongly sup port the role of a fatty food, specif ically nuts, as protective for CHD, The possible implications of this resul t for fat intake as a risk factor for CHD are discussed In particular, it m ay be that consumption of modest quantities of certain fats is beneficial, rather than hazardous, The lower risk of CHD in Adventists probably has a c omplicated explanation and certainly cannot he entirely explained by their nonsmoking status or a superior serum lipid profile. Adventists are unique an that the majority of this group have adopted a dietary habit that is eit her vegetarian or tending in this direction. The power of incorporating hea lth into a system of religious belief is discussed. Possibly others can als o implement such a model to their advantage, (C) 1999 American Health Found ation and Academic Press.