Adventist Health Study- The vegan argument
Adventist Health Study showed that Seventh-day Adventists do have a measurable lower risk than other Americans for most of the Western diseases.
Milos Pokimica
Written By: Milos Pokimica
Medically Reviewed by: Dr. Xiùying Wáng, M.D.
Updated June 9, 2023In rural China or other places that are still poor they do not suffer from modern diseases, but also they do not give most of their income on good services of modern medicine. Even in religious groups that have a rigid lifestyle the situation is similar. A good example is a line of studies known as the Adventist Health Study.
Adventist Health Studies (AHS) is a group of long-term studies done by Loma Linda University. They do these studies to see if there is any link between lifestyle and mortality and diseases of Seventh-day Adventists. By a lifestyle they usually mean a plant-based diet with no cigarette smoking because of all lifestyle factors diet is the most influential one to the overall health. In the most recent study that is still being conducted, AHS-2, around 100,000 church members are enrolled from both the US and Canada.
For more than 100 years the Seventh-day Adventist Church had been promoting health behaviors that had become a regular part of daily living. These include not smoking, eating a plant-based diet, regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy body weight. Seventh-day Adventists do have a measurably lower risk than other Americans for most Western diseases. The connection is based on, as is in all other rural parts of undeveloped countries of the world, dietary habits. Also, some part is exercise. Over the past 40 years, two Adventist health studies have been conducted involving 22,940 and 34,000 Californian Adventists.
The first significant study of Adventists started in 1958 and became known as the Adventist Mortality Study. It involved an intensive 5-year follow-up with a more informal 25-year follow-up. By comparing all causes of death Adventist men had a mortality rate of 66% and Adventist women had a rate of 88%. The overall mortality of cancer compared to their counterparts in the American Cancer Society was 60% for Adventist men and 76% for Adventist women. America is 100% baseline, so 60% means 40% lower rates. Lung cancer was 21 percent, meaning 80% lower rates, colorectal cancer deaths were 62 percent. Breast cancer death rates for Adventist women were 85 percent; prostate cancer death rates for Adventist men were 92 percent. Death due to coronary disease among Adventist men was 66%; for Adventist women, it was 98%. The stroke death rates for Adventist men were 72%; for Adventist women 82%. We have to understand that the study was done back in the 60s.
Why is this important? Because they eat a plant-based diet for religious reasons not necessarily for scientific reasons. They eat a diet that is vegan but not necessarily optimized. Sugar is vegan, and so is oil, salt and chips, and a bunch of other junk. Eating a plant-based diet essentially means little if we don’t know precisely why we eat or do not eat something. Vegans who go into this kind of lifestyle for moral reasons may end up in worse health conditions than before they consumed a standard Western meat-dominated diet if they do not know precisely what they are doing. Adventist diet is not fully optimized and actually, they do eat “clean” fish and meat like beef, chicken, or salmon. They do eat eggs. They like “clean” low-fat dairy. What they avoid are “unclean” meats like pork, shellfish, and rabbit, and high-fat dairies like ice cream, sour cream, and butter. They would avoid unclean and toxic substances like alcohol, caffeine, and smoking.
In scientific research, the most inflammatory meat besides processed meats is actually fish followed by chicken. It is not pork or red meat. Probably because of the pollution in fish tanks and fish meal is then also used as feed to the chickens as well. Game meat did prove in research to be someone less inflammatory. In more realistic scenarios on day to day basis, it doesn’t matter how your meat was raised or produced. If it is organic it would have less persistent pollutants accumulated in tissue because animal feed is also sprayed. If you want to feel good and want to have a cow that lived a happy life for psychological reasons then that is some other topic. We have to understand that meat is essentially meat, some worse than others, some terrible but it is not red meat, and process meat is bad, fish good. For example, if you eat regular store beef there would be around 40% more postprandial (post-fed) inflammatory response than for the same amount of kangaroo meat which is one of the “cleanest” meats out there (Arya et al., 2010).
All animal products are pro-inflammatory because there are no antioxidants in them. All of the meat has cholesterol, saturated fat, dead bacteria that will cause endotoxemia, environmental pollutants and toxins, mutagens, and hormones. Also, bacteria that feed on meat in our gut are not probiotic like bacteria that feed on fiber, and that just by itself is pro-inflammatory.
Adventist diet is eaten for religious reasons and not health reasons. They would eat much more calorie-dense foods like vegetables and fruits than the rest of the population, but still, not all vegetables are made equal. This is not a scientifically based and nutritionally optimized diet.
The reason why scientists want to research this type of diet particularly is that in nutrition and health and medicine researchers believe that this type of diet is more realistic as a goal for the average individual. There is a belief that even if the government goes against the corporative interest and was true to advise the most nutrient-dense, antioxidant and phytochemically rich, mineral and vitamin-rich no cholesterol, no fat and no animal products, whole food plant-based diet, a normal phycological response from the average individual would be to ignore it. Just a goal of alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine avoidance is almost completely unrealistic for most of the population. This study was conducted to see what a more realistic approach would have on a large scale population mortality rate. Most people in real life do not have an adequate level of education in the field of nutrition.
Adventists as a group are more educated than the rest of the Californians, and they did have to calculate that into the study as well. The more education we have the greater the chance is that we will go more to healthier food choices independently from any other factor. Leonardo da Vinci, for example, had eaten an ovo-lacto-vegetarian diet just by his conviction in human anatomy. He cut corpses for science.
In the end, mortality rates can be much better, and this study was done back in the 60s. The situation is worse today for the average American with skyrocketing obesity, diabetes, and so on. The current study Adventist Health Study 2 (AHS-2) which began in 2002 also had some sub-studies later. For example, (Orlich et al., 2013) and (Tonstad et al., 2013). They concluded that: “Vegetarian diets are associated with lower all-cause mortality and with some reductions in cause-specific mortality.”
The more plan based we go, the more all-cause and cause-specific mortality drops and not just that. We might live ten years longer or 15, it does not matter. What matter is that we would avoid most of the diseases of affluence which include osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and most of the other cancers, acne, gout, depression, and diseases related to vitamin and mineral deficiencies too many to count and all the prescription drugs side effects.
Summary:
Study of Adventist Mortality, 1958-1966 involved 23,000 California Adventists over the age of 25. Conducted at the same time as the American Cancer Society study of non-Adventists. Many causes of death were compared between the two populations. Results:
- Vegetarian Adventists had a significantly lower risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) than non-vegetarian Adventists.
- Consumption of green salads had a significant positive association with all-cause mortality and a significant negative association with egg intake.
- Compared to other Californians, Adventists had lower rates of death for the following cancers: all cancers (60% [of non-Adventist rates] for Adventist men, 75% for Adventist women); lung cancer (21%); colorectal cancer (62%); breast cancer (85%); and CHD (66% for Adventist men, 98% for Adventist women).
Adventist Health Study-1: 1974-1988 involved 34,192 California Adventists over the age of 25. Results:
- Vegetarians had a lower risk of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and all-cause mortality.
- Beef consumption was significantly related to the risk of fatal heart disease in men.
- Consuming nuts and whole grains on a regular basis was linked to a lower risk of CHD.
- Non-vegetarian Adventists had an 88% higher risk of colon cancer than vegetarian Adventists. Consumption of legumes (beans) reduced the risk of colon cancer.
- Adventist men live 7.3 years longer on average, and Adventist women live 4.4 years longer than the rest of California.
- Men who ate a lot of tomatoes had a 40% lower risk of prostate cancer.
Adventist Health Study-2: 2002-Present, involved 96,000 U.S. and Canadian Adventists over the age of 30. Results:
- Data show a progressive weight gain from a total vegetarian diet to a non-vegetarian diet.
- Vegans, for example, weigh approximately 30 pounds less than non-vegetarians of comparable height.
- Cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, and metabolic syndrome all followed the same pattern: the closer you were to become a vegetarian, the lower your risk in these areas. This is true for both Black and non-Black participants.
- Consuming a lot of cooked green vegetables, brown rice, legumes, and dried fruit has been linked to a lower risk of colon polyps, which is a precursor to colon cancer.
- A vegetarian diet was not linked to lower vitamin D levels. Other factors, such as the amount and intensity of sunlight exposure, had a greater impact on vitamin D levels.
References:
Find out more about Adventist Health Studies and Loma Linda University at adventisthealthstudy.org
- Orlich, M. J., & Fraser, G. E. (2014). Vegetarian diets in the Adventist Health Study 2: a review of initial published findings. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 100 Suppl 1(1), 353S–8S. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.113.071233
- Le, L. T., & Sabaté, J. (2014). Beyond meatless, the health effects of vegan diets: findings from the Adventist cohorts. Nutrients, 6(6), 2131–2147. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu6062131
- Orlich, M. J., Singh, P. N., Sabaté, J., Jaceldo-Siegl, K., Fan, J., Knutsen, S., Beeson, W. L., & Fraser, G. E. (2013). Vegetarian dietary patterns and mortality in Adventist Health Study 2. JAMA internal medicine, 173(13), 1230–1238. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.6473
- Tonstad, S., Stewart, K., Oda, K., Batech, M., Herring, R. P., & Fraser, G. E. (2013). Vegetarian diets and incidence of diabetes in the Adventist Health Study-2. Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD, 23(4), 292–299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2011.07.004
- Arya, F., Egger, S., Colquhoun, D., Sullivan, D., Pal, S., & Egger, G. (2010). Differences in postprandial inflammatory responses to a ‘modern’ v. traditional meat meal: a preliminary study. The British journal of nutrition, 104(5), 724–728. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114510001042
Related Posts
Do you have any questions about nutrition and health?
I would love to hear from you and answer them in my next post. I appreciate your input and opinion and I look forward to hearing from you soon. I also invite you to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for more diet, nutrition, and health content. You can leave a comment there and connect with other health enthusiasts, share your tips and experiences, and get support and encouragement from our team and community.
I hope that this post was informative and enjoyable for you and that you are prepared to apply the insights you learned. If you found this post helpful, please share it with your friends and family who might also benefit from it. You never know who might need some guidance and support on their health journey.
– You Might Also Like –

Learn About Nutrition
Milos Pokimica is a doctor of natural medicine, clinical nutritionist, medical health and nutrition writer, and nutritional science advisor. Author of the book series Go Vegan? Review of Science, he also operates the natural health website GoVeganWay.com
Medical Disclaimer
GoVeganWay.com brings you reviews of the latest nutrition and health-related research. The information provided represents the personal opinion of the author and is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider.NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ ON OR ACCESSED THROUGH GoVeganWay.com
NEVER APPLY ANY LIFESTYLE CHANGES OR ANY CHANGES AT ALL AS A CONSEQUENCE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ IN GoVeganWay.com BEFORE CONSULTING LICENCED MEDICAL PRACTITIONER.
In the event of a medical emergency, call a doctor or 911 immediately. GoVeganWay.com does not recommend or endorse any specific groups, organizations, tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned inside.
Editor Picks –
Milos Pokimica is a doctor of natural medicine, clinical nutritionist, medical health and nutrition writer, and nutritional science advisor. Author of the book series Go Vegan? Review of Science, he also operates the natural health website GoVeganWay.com
Latest Articles –
Plant Based News
-
30-Minute Quinoa Tabouli
on June 4, 2025
-
Aubergine And Lentil Stew
on June 4, 2025
-
‘What I Eat In A Week: A Delicious Guide to Eating More Vegetables’
on June 4, 2025
-
Vegan No Shrimp Curry
on June 4, 2025
-
Plants Make More Nectar When They ‘Hear’ Pollinators Buzzing, Say Scientists
on June 4, 2025
-
Plant-Based Rougaille Dizef (Eggs In Tomato Sauce)
on June 3, 2025
-
How To Make Vegan Bibimbap
on June 3, 2025
Top Health News — ScienceDaily
- Researchers develop innovative model to study sense of smellon June 3, 2025
Using a newly devised, three-dimensional model to study the regeneration of nerve tissue in the nose, researchers have discovered that one type of stem cell thought to be dormant may play a more significant role in preserving the sense of smell than originally believed.
- Decades-old assumptions about brain plasticity upendedon June 3, 2025
A new study challenges a decades-old assumption in neuroscience by showing that the brain uses distinct transmission sites — not a shared site — to achieve different types of plasticity.
- Guardrails, education urged to protect adolescent AI userson June 3, 2025
The effects of artificial intelligence on adolescents are nuanced and complex, according to a new report that calls on developers to prioritize features that protect young people from exploitation, manipulation and the erosion of real-world relationships.
- Eating an array of smaller fish could be nutrient-dense solution to overfishingon June 3, 2025
To satisfy the seafood needs of billions of people, offering them access to a more biodiverse array of fish creates opportunities to mix-and-match species to obtain better nutrition from smaller portions of fish.
- Molecular link between air pollution and pregnancy riskson June 3, 2025
A new study found exposure to specific tiny particles in air pollution during pregnancy are associated with increased risk of various negative birth outcomes.
- Pancreatic cancer spreads to liver or lung thanks to this proteinon June 3, 2025
Scientists have discovered how pancreatic cancer cells thrive in the lungs or liver, environments that are as distinct to cells as the ocean and desert are to animals. The spread of cancer cells to organs like these often produces the very first symptoms of pancreatic cancer. But by that time, the pancreatic cancer has spread out of control.
- Epilepsy is more common in patients with frontotemporal dementia than expectedon June 3, 2025
According to a recent study, in patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), epileptic seizures are significantly more common than previously known. The discovery deepens understanding of the symptoms of this memory disorder and emphasises the importance of taking epileptic seizures into account in the treatment and monitoring of patients.
PubMed, #vegan-diet –
- There’s still no meat: Revisiting the idea of Republican veganson June 3, 2025
Existing academic research has highlighted a connection between dietary habits and political beliefs. An individual’s dietary choices can mean more than just the need or pleasure of eating. Dietary choice can also be tied to a personal identity, in which food consumption reinforces through other beliefs and in-group identities, including partisan affiliation and political ideology. This study analyzes survey data from the Natural Marketing Institute’s (NMI) 2019 Lifestyles of Health and…
- Effects of a cafeteria-based sustainable diet intervention on wellbeing at a large German hospital: a quasi-experimental studyon June 2, 2025
CONCLUSION: This worksite cafeteria-based diet intervention yielded nominal improvements in mental and physical wellbeing among customers; this could be mediated by increased adherence to the PHD. These trends warrant verification in larger-sized intervention studies with more intense intervention dosages. Our findings underline the importance of sustainable food environments for planetary health. The protocol was registered at the German-Clinical-Trial-Register on 22/04/2024 (DRKS00032620).
- Perceived motivators and barriers to consuming a plant-based diet: a qualitative research studyon June 2, 2025
CONCLUSIONS: Findings can inform strategies for promoting plant-based diets by supporting individuals to overcome social challenges, providing nutrition-related information and education, and improving access to affordable, high-quality plant-based products and meat alternatives.
- Using the theory of planned behaviour to understand the adoption of vegetarianism among females in Saudi Arabiaon May 29, 2025
CONCLUSION: TPB constructs (attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control) and socioeconomic status influence the intention to adopt a vegetarian diet, although awareness of dietary guidelines and body mass index do not.
- Lights and Shadows of a Vegetarian Diet in Patients with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Diseaseon May 28, 2025
The prevalence and socioeconomic impact of Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is increasing. Despite the recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Resmetirom as the first drug for patients with Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and significant fibrosis, and several ongoing clinical trials, lifestyle changes aimed at achieving sustained weight loss remain a cornerstone in the management of these patients. In addition to regular […]
Random Posts –
Featured Posts –

Latest from PubMed, #plant-based diet –
- Phosphorus Bioaccessibility of Processed Soy and Pulse Protein Products Measured by In Vitro Simulation of Human Digestionby Kendal M Burstad on June 4, 2025
CONCLUSION: Some soy and pulse protein products offered lower bioaccessible phosphorus per 100g serving and per gram of protein than their animal protein counterparts. Thus, this pilot study suggests that certain processed plant protein products may be acceptable to include in a diet for phosphorus management in CKD. However, more data on phosphorus bioaccessibility in a larger number and variety of processed plant-based protein products is needed to better inform individualized guidance.
- Providing healthy and climate-friendly public meals to senior citizens: a midway evaluation of a municipality’s food strategyby Anne Dahl Lassen on June 4, 2025
CONCLUSION: The municipality is making progress towards meeting GHGE reduction goals for public meals for senior citizens. Further efforts are needed to increase pulses and other protein-rich plant-based products in daily meals.
- Production of probiotic garden cress (Lepidium Sativum) using Bifidobacterium Bifidum and its evaluation of nutritional value, biocontrol and growth rate abilityby Golnaz Shambayati on June 4, 2025
Probiotics are one of the most beneficial elements in human health. Several studies have confirmed the health benefits of probiotics. The consumption of fermented vegetables is widespread worldwide and represents an important component of the human diet for a growing global population. In recent years, consumers have become more aware of the relationship between food and health, which has led to an increase in interest in functional foods. The global market for probiotic foods is growing […]
- Low-carbohydrate diet score and risk of bladder cancer: Findings from a prospective cohort studyby Yen Thi-Hai Pham on June 3, 2025
CONCLUSION: In summary, we showed that an LCD diet with fat and protein from animal-based food was associated with increased risk while an LCD diet with fat and protein derived mainly from plant-based food was not associated with bladder cancer risk. Our findings have implications for diet modifications in the prevention and control program of bladder cancer.
- Environmental Impact of Current Diets and Alternative Dietary Scenarios Worldwide: A Systematic Reviewby Aliki Kalmpourtzidou on June 3, 2025
CONCLUSION: The environmental impact of food consumption varied widely among diet types and continents, due to methodology heterogeneity of dietary assessment and different definitions of diets and food groups. Diets enhancing healthiness, such as the Mediterranean diet and food-based dietary guidelines, were associated with a higher CF than diets reducing meat consumption. Furthermore, diets including meat substitutes were associated with a higher CF than other plant-based diets that did not…
- Managing Constipation and Its Risks in Parkinson’s Disease: Is There a Role for Dietary Fiber?by Matthew P Beke on June 3, 2025
A common consequence of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is constipation. Beyond its deleterious effect on the quality of life in affected persons, constipation is associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis and microbial-generated inflammatory metabolites, which may further disease progression. Management strategies are needed, and diet, specifically higher fiber dietary patterns or fiber supplements, may be recommended. However, therapeutic effectiveness and potential health benefits have been…