Ischemic heart disease risk factors in middle-aged seventh-day adventist men and their neighbors

Fraser, G. E. (Epidemiology Program, Loma Unda U., Loma Unda, CA 92350), W. Dysinger, C. Best, and R. Chan. Ischemic heart disease risk factors in middleaged Seventh-day Adventist men and their neighbors. Am J Epktemtol 1987; 126:638-46.Seventh-day Adventists in Califomia have much lower mortality from ischemic heart disease than do other Califomians, but the risk factors have not been well documented previously for a representative sample. This study, conducted in 1982, chose a random sample of 160 Califomian non-Hispanic white middle-aged Adventist men, 160 of their similar-aged male neighbors, and documented traditional ischemic heart disease risk factors. Results show major dietary differences between the two groups as expected, this being reflected in significant differences in consumption of total fat, saturated fat, dietary cholesterol, and crude fiber. Questionnaire data suggested that the Adventists also exercIsed 50% more, rarely smoked, but had identical Framingham Type A/B scores. There were no differences in obesity or blood pressure levels, but serum total cholesterol was significantly lower in the Adventists (190.1 vs. 203.5 mg/dl, p <0.001), as was low density lipoprotein cholesterol (125 vs. 134.0 mg/dl, p < 0.03) and high density lipoproteln (HDL) cholesterol (42.3 vs. 46.0 mg/dl, p < 0.005). Consequently, the ratio of total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol was virtually identical between the two groups. Possible explanations for some of these findings are discussed.