The Tromsø Heart Study: diet, religion, and risk factors for coronary heart disease

Abstract

Low values of cholesterol and blood pressure in Seventh-day Adventists has been suggested to be caused by selection bias. Seventh-day Adventists in the Tromso Heart Study have a diet that is low in the intake of coffee, ground meat, and fish. They have total serum cholesterol values 11-20% (p less than 0.01) lower than non-Seventh-day Adventists. Blood pressure is also lower in Seventh-day Adventists. Baptists and religiously nonactive Seventh-day Adventists had a dietary pattern very similar to the general population. Their serum cholesterol and blood pressure values were also similar to the general population. This indicates that the low levels of serum cholesterol and blood pressure in religiously active Seventh-day Adventists is not caused by selective or religious factors.