Clean-Living Amish Have Lower Cancer Rates, Study Finds

Amish residents of Ohio have lower rates of both tobacco-related cancer and other types of cancers than other state residents, according to researchers at Ohio State University.

HealthDay News reported Jan. 4 that researchers found that the cancer rate among the Amish was 37-percent lower for tobacco-related disease and 72-percent less for other types of cancer.

The findings came as something of a surprise because researchers believed that intermarriage among the Amish could make them more susceptible to genetic mutations that lead to cancer.

“The Amish are at an increased risk for a number of genetic disorders but they probably have protection against many types of cancer both through their lifestyle – there is very little tobacco or alcohol use and limited sexual partners – and through genes that may reduce their susceptibility to cancer,” said researcher Judith Westman.

Researchers tracked the incidence of 24 types of cancer among nearly 10,000 Amish residents of Ohio between 1996 and 2003. Even skin cancer rates were found to be lower among the Amish because although many work outdoors, they also wear protective clothing and hats, the study found.

The study was published in the journal Cancer Causes and Control.