Study on Health and Sustainability Effects of Plant-based and Mixed Diets Among Adults Aged 18 to 69 in German-speaking Countries

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating the health benefits and risks, along with social, ecological, and economic effects, of different plant-based diets compared to mixed diets in adults aged 18 to 69 years. The study includes about 6,000 participants from Germany and Austria and focuses on vegan, vegetarian, pescetarian, and omnivorous diets. The research aims to understand impacts on conditions like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, bone health, and vitamin and mineral status, while also considering sustainability aspects such as social justice and climate change. Participants will follow their current diet for at least one year and undergo a detailed dietary survey using a specially adapted app. The study collects data through body composition measurements, bone health assessments, cardiovascular and diabetes risk evaluations, and laboratory tests including fasting blood, 24-hour urine, and stool samples. There are multiple study sites with some variations, such as including pregnant and breastfeeding women at certain locations and children at others with a shortened examination program. Follow-up visits are planned at 5, 10, and 20 years after the initial baseline period between 2024 and 2027. During the study, participants will complete questionnaires on dietary behavior, physical activity, and lifestyle factors. Researchers will measure a wide range of health markers including vitamin levels, blood lipids, glucose, hormones, body fat, muscle mass, and nutrient intake. The main outcomes include the incidence of type 2 diabetes over 5, 10, and 20 years, with additional monitoring of cardiovascular diseases and cancer at 10 and 20 years. Participants will be followed long-term to assess health and sustainability outcomes associated with their diets.

Cohort Study on Plant-based Diets (COPLANT Study)