COPLANT-Vienna Cohort

An excellent cohort from BBMRI.at partner Medical University of Vienna at MedUni Wien Biobank

COPLANT stands for COhort on PLANT-based diets. It is the largest contemporary cohort study in the German-speaking world, covering for different dietary patterns in equal proportions – including plant-based diets. It is a project run by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and seven other universities and institutions, including the Medical University of Vienna in cooperation with the University of Vienna.

The COPLANT study aims to close data gaps and enable scientifically based nutritional recommendations for a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. From early 2024 until the end of 2027, approx. 6,000 participants in total – including 800 participants aged 18–69 in Vienna – will be recruited to take part in the study.

The study focuses on the following diets:

omnivorous (a mixed diet, including all types of animal and plant products)
pescatarian (no meat, but fish)
vegetarian (no meat or fish, but dairy products and eggs)
vegan (no animal products)

Profile of the cohort:

Research Area

Plant-based diets, diet quality, nutrient deficiencies, cardio-metabolic health, bone health, planetary health

Cohort Type

Human, exposure cohort, prospective, longitudinal

Cohort Size

800 participants from Austria/Vienna, part of the multi-centre COPLANT cohort (comprising in total approx. 6,000 participants in Germany and Austria and 8 study centers; 30 years of follow-up)

Donors/ Participants

Volunteers sampled from the general population with the ability to provide informed consent and to communicate in German
Age: 18-69 years
Dietary habits:
• 25% omnivorous (mixed diet, including all types of animal and plant products)
• 25% pescatarian (no meat, but fish)
• 25% vegetarian (no meat or fish, but dairy products and eggs)
• 25% vegan (no animal products)

Biological Sample Types (with Storage Condition)

Serum, Plasma, Buffy coats, Spot urine, 24h urine, Stool, Hair, Saliva
Samples stored at -80° C

Associated Data

Questionnaires on socioeconomic status, nutrition, FFQ (food frequency questionnaire), health status, everyday life, lifestyle, medication intake, dietary supplements; Detailed nutritional assessment using 4-days weighed dietary records; BIA (body composition); Waist and hip circumference; Bone quality (ultrasound-based assessment); Hand grip strength; Blood pressure; Ultrasound (e.g., thyroid gland, liver, muscle, kidney, visceral fat, etc.); Broad range of biomarkers

Collection Period

Started 2024 – ongoing (for 30 years)

Informed Consent

Broad constent

Access

Yes; shared resource from 2028 on; academic collaboration only; short written proposal required; access granted by steering committee;

Quality Standards

The biological samples from the Austrian participants are stored at MedUni Wien Biobank which is included in quality management systems according to ISO 9001:2015; the central Biobank is placed at the University of Jena, Germany

Contact

Principle investigators:
• Ap. Prof. Maria Wakolbinger, PhD MSc
maria.wakolbinger@meduniwien.ac.at
• Priv.-Doz. Dr. Martina Gaggl, MD, PhD, MPH
martina.gaggl@meduniwien.ac.at
• Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Karl-Heinz Wagner
karl-heinz.wagner@univie.ac.at

Publications (Scientific)

None yet as only started in 2024

Research projects

None yet as only started in 2024