Research projects
The Research Institute for Plant-Based Nutrition (IFPE) conducts research independently as well as in cooperation with national and international partners.
Short summaries of studies conducted can be found below. You can also find more information if you are willing to participate in one of our ongoing projects. As a participant, you will contribute to acquiring scientific knowledge, especially on vegetarian and vegan nutrition, and help to close existing research gaps.
Current projects
MultiVeg-Study
Duration: June 2022 to November 2023 Funding: Watson Nutrition Principal Investigator: Dr. Markus Keller DRKS-ID: DRKS00028151 Study design The MultiVeg Sdtudy is the first clinical study to investigate the efficacy of a multinutrient supplement specifically designed for people on a vegan diet. Various nutrients are considered critical in a vegan diet, including vitamin B12, vitamin B2, iron, zinc, iodine, selenium and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. Additionally, other nutrients, such as...
VEGANScreener
Duration: January 2022 to April 2025 Funding: JPI HDHL Project coordination: Eva Schernhammer, Medical University of Vienna Principal Investigator Germany: Dr. Markus Keller Study design The aim of the VEGANScreener project is the prevention and early detection of nutritional deficiencies in European people who follow a vegan diet. For this purpose, a standardized and short web- and app-based dietary screening tool is being developed to assess and monitor food and nutrient intake of vegans. To...
COPLANT (Cohort Study on Plant-based Diets)
Interest in plant-based diets has significantly increased in Germany during the last few years. Current studies describe potential beneficial effects of vegetarian or vegan diets in terms of chronic disease prevention. To date, only a small number of prospective cohort studies have investigated the health status of vegans and none has done so in continental Europe. The COPLANT study (Cohort Study on Plant-based Diets) aims to address this research gap. Objectives The COPLANT study aims to...
PREGGIE-Study
Pregnant Veggie Study – Study on vegan nutrition for pregnant women in Germany Duration: October 2019 to September 2021 Funding: IFPE, BKK ProVita Principal investigator: Katharina Feuerlein Project partners: Herdecke Community Hospital, Witten-Herdecke University, BKK ProVita Study design To date, there have been hardly any studies that have compared the nutritional status of pregnant vegan women with pregnant omnivorous women. In addition, studies are lacking regarding health parameters in...
Completed projects
Study on children’s experiences with a vegan diet
Duration: October 2021 to May 2022 Principal Investigator: Vanessa Keller For a bachelor’s thesis, it was investigated in which areas of children‘s lives barriers to the implementation of a vegan diet occur and how parents perceive their interaction with their social environment in this regard. A special focus was placed on the families’ relationship with pediatricians as well as pediatricians’ attitude towards a child’s vegan diet. 226 parents of vegan children (aged 0 to 12) were...
NutriMens Study – Nutrition and menstrual cramps
Principal Investigator: Melissa Buchholz In the scope of a bachelor's thesis the relationship between menstrual complaints and diet was investigated. The NutriMens study focused on the question, whether menstrual complaints of vegans and omnivores differ. Therefore, participants were asked to complete an online questionnaire and complete a 3-day weighed dietary record.
Study on the Giessen vegan food pyramid | 2019 – 2020
Duration: April 2019 bis October 2020 Principal Investigator: Pia-Sophie Graurock Study design The Giessen vegan food pyramid provides recommendations to achieve adequate nutrient intake in a vegan diet, which are based on scientific calculations. The study investigated whether the application of the pyramid in practice is suitable for achieving the D-A-CH reference values for nutrient intake. In total 36 vegans and 24 people, who were interested in switching to a vegan diet, between the ages...
VeChi-Youth-Study – Vegetarian and Vegan Children and Youth Study | 2017 – 2020
Duration: May 2017 to December 2020 Project partner: Fachhochschule des Mittelstands, DONALD-Study of the University Bonn, Communitiy hospital Herdecke, University Witten-Herdecke, Charité Universitätsmedizin und Immanuel Krankenhaus Berlin Funding: German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, via German Nutrition Society (DGE) Principal Investigators: Dr. Markus Keller, Dr. habil. Ute Alexy Study design To date, there is very little scientific data on vegetarian and vegan diets of...
VeChi Diet-Study | 2017 – 2019
Duration: June 2017 to December 2019 Project partner: Fachhochschule des Mittelstands, DONALD-Study of the University Bonn Funding: Erna-Graff-Foundation for Animal Welfare Principal Investigators: Dr. Markus Keller, Dr. habil. Ute Alexy Study design In the VeChi-Diet study, 430 vegan, vegetarian or omnivorous children aged 1-3 years were examined throughout Germany. A questionnaire and a 3-day weighed dietary record were used to record anthropometric data as well as the children’s eating...
A study of the dietary behavior of vegan adults from the greater Giessen area, Hesse │2017-2019
Duration: 2017-2019 Principal Investigator: B. Sc. Jana Muthny Study design Little is known about the current dietary habits of vegans in Germany. Therefore, in this cross-sectional study the eating habits of 62 vegans (duration of vegan diet at least one year) in the area around Giessen were examined. Food consumption was recorded using a 3-day estimated dietary record and socio-demographic, anthropometric and health-related data were determined using an online questionnaire. The...
Pilot study on the effects of a vegan dietary change on food consumption, nutrient intake and selected nutrient parameters of male volleyball players │ 2017-2018
Duration: 2017 – 2018 Project partner: ASV Dachau, BKK ProVita, Fachhochschule des Mittelstands (FHM) Principal Investigator: B. Sc. Oliver Brand Study design Scientific knowledge on vegan nutrition in (competitive) sport has been limited to date. Therefore, this pilot study was conducted to investigate the effects of switching to a vegan diet over a period of 12 weeks on performance and nutrient status in healthy male amateur athletes (volleyball). Food intake (n = 9) as well...
Effect of a vitamin B12-enriched dental gel on the vitamin B12 status of vegans │ 2014-2016
Duration: 2014 – 2016 Project partner: Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg; Zentrum für Labormedizin und Mikrobiologie, Essen Funding: Logocos Naturkosmetik AG Principle Investigator: B. Sc. Anne Siebert, Dr. Markus Keller Study design A pilot study carried out in 2011 with a vitamin B12-enriched toothpaste showed that the vitamin B12 status of vegetarian and vegan participants had improved significantly in some cases after a 5-week intervention period....
Effect of a vitamin B12-enriched toothpaste on the vitamin B12 status of vegans │ 2011-2012
Duration: 2011 – 2012 Project partner: Vegetarierbund Deutschland e.V. Funding: Logocos Naturkosmetik AG, Vegetarierbund Deutschland e.V. Principle Investigator: Beatrice Redemann, Dr. Markus Keller Study design This pilot study investigated whether a vitamin B12-enriched toothpaste can improve the vitamin B12 status of vegetarians and vegans when used regularly. At the beginning of the...
Instruments for a sustainable, climate-friendly meat production│ 2011-2012
Duration: 2011 – 2012 Funding: Bischöfliches Hilfswerk MISEREOR e.V. Principle Investigator: Dr. Markus Keller, Jürgen Kretschmer Study design The global increase in meat production and consumption is problematic from a sustainability perspective in many respects. Therefore, the aid organisation MISEREOR commissioned a study on instruments for managing sustainable and climate-friendly meat production. The study was part of a research project consisting of three studies for the...