How vegan, vegetarian, or omnivorous diets relate to blood levels of brain proteins NfL and GFAP
Vegan, Vegeratian, or Omnivore: Dietary Effects on the Brain Tissue Biomarkers
This study will test whether following a vegan, vegetarian, or omnivorous diet changes blood levels of the brain proteins NfL and GFAP in healthy adults aged 18–40.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 300 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 40 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Salzburger Landeskliniken Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Salzburg, State of Salzburg) |
| Trial ID | NCT07312994 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is an observational, likely cross-sectional study enrolling healthy adults aged 18–40 who have followed a vegan, vegetarian, or omnivorous diet for at least one year. Participants provide consent and undergo blood draws to measure neurofilament light chain (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) concentrations. Laboratory immunoassays will quantify biomarker levels and statistical analyses will compare levels across diet groups while controlling for key confounders such as BMI, recent infection, and medication use. Exclusion criteria remove individuals with neurological disease, recent significant illness or surgery, pregnancy, eating disorders, excessive alcohol use, or prolonged PPI use to reduce bias from non-dietary factors.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal participants are healthy, nonpregnant adults aged 18–40 who have consistently followed a vegan, vegetarian, or omnivorous diet for at least one consecutive year and can provide informed consent.
Not a fit: People with diagnosed neurological disorders, recent moderate to severe infections, recent trauma or surgery, active eating disorders, excessive alcohol use, pregnancy, significant recent BMI swings, or long-term PPI use are unlikely to benefit or be eligible for this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the findings show diet-related differences in NfL or GFAP, this could clarify whether common dietary patterns influence blood markers of brain health and guide future dietary or mechanistic research.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior research has linked diet patterns to brain health measures like cognition or imaging, but using blood NfL and GFAP in healthy young adults is relatively novel and not yet well established.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy individuals who have followed a vegan, vegetarian, or omnivorous diet for at least one consecutive year * Aged between 18 and 40 years * Provision of written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnose neurological disorders (e.g. neurodegenerative, inflammatory, autoimmune, infectious, vascular) * Eating disorders * Excessive alcohol consumption * Pregnancy * Recent moderate to severe infection (within the past 12 weeks) , including SARS-CoV-2 * Recent trauma, injury, or surgery (within the past 12 weeks) * Significant BMI fluctuations (\>5 points) within the last year * Patients who have been using Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for an extended period (e.g., 1 month).
Where this trial is running
Salzburg, State of Salzburg
- Christian-Doppler-Klinik — Salzburg, State of Salzburg, Austria (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Tobias Moser, Prof.
- Email: t.moser@salk.at
- Phone: +435725534720
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.