NEED TO KNOW
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Georgina Owen, who followed a vegan diet, ceased taking vitamin B12 supplements for at least six months prior to her suicide in September 2019.
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Medical experts indicate that a B12 deficiency can lead to psychological issues like psychosis and delusions.
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In the time leading up to her death, Owen’s family observed unusual behavior and mental health challenges.
A 21-year-old college student took her own life after a vegan diet led to a vitamin B12 deficiency, which an investigation suggested resulted in a “psychiatric disorder” linked to “delusional beliefs.”
Owen began her studies at Swansea University in Wales in 2018. The university characterized her as vibrant, enthusiastic, and well-liked by both students and teachers, based on findings from a U.K. inquest.
This geography student had been vegan since 2016, according to the inquest, and her family noted that while she had previously taken B12 supplements, she hadn’t done so since August 2019.
B12 is primarily found in animal products, but fortified foods, such as cereals and nutritional yeast, can also provide it. A deficiency can lead to various symptoms, including physical and psychological issues. The National Library of Medicine states that this deficiency can manifest as Acute and Transient Psychotic Disorder, especially in vegetarians. They recommend checking B12 levels in patients showing psychiatric symptoms.
Owen’s family reported that she exhibited strange behavior before her death and shared diaries that indicated a decline in her mental health during that critical period.
She took up meditation and shared a distressing out-of-body experience with her family. Although they believed she was anxious, they encouraged her to seek professional help.
She was set to return to school on September 19, 2019, but on that morning, Owen was found hanging in her shower. Despite efforts to revive her, hospital scans revealed no brain activity.
The coroner’s report identified hypoxic brain injury and hanging as the primary causes of death. However, it also pointed to evidence of a mental illness from a note she had written prior to her death, suggesting she was delusional at that time.
Blood tests conducted after her passing confirmed a B12 deficiency that was likely a result of her vegan diet, which she had maintained for around three years.
The inquest concluded that at the time of her death, Owen was indeed experiencing delusions due to a vitamin B12 deficiency stemming from her diet.
The European Journal of Medicine has published a cautionary note regarding the need to supplement plant-based diets with fortified foods or vitamins, urging anyone considering a vegan diet to take certified B12 supplements during meals.
