News that a Welsh woman has been ruled to have died as a direct result of her vegan diet has caused widespread ripples on the global nutritional pond. The story underlines the importance of having a nutritional plan in place before going plant-based…
Testimony at an official inquest into the death de-scribed Georgina Owens (left) as, “a student who was vibrant, full of enthusiasm, passionate and well-liked by her peers and lecturers,” when she enrolled in Swansea University in Wales in 2018.
Owens had been on a vegan diet since 2016, but had been taking recommended vitamin and mineral sup-plements to make up for deficiencies in essential nutrients that an all-plant diet can’t supply. But she stopped taking vitamin B12 supplements. In August 2019, she committed suicide after developing a ‘psy-chiatric disorder’ that led to ‘delusional beliefs’.”
Taken for granted
Testimony at the coroner’s inquest suggested that Owens has simply neglected to keep up her required supplements and fell into a trap of her own making.
It also brought into the spotlight the vital importance of vitamin B12 as the arbiter of a wide range of body and brain functions.
A US National Library of Medicine report says, “Vitamin B12 deficiency can manifest solely as ATPD (Acute and Transient Psychotic Disorder), particularly in individuals following vegetarian diets.” The report recommends assessing B12 levels in patients presenting with psychosis. “Common psychiatric manifestations include depression, mania, psychotic symptoms, cognitive impairment, and delirium. These symptoms underscore vitamin B12’s vital role in maintaining mental well-being.”
My take
Vitamin B12 is just one of a number of essential nutrients that cannot be found in plant-based foods. A simple partnership of beans and rice can provide a complete dietary protein complex. But vitamins and minerals are another story.
Those who ‘go vegetarian’ or vegan must take a range of supplements to ensure they consume a balanced diet. The alternative is a quick decline in general well-being and ill health. The ultimate result can be death. As the Georgina Owens saga tells us, adopting a completely plant-based diet is not something to be taken lightly.
My questions to you:
As we all slide down the slippery slope to plant-based diets…
Are you planning on starting your inevitable segue to plant-based eating anytime soon?
Are you confident you have all the information you need to ‘go veggie’ safely?
If not…
Have you begun your research?
Have you informed your family doctor of your plans?
Muse on that…
~ Maggie J.