UMVA has learned that a tragic death of a 21‑year‑old university student may be linked to a severe vitamin B12 deficiency.
Georgina Owen, a vibrant student from Essex, had embraced a plant‑based diet for three years before her untimely death in September 2019. Despite her enthusiasm for veganism, she relied on a Canadian‑sourced B12 spray rather than daily supplements.
Post‑mortem blood tests revealed dangerously low levels of the essential micronutrient, a finding that experts say can trigger cognitive decline, anxiety, poor decision‑making and profound fatigue.
A panel of specialists noted that Georgina exhibited vague signs of mental impairment and described her condition as a gradually developing psychiatric disorder, culminating in the delusional beliefs recorded in a note found beside her body.
Her father, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon, voiced a strong suspicion that the deficiency played a pivotal role in the chain of events leading to her death.
Family members had arranged psychological support, believing she was struggling with anxiety, and were preparing to drive her back to Wales to resume her studies. Instead, they discovered her after a suicide attempt at home, and she passed away two days later at a Cambridge hospital.
According to information obtained by UMVA, this case underscores the critical importance of proper vitamin B12 supplementation for those following exclusive vegan diets.
