A university student took her own life after developing delusional beliefs stemming from a vitamin B12 deficiency caused by her vegan diet, an inquest has concluded.
Georgina Owen, 21, from Saffron Walden in Essex, began a vegan diet in 2016 due to environmental concerns. Cambridgeshire area coroner Elizabeth Gray noted that by August 2019, Ms Owen's family realised she had not taken her B12 supplements for at least six months, which she said she had forgotten.
Ms Owen was due to return to Swansea University on 19 September 2019, but was found at her home with a note. She was resuscitated and taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, but died on 21 September.
The coroner said a psychiatrist concluded that Ms Owen's final note “does provide evidence of a possible mental illness and that on the balance of probabilities, at the time Ms Owen was writing this last note, she was experiencing delusions” and that “psychiatric manifestations caused by vitamin B12 deficiency are recognised”. Blood tests were consistent with B12 deficiency, likely resulting from her vegan diet of around three years.
In her conclusion, Ms Gray said: “Ms Owen died ... whilst on the balance of probabilities suffering delusional beliefs brought about by a vitamin B12 deficiency developed as a direct result of her vegan diet.” She added that Ms Owen was described by the university as “vibrant, full of enthusiasm, passionate and well-liked”.
Vitamin B12 is found in meat, fish, eggs, dairy products and fortified foods. The NHS advises that a deficiency can lead to psychological problems including depression, anxiety, confusion and dementia.
