Teen dies due to protein shake, UK calls for warning labels
A teenager boy Rohan Godhania, fell ill after drinking a protein shake in 2020. He died three days later after he suffered irreversible brain damage.
In 2020, a tragic incident occurred involving a teenage boy named Rohan Godhania, who fell seriously ill after consuming a protein shake. Sadly, he passed away three days later due to irreversible brain damage. At the time of his unfortunate demise, the exact cause of his illness had not yet been identified, and his organs were donated before further investigation could take place.
Rohan’s father, Pushpa, had purchased the protein shake with the intention of helping his son build muscle, as Rohan was described as being “quite skinny.” According to Pushpa, they believed that enhancing Rohan’s shoulder muscles would boost his confidence and overall stature. Rohan had recently turned 16, and his family had high hopes for his promising future.
However, it was discovered that the protein shake caused a spike in protein levels, which activated a rare genetic condition known as ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency. This condition led to the breakdown of ammonia in Rohan’s bloodstream, resulting in dangerously elevated levels that proved to be fatal.
Initially, the cause of Rohan’s death as OTC deficiency was not determined during the post-mortem examination conducted at Milton Keynes coroner’s court.
In light of this tragic incident, Coroner Tom Osborne expressed his concern and suggested that regulatory authorities should consider placing some form of warning on the packaging of protein drinks. He emphasized that while OTC is a rare condition, consuming such drinks and experiencing a protein spike can have harmful effects.
