On August 15, 2020, a 16-year-old kid passed away after consuming a protein smoothie. After consuming the shake, Rohan Godhania, a Londoner of Indian descent, became unwell and passed away three days later at West Middlesex Hospital from “irreversible brain damage.” A top UK official suggested that protein drinks should include health warnings after he passed away.
According to a story in the Metro, the drink had been purchased by the teen’s father for his son to help him gain strength as he was “quite skinny.” After consuming the beverage, Rohan developed ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency, a rare genetic disorder that activated the breakdown of ammonia in his circulation and caused it to accumulate to deadly amounts. According to the BBC, an inquest at Milton Keynes Coroner’s Court in Buckinghamshire previously heard that the post-mortem initially was unable to determine the cause of death.
The media source claims that a protein load can also cause the condition. Coroner Tom Osborne stated, “Concerning these protein drinks, my preliminary view about them is that I ought to write to one of the regulatory authorities that some sort of warning ought to be put on the packaging of these drinks because, although OTC is a rare condition, it can have harmful effects if someone drinks [one] and it causes a protein spike,”
Even before the hospital could determine the root of Rohan’s condition, his organs were donated.
