New Delhi: In a tragic incident, a 16-year-old boy died after drinking a protein shake that is believed triggered a rare disease. Rohan Godhania from London fell ill after drinking a protein shake on August 15, 2020. Three days later, he died after he suffered ‘irreversible brain damage’ at West Middlesex Hospital, reported Metro.
According to the report, his father Pushpa told Rohan’s inquest that he had bought his son the drink to help him build muscle as his son was “quite skinny.”
But the spike in protein brought on a rare genetic condition called ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency, which triggered the breakdown of ammonia in Rohan’s bloodstream and caused it to build to lethal levels, Metro reported.
The postmortem examination could not initially identify the boy’s cause of death since soon after his death, his organs were donated before the hospital could identify the cause of his illness, an inquest at Milton Keynes Coroner’s Court in Buckinghamshire previously heard, the media outlet reported.
After the incident, a senior coroner has called for protein shakes sold in supermarkets to have ‘life-saving’ health warnings added to them.
According to Metro, Coroner Tom Osborne said, “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.”
Speaking to the inquest, Rohan’s father said, “I purchased it just to build up muscles. He was quite skinny. We thought that rather than just nagging him, if he built up muscles in his shoulders he would stand a bit taller.”
The bereaved father continued, “Rohan had only just turned 16. We imagined Rohan developing into a wonderful young man. Rohan had his entire life ahead of him, so many hopes and so many dreams.”
“The loss reverberates out to so many people whose lives Rohan touched. This world is a darker place with the loss of such a kind and gentle soul,” he added, reported the news outlet.