A 42-year-old woman in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, is facing permanent neurological impairment after following an extreme vegan diet for three years in a misguided attempt to “detoxify” her body.
The woman, identified only as Ms. Chen, eliminated all meat, eggs and dairy from her meals, subsisting solely on grains, vegetables, soy products and mushrooms. What began as a wellness journey soon spiralled into a medical emergency, ending with her collapsing at home and narrowly escaping paralysis.
A Slow-Burning Health Crisis
Initially, the diet delivered apparent benefits—weight loss, improved digestion and clearer skin. But within months, alarming symptoms emerged. Ms. Chen experienced tingling in her toes, a loss of sensation, and a troubling weakness in her legs. She described walking as feeling like “stepping on cotton wool,” and frequently stumbled on flat ground. As the condition worsened, she endured shooting leg pain that robbed her of sleep, and she struggled with tasks as simple as lifting a cup of water or doing up her buttons.
Convinced that her problems stemmed from spinal or cervical strain, Ms. Chen sought help through acupuncture, massage and traditional Chinese medicine. Her condition continued to deteriorate until a sudden fall at home forced her to seek hospital care.
Vitamin B12: The Hidden Culprit
Medical examinations revealed a shocking diagnosis: Ms. Chen was suffering from a severe deficiency in Vitamin B12, a condition that triggered subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord. This is a neurological disorder that damages the protective myelin sheath around nerve fibres, leading to progressive nerve damage.
Vitamin B12 plays a critical role in maintaining healthy nerve cells and supporting normal signal transmission. The nutrient is found almost exclusively in animal-based foods, including meat, fish, eggs and dairy. Because plant-based diets lack natural sources of active Vitamin B12, vegans are at particular risk of deficiency.
Doctors noted that Ms. Chen’s body had initially masked the problem by drawing on Vitamin B12 reserves stored in her liver—reserves that typically last between three to five years. Once these stores were fully depleted, her nervous system began to fail. Tragically, nerve damage can become permanent if left untreated, and the window for effective intervention is extremely narrow.
How to Follow a Vegan Diet Safely
Health experts stress that plant-based eating can be healthy—provided it is planned with care. Key recommendations for avoiding B12 deficiency include:
- Opt for lacto-ovo vegetarianism: Including eggs, milk and yoghurt provides a reliable dietary source of Vitamin B12.
- Take supplements: Strict vegans should take a daily or weekly Vitamin B12 supplement to meet recommended intake levels.
- Diversify food choices: Incorporate fortified foods, nuts, whole grains, seeds, legumes and dark leafy vegetables to cover protein and micronutrient needs.
- Monitor your status: Annual blood tests checking serum Vitamin B12 and full blood counts are essential for long-term vegans to catch deficiencies early.
Ms. Chen’s story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of unsupervised restrictive dieting. While the pursuit of health through plant-based eating is growing worldwide, this case highlights the importance of proper nutritional planning. As doctors emphasise, early signs such as symmetrical numbness in the hands and feet or an unsteady gait should never be dismissed as ordinary fatigue or calcium deficiency—prompt medical evaluation could mean the difference between full recovery and lasting disability.