One teenager found this out the hard way.
Since beginning high school, the teenager’s diet consisted of fries, potato chips, white bread, and processed pork.
He appeared to be a healthy weight (according to BMI) and had no visible signs of malnutrition. After being first examined for continual tiredness, his condition grew steadily worse until his hearing and vision were affected. By 17 he was blind.
Many of his biomarkers were low, including vitamin B12, copper, selenium, vitamin D, and he had low bone mineral density.
Researchers say the condition could beomce more common with the rise of veganism, if followers of the diet strategy don’t supplement with B12.
Unfortunately, the damage has already been done and a nutritional interventiuon won’t bring this patient’s sight back.
This has interesting implications on science fiction/dystopian fiction writing. With limited food sources in space and in a “fallen” society, there is a larger chance of these types of ailments, typically associated with malnutrition. Something to keep in mind when writing stories that take place outside mainstream society and with little food diversity.
