• Man from South London dies after dietary experiment
• He overconsumed carrot juice and vitamin A supplements, causing poisoning

Dr. Basil Brown, 48, from South London, died after consuming massive amounts of carrot juice and vitamin A tablets in a self-directed dietary experiment that ended in tragedy

Brown was described as a health food enthusiast devoted to natural diets, but he overdid vitamin consumption, which led to fatal poisoning

He drank around ten gallons of carrot juice in just ten days, supplementing it with concentrated vitamin A tablets

This extreme intake caused poisoning, destroying his liver and resulting in fatal organ failure

The 1974 coroner’s report stated: Death from carrot juice addiction

His skin had turned a yellowish-orange due to carotene buildup, the pigment in carrots, which became toxic when his body could no longer process it

Brown believed his strict diet would improve his health and vitality, but the excessive vitamins caused hypervitaminosis A, a toxic condition that can severely damage the liver, cause headaches, and even lead to coma

Experts explain that vitamin A is fat-soluble and stored in the liver rather than expelled; once the liver reaches capacity, it becomes toxic

Brown’s death is still cited as an extraordinary medical warning showing that even natural foods can be dangerous in extreme amounts, fifty years after the incident

He was a nutrition specialist and self-taught scientist who promoted natural foods and vitamins as a means of healing while warning others against processed foods