A man from Florida who needed to be hospitalized after following a carnivore diet showed cholesterol coming out of his hands and feet.
For almost a year, the man followed a diet that essentially consisted of eating only animal-based foods at every meal, that is, milk, cheese, eggs, and meat.
However, unlike a paleolithic diet, for example, carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables were not consumed during this period.
According to a medical case study, the man was admitted to Tampa General Hospital because, for three weeks, “yellowish nodules” were oozing from the palms of his hands, the soles of his feet, and his elbows.
The man told doctors that he had been following the carnivore diet for about eight months and claimed that he had lost weight and had more energy. He said he ate up to 4 kg of cheese every day, along with burgers and several pieces of butter.
But when specialists measured his cholesterol, it was over 1,000 mg/dL. For comparison, a healthy total cholesterol level should be under 200 mg/dL.
Doctors discovered that he was suffering from a rare condition called xanthelasma, which occurs when a person’s cholesterol is so incredibly high that it starts oozing from the skin as yellow fatty lumps trying to escape the body.
“Not everyone can tolerate these diets. If they can, they need to keep an eye on their cholesterol,” said Konstantinos Marmagkiolis, an interventional cardiologist at Tampa General Hospital who treated the man.
Photo and video: American Medical Association. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
