In a cautionary tale about the risks of extreme diets, a man in his 40s from Florida has become a medical curiosity after developing distinctive yellow deposits on his hands due to dangerously high cholesterol levels.
The patient, who sought treatment at Tampa General Hospital, admitted to following a strict carnivore diet for eight months based on online advice.
His daily intake included up to 6 to 9 pounds, or about 4 kilograms, of cheese, sticks of butter, and fatty hamburgers, with no carbohydrates, fruits, or vegetables in his meals.
Initially, the diet seemed to provide him with increased energy and weight loss, encouraging him to persist despite the lack of medical supervision.
However, after several months, he noticed smooth, yellowish nodules forming on the palms of his hands, which soon spread to his elbows and the soles of his feet.
Doctors diagnosed the condition as eruptive xanthomas, cholesterol deposits under the skin caused by severe hypercholesterolemia.
Blood tests revealed his total cholesterol level had surged to over 1,000 mg/dL, more than five times the normal upper limit.
Interventional cardiologist Dr. Konstantinos Marmagkiolis, who co-authored the case in JAMA Cardiology, noted that the extreme fat consumption overwhelmed the patient’s lipid metabolism.
The man was treated with cholesterol-lowering medications and urged to adopt a more balanced diet to reduce his cardiovascular risk.
His case underscores the potential dangers of fad diets like the carnivore diet when taken to extremes without professional guidance.
Health professionals warn that while some may experience short-term benefits, the long-term effects can include serious heart disease and visible manifestations like ‘cholesterol hands’.