A diet characterized by its excessive consumption of hamburgers, cheese, and butter sticks has culminated in a peculiar medical phenomenon, wherein a gentleman from Florida presented with notable yellowish cholesterol deposits adorning various areas of his physiology, according to a recently published medical report.

Details surrounding the case remain sparse; however, it has been reported that this individual, in his forties, had been experiencing “asymptomatic yellowish nodules on his palms, soles, and elbows” for a duration of three weeks prior to his medical consultation.

This condition arose following an eight-month adherence to the carnivore diet, which is strictly limited to animal-derived products such as meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood, alongside some dairy and water. This restrictive regimen excludes all forms of fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts.

While the popularity of the carnivore diet—a variant of the low-carbohydrate keto diet—has surged in recent years, scientific consensus indicates that such a diet can precipitate nutritional deficiencies, depriving the body of vital vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, while concurrently elevating susceptibility to various diseases, including cancer.

Allegedly, this individual was ingesting an astounding four kilograms (nine pounds) of fatty substances daily, even augmenting his hamburgers with additional fats. His cholesterol levels reached an alarming 1,000 mg/dL—over five times the recommended healthy limit for adults.

Such dietary habits and the resultant hypercholesterolemia engendered the yellowish skin lesions, as excessive cholesterol inundated his bloodstream. In certain regions, cholesterol accumulation became so pronounced that it began to penetrate the skin.

Medical professionals ultimately diagnosed him with an extreme manifestation of xanthelasma, which leads to visible, yellowish cholesterol deposits beneath the epidermis. While commonly observed around the ocular region, these deposits can emerge on various bodily areas.

Prior investigations have illuminated potential associations between xanthelasma and other health conditions, such as diabetes and thyroid dysfunctions. This condition is also closely correlated with hyperlipidemia or elevated cholesterol levels, as evidenced in this particular dietary regimen.

Although the lesions do not elicit discomfort, their removal necessitates specialized surgical intervention, irrespective of any dietary or cholesterol level normalization. Options for removal include laser surgery or cryotherapy involving liquid nitrogen.

The condition serves not only as a superficial symptom but also as a harbinger of more grave underlying health concerns: elevated cholesterol levels are intrinsically linked to a plethora of serious medical conditions, including cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular accidents, and renal impairment.

Extant evidence attests that the manner in which elevated cholesterol obstructs vascular pathways can foster malignancy development and potentially elevate Alzheimer’s risk, alongside obstructing essential physiological pathways.

It is to be hoped that the individual in this case has heeded the counsel of healthcare professionals and undertaken necessary adjustments to his dietary habits—despite initially reporting benefits such as weight reduction, increased vitality, and enhanced cognitive clarity attributed to the carnivore diet.

This case study is documented in JAMA Cardiology.