(Gray News) – A man who ate up to nine pounds of cheese and butter every day developed yellow-colored nodules on his palms, soles, and elbows, doctors in Florida said.
An article published Jan. 22 in the JAMA Network said the man in his 40s visited the doctor after reportedly noticing the skin discoloration for three weeks.
The article said the patient adopted a “carnivore diet” eight months before the nodules developed.
“His dietary habits included a high intake of fats, consisting of 6 to 9 lb of cheese, sticks of butter, and additional fat incorporated into his daily hamburgers,” the article said.
The man said his “carnivore diet” led to weight loss, increased energy, and improved mental clarity.
Doctors said the yellow nodules were identified as xanthelasma – a skin condition characterized by yellowish, raised deposits of cholesterol typically on or around the eyelids, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Doctors said the diagnosis was likely a result from extremely high cholesterol levels associated with the high-fat carnivore diet.
The man said the yellow nodules were painless and did not cause any other symptoms.
The article said the man’s cholesterol levels exceeded 1000 mg/dL, which was “significantly higher” than his baseline of level of 210 to 300 mg/dL.
Doctors say this case highlights the importance of a healthy diet and managing cholesterol levels to prevent complications.
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