This man eats so much butter, cheese and meat that cholesterol oozes from his skin

What could go Find out in eating an extremely high diet in fat meat, cheese and butter sticks? Well, on the one hand, their cholesterol levels could reach such stratospheric levels that lipids begin to pray from their blood vessels, forming yellowish nodules in their skin.

That was the disturbing case of a man in Florida who appeared in a Tampa hospital with a three -week history of painless yellow eruptions in Las Palmas of his hands, soles of his feet and elbows. His case was published today in Jama Cardiology.

The man, who is said to be about forty, told doctors that he had adopted a “carnivore diet” eight months before. Its diet included between 6 and 9 pounds of cheese, butter sticks and daily hamburgers that had additional fat incorporated into them. Since he assumed this food plan that raised eyebrows, he said that his weight fell, his energy levels increased and his “mental clarity” improved.

Meanwhile, its total cholesterol level exceeded 1,000 mg/dl. For context, a total optimal cholesterol level is Less than 200 mg/dlwhile 240 mg/dl is considered the threshold for “high.” The cardiologists noticed that before following their fat diet, their cholesterol had been between 210 mg/dl and 300 mg/dl.

The cardiologists diagnosed the man with xantelasma, a condition in which the lipids in the excess blood roughly of the blood vessels and form deposits of localized lipids. Lipids escaped would normally be absorbed by white roaming blood cells called macrophages. But, in cases with xantelasma, the amount of lipids is too large for macrophages, which become foam cells with excess cholesterol, which leads to visible deposits.

Such deposits are often seen around the eye (a condition called Xanthelasma Palpebrarum), which often hits people with lipid anomalies, such as family hypercholesterolemia. It is believed that continuous flickering of the eye over a person’s life can eventually weaken the capillaries in the area, which allows lipid filtration. But, although this can be a more common presentation of the condition, lipid deposits can occur anywhere in the body.

Unknown yellowish nodules were observed in the patient’s palms (a) and elbows. B, magnified view of palmar lesions. These lesions are consistent with the Xantelasma, probably as a result of severe hypercholesterolemia associated with a high carnivorous diet in fat.

Photography: Jama Cardiologym 2024, Marmagkkiolis et al.

Xanthelasma, especially Xanthelasma Palpebrarum, is Not always associated with high cholesterol And heart risks, but having high total cholesterol is strongly associated with coronary heart disease.

The case study does not provide information on the perspective of man. However, the authors write that the case “highlights the impact of dietary patterns on lipid levels and the importance of controlling hypercholesterolemia to prevent complications.”

This story originally appeared in Ars Technica.