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

What could go Bad with an extremely rich diet in beef fats, cheese and butter sticks? Well, one thing, your cholesterol levels could reach levels so stratospheric that lipids are starting to ooze from your blood vessels, forming yellowish nodules on your skin.

This was the disturbing case of a man in Florida who presented himself in a Tampa hospital with a story of three weeks of painless yellow eruptions on the palm of his hands, soles of his feet and elbows. His case was published today in Jama Cardiology.

The man, who would have been in his forties, told the doctors that he had adopted a “carnivorous regime” eight months before. His diet included between 6 and 9 pounds of cheese, butter sticks and daily burgers who had additional fats incorporated. Since adopted this livestock food plan, he said that his weight had dropped, that his energy levels have increased and “mental clarity” has improved.

Meanwhile, its total cholesterol level exceeded 1,000 mg / dl. For the context, an optimal total cholesterol level is less than 200 mg / dl, while 240 mg / dl is considered to be the “high” threshold. Cardiologists have noted that before following his fatty diet, his cholesterol was between 210 mg / dl at 300 mg / dl.

Cardiologists have diagnosed man with xanthelasma, a condition in which excess blood lipids are oozing blood vessels and form localized lipid deposits. The lipids escaped would normally absorbed by the roaming of white blood cells called macrophages. But, in the cases of xanthelasma, the amount of lipids is too large for macrophages, which turn into cells into foam with excess cholesterol, leading to visible deposits.

Such deposits are often observed around the eye (a condition called Xanthelasma Palpebrarum), which often strikes people with lipid abnormalities, such as family hypercholesterolemia. We think that a continuous flashing of the eye on a person’s life can possibly weaken capillaries in the region, allowing lipid infiltration. But, although this can be a more common presentation of the condition, lipid deposits can occur anywhere in the body.

Insolored yellowish nodules have been observed on the patient’s palms (A) and elbows. B, enlarged view of palm lesions. These lesions are consistent with the xanthelasma, probably resulting from severe hypercholesterolemia associated with a carnivorous diet rich in fat.

Photography: Jama Cardiology 2024, Marmagkiolis et al.

Xanthelasma – in particular the Xanthelasma Palpebrarum – is not always associated with high risks of cholesterol and hearts, but having a high total cholesterol is strongly associated with coronary diseases.

The case study does not provide information on man’s prospects. However, the authors write that the case “highlights the impact of food models on lipid levels and the importance of managing hypercholesterolemia to prevent complications.”

This story originally appeared on Ars Technica.