Lecture on Meat-Based Carnivore Diets and Cholesterol Concerns

Introduction

• Common concern: High cholesterol and heart attack fears with meat-based diets.
• Origin of theory: Malcolm Kendrick and Scottish professors.

Saturated Fat and Cholesterol

• Misconception: Saturated fat causes high blood cholesterol.
• Truth: No defined mechanism by which saturated fat increases cholesterol levels.
  • Types of cholesterol: LDL, IDL, VLDL.
• Factors affecting cholesterol levels:
  • Lowering factors: Fake plant cholesterol (phytosterols) found in seed/vegetable oils.
  • Raising factors: Nutrient deficiencies (e.g., B12, folate), inflammation (e.g., TNF alpha).

Phytosterols (Fake Plant Cholesterol)

• Derived from seed and vegetable oils, high in coconut oil.
• Body rejects most of these; absorbs only 1-2%.
• Overabsorption condition: Cytosterolemia linked to early atherosclerotic disease.
• Effect: Lower cholesterol by disrupting normal cholesterol functions.

Transition to Saturated Fats

• Eliminating phytosterols (fake cholesterol) and replacing with saturated fat can restore cholesterol to normal levels.
• Observation: Cholesterol appears to rise due to removal of suppressing factors.

Mortality and Cholesterol Levels

• U-shaped mortality curve: Low cholesterol linked to higher mortality.
• High cholesterol levels may also increase mortality risk, but not as steeply.

Other Causes of High Cholesterol

• Nutrient Deficiencies:
  • B12 deficiency: Increases cholesterol biosynthesis.
  • Folate deficiency: Similar effect.
• Inflammation:
  • Inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF alpha) drive cholesterol synthesis.

Diets and Inflammation

• Some individuals on ketogenic/carnivore diets have extremely high cholesterol.
• In some cases, foods in these diets may trigger inflammation.
• Not all animal-derived foods are suitable for everyone.

Conclusion

• The relationship between diet, cholesterol, and health is complex and individualized.
• Careful consideration of diet components and individual health status is necessary.