Diets · Metabolic & Cardiometabolic
carnivore diet increases LDL cholesterol and ApoB
In plain terms: Does a carnivore diet substantially raise LDL cholesterol and ApoB?
Part of: 🥗 carnivore diet
Very-low-carb high-saturated-fat eating raises LDL-C/ApoB in a large subset of people, and a carnivore diet is essentially a maximal version of that pattern, so a substantial LDL rise is expected.
Evidence ladder
How far up the ladder this claim has climbed. A high consensus on a low rung means "consistent so far," not "proven in people."
Top evidence so far: All trials, pooled (Meta-analysis)
How the studies fall
The evidence (16)
| Source | Grade | Stance | Quality | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kris-Etherton 2020 · Am J Clin Nutr | meta-analysis | supports | high | Evidence synthesis affirmed that dietary saturated fat raises LDL cholesterol in controlled feeding studies, the mechanism by which carnivore diets elevate LDL/ApoB. |
| Aronica 2023 · Front Nutr | RCT | supports | moderate | Secondary analysis of the DIETFITS RCT found the very-low-carb (ketogenic-phase) arm raised LDL cholesterol relative to the low-fat arm. |
| Lennerz 2021 · Curr Dev Nutr | observational | mixed | low | Carnivore survey reported self-measured LDL values that were often elevated yet framed favourably by respondents; self-report of labs without standardization is weak and biased evidence. |
| Feng 2025 2025 · Am J Clin Nutr | meta-analysis | mixed | moderate | Meta-analysis of carbohydrate-restricted diet RCTs found heterogeneous lipid effects with LDL often rising, especially with animal-fat substitution, supporting the directional claim with caveats. |
| Patikorn 2023 · BMC Medicine | meta-analysis | supports | high | Umbrella review of meta-analyses of ketogenic-diet RCTs reported increases in LDL cholesterol among the consistent adverse lipid signals. |
| Graybeal 2024 · BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil | RCT | supports | moderate | Randomized crossover trial in athletes found a two-week ketogenic (animal-fat) diet raised fasting and postprandial LDL and total cholesterol versus high-carbohydrate diet. |
| Zhao (53-RCT MA) 2026 · (MA) | meta-analysis | supports | high | Meta-analysis of 53 RCTs found ketogenic (high-fat, animal-food-heavy) diets significantly raised LDL-C (+8.2 mg/dL) and total cholesterol versus control diets. |
| Tindall 2020 · J Nutr | RCT | supports | moderate | Controlled-feeding RCT showed replacing saturated fat with unsaturated fat lowered atherogenic lipoprotein classes, indicating high-saturated-fat animal diets raise them. |
| Chang 2026 · Endocr Pract | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | Meta-regression of RCTs confirmed ketogenic diets raise LDL-C and total cholesterol in adults, consistent with animal-fat-driven lipid elevation. |
| Tindall 2019 · J Am Heart Assoc | RCT | supports | moderate | Randomized controlled-feeding trial found replacing saturated fat with walnuts/vegetable oils lowered LDL and non-HDL cholesterol. |
| Athinarayanan 2020 · Cardiovasc Diabetol | observational | supports | moderate | Two-year non-randomised very-low-carb ketogenic intervention in T2D showed a significant rise in LDL-C and large LDL particle number; open-label single-arm design limits causal certainty but the LDL increase is robust and directly relevant. |
| Sun 2025 · Sci Rep | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | Network meta-analysis of 21 RCTs identified carbohydrate-restricted diets as strongest lipid modulators, consistent with raised LDL on very-low-carb patterns. |
| Holm 2025 · Vet J | animal | mixed | low | Canine diet trial found a raw meat-based (low-carb, high-animal) diet lowered total cholesterol and LDL versus kibble, a contrasting non-human result flagged for species/design limits. |
| Tian 2024 · Front Nutr | meta-analysis | mixed | moderate | Meta-analysis of RCTs in overweight/obese T2DM found low-carb diets improved several markers, with lipid effects less uniformly adverse in this population. |
| Hengist 2024 · Cell Rep Med | RCT | supports | high | Controlled RCT found a ketogenic (animal-fat-rich) diet increased apolipoprotein B and C-reactive protein within 4 weeks, directly supporting an ApoB-raising effect. |
| Hooper L, et al. 2020 · Cochrane Database Syst Rev | meta-analysis | supports | high | Cochrane review established that reducing saturated (largely animal) fat lowers serum cholesterol, implying that a saturated-fat-heavy carnivore diet raises LDL. |
Disagree, or know a study we missed?
We grade by evidence, not opinions. The way to weigh in is to point us to a study we haven't cited (check the evidence table above first), or to flag a problem with one we have. Every submission is reviewed; if it holds up, the grade updates and shows in Science Changes Its Mind.
Opens a short form. You'll sign in with Google so submissions are tied to a real account — we don't display your identity, and we only accept a link we can verify (PubMed, DOI, ClinicalTrials.gov).
Educational only, not medical advice. Grades and scores reflect published evidence weighted by study design and quality; see the methodology.