Harvard student’s cholesterol spikes dramatically on vegan-keto diet

In a recent dietary experiment, Nick Norwitz, a Harvard medical student, shifted from a near-carnivore food plan to a full vegan-keto meal plan for a week. This transition was part of his efforts to analyze why cholesterol levels might rise during weight loss. During this period, he consumed significantly fewer calories—dropping from 3,479 calories per day on his meat-heavy diet to just 2,054 calories while following the vegan-keto lifestyle. Despite losing 4.2lbs, he was taken aback to find that his cholesterol levels surged by 14%, a figure much higher than he had anticipated. The dramatic rise occurred despite the fact that during the week on the vegan-keto plan, he consumed no dietary cholesterol and increased his intake of fiber while significantly reducing saturated fats. Norwitz faced digestive issues due to the sudden dietary changes, although he reported that this discomfort was expected based on his previous experiences with vegan diets. His observations revealed a vital relationship between weight loss and cholesterol levels, highlighting how the process of shifting to a lower calorie intake can impact one's lipid profile. His analysis indicated that as people become leaner, particularly when transitioning to a ketogenic diet, their LDL cholesterol often rises. He explained that this effect occurs because, need for fuel and muscle support increases, prompting the liver to produce more cholesterol-containing particles. Norwitz emphasized that while his experiment revealed important insights about individual metabolic responses, his goal was not to persuade his audience to adopt his dietary changes but rather encourage them to consider the complexities of their bodies. He noted that those who are lean and more active may experience particular challenges as their bodies adjust to fat-burning diets, which could lead to higher LDL levels.