German study offers mixed insights into the effects of the carnivore diet on health markers

A small German study suggests some benefits for blood-sugar and inflammation markers among carnivore diet followers, but raises concerns over increased cholesterol, highlighting ongoing debate over its health impacts.

A small German study has added fresh fuel to the debate over the carnivore diet, suggesting that some followers experienced better blood-sugar control, lower triglycerides and fewer signs of inflammation, even as total and LDL cholesterol rose. The research, which was published in April 2025 and followed 24 people who had already been eating in a carnivore pattern for at least a month, was based on self-reported diets and blood tests taken before and after the change.

The strongest findings were in people who began with abnormal markers. Among those with raised triglycerides, all saw reductions. Two participants with pre-diabetic HbA1c readings also improved, and the study reported a sharp fall in C-reactive protein, a marker linked to inflammation. But the same paper also found that total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol climbed significantly, which means the results are far from an unqualified endorsement of the diet.

That mixed picture is not entirely surprising. Research on low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets has previously shown that cutting carbs can lower triglycerides and improve some lipid measures in overweight adults, while other work on anti-inflammatory diets has shown that metabolic improvements do not always come from one dietary pattern alone. In the carnivore study, the authors concluded that subjective benefits were common, but the longer-term effect on cholesterol profiles still needs proper testing.

Even supporters of the approach say the study has clear weaknesses. It had no control group, a very small sample and a strong selection bias, because it only captured people who had already stayed on the diet long enough to volunteer. That makes it better seen as early, exploratory evidence than as proof. For now, the research suggests that some people may feel and measure better on a meat-only diet, but it also raises enough concerns about cholesterol to keep the wider argument very much alive.