The Cholesterol Debate: What the Keto Influencers Get Right (and Wrong)

About this episode

Dr. Greg Katz joins Anish to discuss the cholesterol debate surrounding low-carb diets and the implications of LDL levels.

Episode Summary Dr. Greg Katz, preventive cardiologist at NYU Langone and co-host of Beyond Journal Club, joins Anish to dissect the online cholesterol debate — specifically the claims made by science communicator Nick Norwitz, who has maintained an LDL over 500 mg/dL on a low-carb diet for seven years with no coronary plaque on CTA. Katz takes the data point seriously, walks through the limitations of coronary CTA and the flawed Keto CTA study, and explains why he still believes the burden of proof lies with those arguing diet-induced hypercholesterolemia is safe — while acknowledging where the cardiology establishment, including the new lipid guidelines, overcorrects. The conversation covers the accountability gap between clinicians and content creators, the failure of risk calculators in young patients, and what a well-designed trial to actually answer this question would look like. Chapter Markers 00:00 Introduction — Dr. Greg Katz, NYU Langone cardiologist and Beyond Journal Club co-host 01:40 What prompted the Substack: patients bringing in Nick Norwitz's content 02:51 Who is Nick Norwitz — LDL of 500, low-carb diet, and the clean CTA 05:38 Why Katz takes the question…

People in this episode

Host: Anish

Guest: Dr. Greg Katz

Topics covered

• cholesterol debate
• low-carb diet
• cardiology
• diet-induced hypercholesterolemia
• risk calculators
• clinical trials

Keywords

• cholesterol
• Keto diet
• LDL
• cardiology
• risk assessment
• clinical trials
• dietary guidelines

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: NYU Langone, Beyond Journal Club

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