Volume 8 Number 1 2025
Balancing Autoimmune Nutrition: Evaluating the Carnivore Diet’s Risks and the Protective Role of Plant-Based Foods in Personalized Care
Md. Sohel Rana 1*, Shamsuddin Sultan Khan 1*
Advances in Herbal Research 8 (1) 1-22 https://doi.org/10.25163/ahi.8110187
Submitted: 06 November 2024 Revised: 10 January 2025 Published: 14 January 2025
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases present complex, chronic conditions that often resist conventional treatments, prompting growing interest in dietary interventions. Among these, the carnivore diet—comprising exclusively animal-derived foods while eliminating all plant-based inputs—has gained popularity as a potential strategy for mitigating autoimmune symptoms. Advocates suggest this approach may reduce exposure to dietary antigens such as lectins, oxalates, and FODMAPs, thereby decreasing gut permeability, systemic inflammation, and immune activation. Clinical anecdotes and case series report notable improvements in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and inflammatory bowel disease. However, scientific validation remains limited, and long-term health consequences are not well understood. While the diet's high nutrient bioavailability, low processing, and elimination of potentially pro-inflammatory compounds may benefit some individuals, critical concerns persist. These include the absence of dietary fiber, plant polyphenols, and prebiotics essential for maintaining gut microbial diversity and immunological tolerance. Moreover, excessive intake of saturated fats and restricted dietary variety may pose risks for metabolic dysregulation and micronutrient imbalances. Personalized adaptations—such as incorporating low-FODMAP vegetables or low-oxalate leafy greens—can potentially bridge therapeutic benefits with nutritional adequacy. Ethical and sustainability considerations further complicate adoption. A heavy reliance on industrial animal agriculture contradicts environmental goals, though local and regenerative food systems may offer a compromise. This review evaluates current evidence and argues for a cautious, individualized approach. Rather than promoting extreme dietary exclusion, a monitored, phased, and adaptive plan—guided by clinical biomarkers and patient response—offers a more balanced path forward in the nutritional management of autoimmune diseases.
Keywords: Autoimmune diseases, Carnivore diet, Dietary interventions, Gut health, Personalized nutrition
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