If you are following the carnivore diet for health, your own data is the most useful evidence you will ever have. The research base is thin, and people respond very differently. Tracking a sensible set of tests, before you start and at intervals afterwards, lets you and your doctor see whether the diet is actually helping you and catch problems early.
This checklist is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a prescription. Your doctor may add or remove tests based on your history.
When to test
- Baseline: before you start, or as soon as possible afterwards.
- First follow-up: around 8 to 12 weeks in, when early changes have settled.
- Ongoing: every 6 to 12 months if things are stable, or more often if something needs watching.
Try to test under similar conditions each time (for example, same time of day, fasting overnight, and not immediately after a period of unusual eating, heavy exercise or illness).
Cardiovascular markers
| Test | What it tells you | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lipid panel (total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides) | Standard cardiovascular risk markers | LDL often rises on carnivore; triglycerides usually fall and HDL rises |
| ApoB | Number of atherogenic particles | Considered by many experts a more accurate risk marker than LDL-C[1] |
| Lp(a) | Genetically determined risk factor | Measure at least once in adulthood; not changed much by diet[2] |
| Blood pressure | Major risk factor | Home monitoring is easy and useful |
| hs-CRP (optional) | General inflammation marker | Nonspecific; helps with overall risk context |
| Coronary artery calcium score (selected people) | Existing calcified plaque | Discuss with your doctor, especially if LDL is very high |
LDL is a well-established cause of atherosclerosis[3]. If yours rises substantially, read Cholesterol, LDL and Heart Health and discuss it with your doctor.
Metabolic markers
| Test | What it tells you | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HbA1c | Average blood glucose over about 3 months | Prediabetes 5.7% to 6.4%; diabetes 6.5% or higher[4] |
| Fasting glucose | Glucose after an overnight fast | May run slightly higher on very-low-carb diets |
| Fasting insulin (optional) | Insulin resistance | Not standardised everywhere; useful for tracking trends |
| Weight, waist circumference | Body composition trends | Waist measurement is simple and informative |
Kidney and liver function
| Test | What it tells you | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Creatinine and eGFR | Kidney filtering function | High meat intake can raise creatinine slightly without kidney damage; cystatin C can help clarify[5] |
| Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio | Early sign of kidney damage | Recommended alongside eGFR in kidney assessment[5] |
| Electrolytes (sodium, potassium, bicarbonate) | Fluid and acid-base balance | Especially important early on and if on blood pressure medication |
| Uric acid | Gout risk | May rise temporarily during adaptation; meat intake is linked to gout risk[6] |
| Liver enzymes (ALT, AST, GGT) | Liver health | Often improve with weight loss in fatty liver |
Nutrient status
| Test | Why | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) | Common deficiency on any diet | Adjust sun exposure or supplement as advised |
| Vitamin C (plasma ascorbate) | Plant-free diets are low in vitamin C | Not a routine test; consider on strict long-term carnivore[7] |
| Folate | Low without liver or plants | Important for anyone who could become pregnant |
| Vitamin B12 | Usually abundant on carnivore | Useful baseline |
| Iron studies (ferritin, iron, transferrin saturation) | Iron deficiency or overload | High red meat intake can raise iron; relevant for people with hemochromatosis |
| Magnesium | Intake may be low on carnivore | Blood levels are an imperfect measure[8] |
| Calcium | Low intake without dairy | Blood calcium is tightly controlled, so normal results do not prove adequate intake |
| Thyroid (TSH) | Thyroid function; iodine status indirectly | Some people see small changes on low-carb diets |
| Complete blood count | General health, anemia | Standard baseline |
Common surprises and how to interpret them
- Creatinine slightly up: eating a lot of cooked meat and having more muscle can both raise creatinine, which lowers the calculated eGFR without any true change in kidney function. Asking for a cystatin C test, or testing after a day or two of lower meat intake, can help clarify. Do not assume it is harmless without checking.
- Fasting glucose a little higher than expected: this is common on very-low-carbohydrate diets even when HbA1c is excellent. Look at the overall picture rather than one number.
- LDL much higher, triglycerides very low, HDL high: a common carnivore pattern. It still warrants a discussion about overall cardiovascular risk and ApoB.
- Ferritin rising: can reflect higher iron intake from red meat, but ferritin also rises with inflammation and liver fat. If it climbs steadily, ask about iron studies and screening for hemochromatosis.
- Uric acid up in the first weeks: often settles after adaptation; persistent high levels, especially with joint pain, need attention.
Things to track yourself
- Blood pressure (home cuff, a few readings a week at first)
- Blood glucose if you have diabetes or take glucose-lowering medication
- Symptoms you started the diet to improve, written down with a simple 0 to 10 score each week
- Sleep, energy, digestion and exercise performance
- Anything unexpected: new symptoms, easy bruising, bleeding gums, joint pain, palpitations
Talking to your doctor
Some doctors are enthusiastic about low-carbohydrate approaches; others are sceptical. Either way, you will get better care if you:
- Tell them exactly what you are eating, rather than letting them guess.
- Bring your baseline and follow-up results so trends are clear.
- Explain your goals and what has changed.
- Listen to their concerns, especially about LDL, kidney function, and medications. A concern is not a dismissal of your experience.
If a result moves in the wrong direction, that is valuable information, not failure. The diet can be adjusted: more fish and less butter, adding back some carbohydrate, including more organ meat, or supplementing a specific nutrient.
The bottom line
Track lipids including ApoB, Lp(a) once, HbA1c, kidney function, electrolytes, uric acid, and key nutrients. Test before you start, at around three months, and periodically after that. Keep your doctor involved. Good data turns a personal experiment into an informed decision.
References
- Sniderman AD, et al. Apolipoprotein B Particles and Cardiovascular Disease: A Narrative Review. JAMA Cardiology. 2019. Source ↗
- Kronenberg F, et al. Lipoprotein(a) in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and aortic stenosis: a European Atherosclerosis Society consensus statement. European Heart Journal. 2022. Source ↗
- Ference BA, et al. Low-density lipoproteins cause atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. 1. Evidence from genetic, epidemiologic, and clinical studies. A consensus statement from the European Atherosclerosis Society Consensus Panel. European Heart Journal. 2017. Source ↗
- American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. 2. Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes: Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026. Diabetes Care. 2026. Source ↗
- Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) CKD Work Group. KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease. Kidney International. 2024. Source ↗
- Choi HK, Atkinson K, Karlson EW, Willett W, Curhan G. Purine-rich foods, dairy and protein intake, and the risk of gout in men. New England Journal of Medicine. 2004. Source ↗
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin C: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Source ↗
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Magnesium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Source ↗