Cholesterol warning signs around eyes and feet and dietary risks highlighted in Italy
High cholesterol can produce visible physical signs. According to Dr. Giorgio Sesti, professor of internal medicine at Sapienza University of Rome, the most common indicators are xanthelasma—yellowish cholesterol deposits on the eyelids—, corneal arcus, a white ring around the cornea that can be seen with a flashlight, and Achilles‑tendon xanthoma, a soft fatty lump on the Achilles tendon. These signs appear only when cholesterol levels are extremely high, typical of genetic familial hypercholesterolemia, a condition that affects roughly one in 250–300 Italians, or over 250,000 people, and they disappear once effective treatment lowers cholesterol.
Dietary advice stresses avoiding trans fats, which the World Health Organization and the American Heart Association say dramatically raise cardiovascular risk. Trans fats are found in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils used in many processed foods such as industrial baked goods, fried fast‑food items, and some margarines. Reading ingredient lists for terms like “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil” helps consumers reduce intake. Saturated fats also raise total cholesterol and LDL while lowering HDL, further increasing heart‑disease risk.
Entities: American Heart Association · Giorgio Sesti · Italy · Sapienza University of Rome · World Health Organization
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Dr. Giorgio Sesti is a professor of internal medicine at Sapienza University of Rome. (Adnkronos)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Familial hypercholesterolemia affects about one in 250–300 Italians, over 250,000 people. (Giorgio Sesti)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils are sources of trans fats; checking labels for this term helps avoid them. (AIRC)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Xanthelasma are yellowish cholesterol deposits that form on the upper and lower eyelids. (Giorgio Sesti)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Trans fats increase cardiovascular risk and are recommended to be eliminated by the WHO and AHA. (World Health Organization / American Heart Association)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Corneal arcus appears as a white ring around the cornea and can be seen with a flashlight. (Giorgio Sesti)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Achilles‑tendon xanthoma is a soft, raised fatty deposit on the Achilles tendon. (Giorgio Sesti)
- [● 2 SOURCES] These signs appear only with very high cholesterol levels typical of genetic hypercholesterolemia. (Giorgio Sesti)