Originally published in 1930 - The journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
https://archive.org/details/sim_journal-of-the-academy-of-nutrition-and-dietetics_1930-12_6_3/page/216/mode/2up (It’s so old, I don’t have a direct doi link)
Based on Vilhjalmur Stefansson’s reporting of Inuit diets (the wiki is a great read) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilhjalmur_Stefansson ; People were incredulous (much like today actually) - So Vilhjalmur and his partner agreed to be kept for a YEAR in medical supervision in a hospital on staten island. This is the study/publication of the results.
TLDR - The pure meat diet worked for a year, under total medical supervision, without any issues, including vitamin levels. Just like it worked for the native Inuit people.
This is a seminal paper, it’s about 85 pages, so it’s going to take a minute to read. I’ll post notes as I get through it.
How times have changed
At the start of the study, when only lean meat was allowed the subjects had physical issues that resolved when fat levels were allowed to return to natural levels.
19:78:2 diet by today’s language (19% protein, 78% fat, 2% carbs)
So the 140/80 became 120/80 over 1 year for our “excellent physical condition” Mr. Anderson.
Curious, I wonder if there is research on Fat being protective of muscle mass during low carbohydrate diets?
Less poop, no farting. No constipation for a year doing carnivore.
i.e. they didn’t develop scurvy
The paper was not as long as I thought (archive.org showed me the entire journal), it is a easy read. The paper holds up to my more modern reading of both carbohydrate metabolism, and ketosis.
Limitations of this paper - While it proves that the Inuit style diet is sustainable for a year without measurable ill effects, it does not speak to a all meat diet being optimal (some people have gone a little crazy with their inferences here).