What are triglycerides?
Triglycerides are fats carried in the blood from the food we eat.
Excess calories, alcohol or sugar in the body are converted into
triglycerides and stored in fat cells throughout the body.
How are triglycerides different from cholesterol?
Triglycerides and cholesterol are both fatty substances known as
lipids. Triglycerides are fats; cholesterol is not. Cholesterol is
a waxy, odorless substance made by the liver that is an essential
part of cell walls and nerves. Cholesterol also plays an important
role in body functions such as digestion and hormone production. In
addition to being produced by the body, cholesterol comes from
animal foods that we eat.
Triglycerides are the body's storage form of fat, stored
for use as energy. Triglycerides come from the food we eat, as well
as being produced by the body.
Pure cholesterol cannot mix with or dissolve in the blood.
Therefore, the liver packages cholesterol with triglycerides and
proteins in carriers called lipoproteins to transport it to sites
throughout the body.
When are triglyceride levels measured?
Triglyceride levels are usually measured whenever you have a blood
test called a lipid profile. Your health care provider can check
your cholesterol and triglyceride levels by taking a sample of
blood, which is sent to a lab for testing. The lipid profile shows
your triglyceride level, total cholesterol level, HDL cholesterol
(high-density lipoprotein or "good" cholesterol) and
LDL (low-density lipoprotein or "bad" cholesterol)
levels.
Following a meal, blood triglyceride levels are normally high.
For an accurate reading, blood samples for a triglyceride test
should be taken after a 12-hour period of not eating or
drinking.
Many factors affect blood triglyceride levels, including
alcohol, diet, menstrual cycle, time of day, and recent
exercise.
What are the guidelines for triglyceride levels?
Guidelines for triglyceride levels in healthy adults are:
| Normal | Under 150 mg/dL |
| Borderline high | 150 - 199 mg/dL |
| High | 200 - 499 mg/dL |
| Very high | 500 mg/dL or higher |
Is a high triglyceride level a health problem?
Yes. Elevated triglyceride levels are an independent risk factor
for heart disease. Many people with high triglycerides also have
high LDL and low HDL levels, which are known heart attack risk
factors.
Other health problems related to high triglycerides include
diabetes, hypothyroidism, high blood pressure, pancreatitis,
obesity, and chronic kidney, liver, and circulatory disease.
How can triglycerides be lowered?
If you have high triglycerides, you may be able to reduce them
without medication by following a diet low in fat, cholesterol,
sugar, and alcohol and high in omega-3 fatty acids. Increasing
physical activity is also important. If you currently smoke, stop
in order to lower your triglyceride level and your risk for heart
disease.