Triglycerides

What are Triglycerides?

• Triglycerides are another form of fat produced in the liver and found in the blood.

• High triglyceride levels are associated with high total cholesterol levels, which include a high LDL (bad) level and a low HDL (good) level. Many people with heart disease and/or diabetes also have high triglyceride levels.

How and where does my body get triglycerides?

Triglycerides are found in 2 places:

• Triglycerides are produced in your liver, after which they are found in the bloodstream.
• Triglycerides are also found in foods.

What causes high triglyceride levels?

• High levels of triglycerides in your blood can be any one or a combination of the following factors:
  • Cigarette smoking,
  • Being overweight or obesity,
  • Excessive alcohol consumption,
  • Physical inactivity
  • A very high carbohydrate diet (a diet where 60% of total calories or more come from carbohydrates).

What are the numbers in my triglyceride count, and what do they mean?

• Recent research indicates that triglyceride levels that are borderline high (150–199 mg/dL) or high (200–499 mg/dL) may increase your risk for heart disease.
• Levels of 500 mg/dL or more need to be lowered with medication to prevent the pancreas from becoming inflamed.
• A triglyceride level of 150 mg/dL or higher also is one of the risk factors of the metabolic syndrome.

This helpful table outlines triglyceride numbers and what those numbers mean:

How can I reduce my blood triglyceride levels?

• To reduce blood triglyceride levels:
  • Control your weight
  • Be physically active
  • Don’t smoke
  • Limit alcohol intake
  • Limit simple sugars in your diet
  • Limit sugar-sweetened beverages you consume
  • Sometimes, medication is needed to control triglyceride levels

Speak with your doctor to see what treatment options are right for you.