Key Takeaways
- Your body converts excess calories, sugar, and alcohol into triglycerides and stores them in fat cells. Consistently consuming more calories than you burn can lead to elevated triglyceride levels that increase your risk for heart attack, stroke, and narrowed arteries.
- A lipid panel blood test measures your triglyceride levels, and adults over 20 should have this screening every 4 to 6 years, with more frequent testing recommended if you have certain health conditions or risk factors.
- Managing high triglycerides typically involves three primary approaches: adopting a diet low in simple carbohydrates and trans fats, engaging in regular physical activity, and, if needed, taking prescribed medications like statins or fibrates.
Triglycerides are the most common form of fat in the body. Your body stores and uses this type of fat for energy between meals.
If triglyceride levels in your blood are elevated, it could mean you’re at high risk for some health conditions, including stroke, heart attack, and liver disease.
Certain medications, diet changes, and types of exercise may help lower triglyceride levels.
When you eat, the extra calories, sugar, and alcohol that your body doesn’t need right away are converted into triglycerides and stored in fat cells. When you need energy, hormones release triglycerides.
If you typically consume more high-carbohydrate foods than you burn, you could have a high triglyceride level.
High triglyceride levels (hypertriglyceridemia)
- stroke
- heart attack
- peripheral artery disease (PAD)
If your triglyceride levels are very high, you could be at high risk for pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) and liver disease.
Triglycerides vs. cholesterol
Triglycerides and cholesterol are both made in your liver and consumed from food. They both circulate in your blood. Although there are similarities, they have different functions:
- Triglycerides are a type of fat or lipid that stores unused calories.
- Cholesterol is a lipoprotein used to build cells, produce certain hormones, and generate vitamin D.
According to the
- total cholesterol
- high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, also known as good cholesterol
- low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as bad cholesterol
- triglycerides
A doctor may ask you to avoid food or fast for 8 to 12 hours before the test. Results are typically available within a few days. The doctor will make recommendations based on the levels indicated in your test.
| Adults | Children 10 to 19 | Children under 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical | under 150 mg/dL | under 90 mg/dL | under 75 mg/dL |
| Borderline high | 151 to 199 mg/dL | 90 to 129 mg/dL | 75 to 99 mg/dL |
| High | over 200 mg/dL | over 130 mg/dL | over 100 mg/dL |
| Very high | over 500 mg/dL | n/a | n/a |
Note: The results shown in this table are obtained in a fasting state and are
How often should your triglyceride levels be tested?
The
Based on your health, a doctor may suggest more frequent testing. The AHA also recommends that
Your triglyceride levels could be high based on
- having a family history of high cholesterol
- excessive alcohol consumption
- having a diet high in sugar and simple carbohydrates
- being overweight or having obesity
- having unmanaged diabetes
- experiencing liver or kidney disease
- having high blood pressure
- taking certain medications, such as diuretics, hormones, corticosteroids, or beta-blockers
- experiencing menopause
- smoking
- having thyroid disease
Higher than usual triglyceride levels may elevate your risk of arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries or thickening of the artery walls), heart attack, stroke, and heart disease.
If your triglyceride levels are high, you may be at risk of
A doctor might recommend prescription medications to treat high triglyceride levels. Some of these medications may include some of the following:
- statins, such as rosuvastatin calcium (Crestor) and atorvastatin calcium (Lipitor)
- fibrates, such as gemfibrozil (Lopid) and fenofibrate (Tricor, Fenoglide)
- cholesterol absorption inhibitors
- nicotinic acid
- PCSK9 inhibitors
The three primary ways to lower high triglyceride levels are:
- eating a nutritious diet
- doing regular aerobic exercises
- maintaining a moderate weight
Healthy
- Diet: Avoid simple carbohydrates, such as sugar and foods made with white flour or fructose, trans fats, and foods with hydrogenated oils or fats. Instead of the fat found in meat, choose plant-based fats like olive and canola oils. Replace red meat with fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as mackerel or salmon. Limit or avoid alcohol consumption, as alcohol is high in calories and sugar.
- Exercise: The
AHA recommends a minimum of 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. That’s 30 minutes of exercise, 5 days a week, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise per week. - Weight: Because extra calories are converted to triglycerides and stored as fat, if you reduce your calories, you will reduce triglycerides. Target and maintain a moderate weight with diet and exercise.
Other lifestyle changes to help lower triglycerides include:
- managing high blood pressure and diabetes
- getting enough sleep
- managing stress
- quitting smoking
A doctor may also suggest a supplement such as niacin (nicotinic acid) or fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids).
Because low triglyceride levels are typically not cause for concern, there’s no current range for them. Lower than expected triglyceride levels, such as those under 150 mg/dL, are most likely a reflection of:
- a low fat diet
- a nutritious diet
- a diet that includes fasting
Low triglyceride levels may also indicate an underlying health condition, such as malnutrition or malabsorption, but these conditions are typically identified and diagnosed by other symptoms.
Because high triglyceride levels usually don’t cause symptoms, they’re often only detected when a doctor orders a lipid panel.
If you do not have high risk factors, such as health conditions and some lifestyle characteristics, a doctor will typically order a lipid panel every few years to check cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
If your lipid panel shows triglyceride levels above the expected range, a doctor may suggest lifestyle adaptations focused on diet and exercise. If diet and exercise do not have the desired effect, they may recommend medication such as statins or fibrates.
If your lipid panel blood test indicates a high triglyceride level, a doctor will likely recommend lifestyle modifications, such as exercising and following a diet low in simple carbohydrates, trans fats, and foods containing hydrogenated oils or fats.
Typically, these lifestyle changes will improve your overall health and lower your triglyceride levels.