What are triglycerides?

Triglycerides are a type of fat that circulate in the blood and are also stored in fat cells. Triglycerides come from the foods a person consumes (especially foods high in fat, sugar, and alcohol) and extra calories that the body does not need immediately.

Triglycerides provide an important energy source for the body, but when triglyceride levels are too high, problems can occur, including cardiovascular disease and, in severe cases, inflammation in the pancreas (pancreatitis).

What test measures triglyceride levels?

If you’ve ever had blood work done to check cholesterol levels, triglycerides would have been included on those lab results. The standard blood test used to measure cholesterol and triglycerides is called a lipid panel. Triglycerides and cholesterol are both lipids, fatty substances that perform various important functions in the body.

While triglycerides are measured alongside cholesterol, it’s important to remember that these are two different substances with different functions in the body:

• Triglycerides come from foods, while cholesterol is synthesized in the liver. In fact, 80 percent of the cholesterol in the body is made in the liver.
• Mentioned above, triglycerides function as an energy source for the body, while the body uses cholesterol to build cells, hormones, and other substances.

Both cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels are important to know. Having elevated numbers for either cholesterol (called hypercholesterolemia) or triglycerides (hypertriglyceridemia) on its own can contribute to the formation of arterial plaque and cardiovascular disease. Having elevated levels of both cholesterol and triglycerides increases (hyperlipidemia) increases the risk considerably more.

Cholesterol levels and triglycerides also share many risk factors, including medical conditions like diabetes and obesity, excess alcohol consumption, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, and diets high in saturated fats, trans fats, and sugary foods and beverages. Family history and genetic factors also influence cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

What should cholesterol levels be?

Cholesterol numbers include low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and total cholesterol. Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of a substance in one-tenth of a liter (a deciliter or dL) of blood.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists these numbers as optimal ranges:

• Total cholesterol: around 150 mg/dL
• “Bad” LDL: around 100 mg/dL
• “Good” HDL: at least 40 mg/dL for males and at least 50 mg/dL for females

Total cholesterol is calculated based on LDL, HDL, and triglyceride levels. Also, target numbers for cholesterol and triglycerides can vary depending on factors like overall health and coexisting conditions.

What are optimal and high triglyceride levels?

Triglyceride levels are also measured in mg/dL. Guidelines list these numbers:

• Optimal: Less than 150 mg/dL
• Borderline high: 150 to 199 mg/dL
• High: 200 to 499 mg/dL
• Very high (severe hypertriglyceridemia): 500 mg/dL or higher, can reach 1000 mg/dL or higher

What are the risks of severe hypertriglyceridemia?

Severe hypertriglyceridemia puts a person at risk for acute pancreatitis, inflammation of the pancreas, a potentially life-threatening complication that requires immediate medical care. It can also lead to cardiovascular disease, heart attack, and stroke.

What if you need to lower your triglyceride levels?

Your best source of information will always be a healthcare provider. If you have high triglycerides or severe hyperlipidemia or both, your healthcare provider will recommend a specific treatment plan to lower your levels and address your healthcare needs. Treatment plans typically combine lifestyle changes, medications, and managing coexisting health conditions.