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What Are the Causes of Elevated Triglyceride Levels?

Triglycerides are a waxy substance that makes up the most common kind of fat. When we eat more calories than we need, extra calories change into triglycerides and are stored in fat cells to be used when our bodies need more energy. Triglycerides in the blood are measured in milligrams per deciliter, and normal levels are less than 150 mg/dL. There are many causes for triglyceride levels higher than this, including aging, heredity, eating high fat foods, obesity, medication and several medical conditions.

  1. Lifestyle

    • Besides heredity and aging, which you can't do anything about, lifestyle is one of the most common causes of high triglycerides. Eating high fat foods, weight gain and medications all cause higher triglyceride levels. Sugar and high-fat foods such as red meat, dairy products and highly processed food increase triglycerides. Alcohol causes the liver to produce more triglycerides and lowers the amount of fat that is removed from the blood. If you take a medicine such as birth control pills, water pills, tamoxifen, beta-blockers, progesterone, cyclosporine or steroids, your triglyceride levels go up. Changing your lifestyle by losing weight, exercising and eating foods such as vegetables, fruit and whole grains can lower triglycerides. Ask your doctor about discontinuing or substituting different medications for the ones that increase triglycerides.

    Cirrhosis

    • Cirrhosis is poor liver function and scarring from chronic liver disease. Causes of cirrhosis are hepatitis B, hepatitis C, alcohol abuse, medication, metabolic disorders, biliary system disorders and autoimmune inflammation of the liver. Because the liver produces bile that helps the body digest fat, cirrhosis of the liver can lead to an inability to absorb fat and fat-soluble vitamins, thus increasing triglyceride levels.

    Diabetes

    • Diabetes is a disease in which blood sugar levels are too high because the pancreas doesn't make enough of the hormone insulin, which moves glucose from the bloodstream to cells for energy production. Sometimes cells don't process the insulin properly, and this causes high glucose levels. When insulin can't help turn fat into energy, triglyceride levels in the blood can rise.

    Hypothyroidism

    • Hypothyroidism is the inability of the thyroid gland to make enough of the hormones that control metabolism. Since hormones regulate the amount of triglycerides the body releases from fat tissue, slow metabolism caused by hypothyroidism elevates triglyceride levels. Common causes of hypothyroidism include medication, birth defects, radiation treatments, removal of part of the thyroid gland, viruses and an attack on the thyroid gland by the immune system.

    Pancreatitis

    • Pancreatitis is an infection or inflammation of the pancreas. A healthy pancreas releases hormones and chemicals that help with digestion. Triglyceride levels rise when the pancreas can't make the enzymes needed to digest fat. Causes of pancreatitis include alcohol abuse, injury, hyperlipidemia, pancreatic duct blockage and genetics.

    Nephrotic Syndrome

    • Nephrotic syndrome is a condition that damages the kidneys and causes high cholesterol levels, swelling, low blood protein levels and protein and fat in the urine. The high levels of triglycerides in people with nephrotic syndrome are caused by overproduction of triglycerides in the liver rather than diet. These triglycerides should be treated with medication.

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