Causes & Cures of Triglycerides

Your body naturally produces triglycerides, a form of fat. Any calories consumed that are not used right away are converted to triglycerides and are stored in your fat cells. Hormones later release the triglycerides to produce energy between meals. Hypertriglyceridemia occurs when your triglyceride levels are higher than normal. This condition can lead to coronary artery disease. High cholesterol levels can accompany high triglyceride. Obesity and high consumption of alcohol can cause high triglyceride levels, as can type 2 diabetes, low thyroid levels, kidney or liver disease, or some rare genetic disorders.

Measure Triglyceride Levels

• Your physician can measure your triglyceride levels as part of a simple blood test called a "lipid profile" or a "lipid panel," which also measures your cholesterol levels. This is a fasting test. You must not eat for 9 to 12 hours before the test.

How high is too high?

• The blood test measures triglycerides in milligrams per deciliter, abbreviated as "mg/dL." According to the American Heart Association (see reference 1), guidelines from the National Cholesterol Education Program are as follows: normal - less than 150 mg/dL; borderline - 150 to 199 mg/dL; high - 200 to 499 mg/dL; very high - 500 mg/dL or higher.

Treatment

• If the test determines your triglyceride levels are too high, and after your doctor determines they are not related to an underlying medical problem, the first step is to make lifestyle changes. Lose weight, if you are overweight. Reduce dietary consumption of saturated fat, trans fats and cholesterol. Cut back considerably on alcohol consumption. Eat more fruits, vegetables and non-fat or low-fat dairy products. Exercise moderately for 30 minutes a day, at least five days a week. Eat more fish high in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as mackerel, salmon and albacore tuna. Avoid sugary and refined foods.

  If the lifestyle changes fail to lower triglyceride levels sufficiently, your doctor may prescribe medications such as fibrates, niacin or other cholesterol-lowering medicine as part of your treatment.