What Count Should Triglycerides Be?

Triglycerides are one of the types of fat known as lipids that circulate in your blood. Your triglyceride level should be monitored along with your blood pressure and cholesterol level, since a high triglyceride count can also increase the risk of heart disease.

Function

• Triglycerides serve as a reserve energy source. When excess calories are taken into the body, those that are not used right away for energy are converted to triglycerides and stored in your body's fat cells to be released for energy between meals.

Considerations

• Triglycerides have specific normal and abnormal values. The National Institutes of Health has determined that normal values for triglycerides should be less than 150 mg/dL. Borderline high values range from 150 to 199 mg/dL, high values are 200 to 499 mg/dL, and very high values are 500 mg/dL or above.

Significance

• According to the Mayo Clinic, high triglycerides may contribute to hardening of the arteries, which increases risk of stroke and heart disease. High triglycerides may also indicate other diseases in the body, such as type 2 diabetes and liver or kidney disease.

Measuring Triglycerides

• Triglyceride values are checked by testing the blood--much the same as for cholesterol levels. They may be checked in a doctor's office or clinic using blood from a fingertip or by more sophisticated analyzers in a hospital lab using blood from a venipuncture. The Working Group on Lipoprotein Measurement of the National Cholesterol Education Program recommends a 12-hour fast before testing for triglycerides.

Lowering Abnormal Triglycerides

• If your triglyceride level is above the normal range, there are several steps you can take to lower it: Lose extra weight, cut down on calories, avoid foods that are refined or loaded with sugar, watch your cholesterol intake, avoid alcoholic beverages, and exercise regularly.

  Your doctor may prescribe medication if these measures fail to lower your triglycerides into the normal range.