Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood.

They are the most common type of

fat in the body. Triglycerides are necessary for health but in excess amounts, they
may be harmful and may increase the risk of heart disease. For this reason,
scientists think that triglyceride levels may be an important measure of metabolic
health.

"When you eat more calories than you need, the body stores those calories in the
form of triglycerides, which can be used later by the body for energy," said Dr. Lauri
Wright, a registered dietitian, member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and
an assistant professor of nutrition at the University of South Florida.
Most of the fats we eat, such as natural oils — both polyunsaturated and
monounsaturated — animal fats and trans fats, are triglycerides. While both healthy
and unhealthy fats contribute to triglyceride levels, trans fats like margarine and
saturated fats like fatty red meats, poultry skin, lard and some full-fat dairy products
can elevate triglyceride levels more than leaner cuts of meat and unsaturated fats
like olive oil, avocados, nuts and low-fat dairy products. Refined, simple
carbohydrates and alcohol can also increase triglyceride levels, said Wright.

Lipids
Triglycerides and cholesterol both belong to the "fat family" (also called lipids) but
have different functions, said Wright. "Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that is used
by the body to make hormones, vitamin D and is part of the membrane surrounding
the cells," she added. Cholesterol is waxy and odorless. The liver produces it from
animal foods.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, cholesterol and triglycerides in their pure forms
cannot mix with blood. As a result, the liver sends them out with proteins in packages
called lipoproteins. Lipoproteins move cholesterol and triglycerides throughout the
bloodstream.
There are three types of lipoproteins, according to the University of Colorado Health
Sciences Center. They are low density lipoproteins (LDL), very low density lipoproteins
(VLDL), and high density lipoproteins (HDL). LDL, also called LDL cholesterol, is
considered the "bad" kind of lipoprotein because it contributes to plaque buildup in
the arteries. HDL cholesterol is considered good because it removes LDL from the
arteries, according to the American Heart Association.

Dangers of high triglyceride levels

"If triglyceride levels are too high in the blood, they can cause plaque buildup in the
arteries," explained Wright. Scientists are not sure how or why triglycerides cause
plaque buildup, but they do know that people with high levels of triglycerides are
more likely to have high LDL levels. When plaque builds up in the arteries, artery
walls can harden or become thick, which is called atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart disease.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), women are especially at risk of
heart disease if they have high triglyceride levels. Scientists think that high
 triglyceride levels can also indicate other conditions that increase the risk of these
diseases, such as obesity and metabolic syndrome.
Extremely high triglyceride levels can lead to acute pancreatitis, according to the
Mayo Clinic. They may also be a sign of type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism, kidney
disease, and liver disease or rare genetic conditions that deal with metabolism.

The American Heart Association notes that more research is needed to be sure that
high triglyceride levels are an independent risk for heart and other diseases. These
diseases have other risk factors, such as high cholesterol, so the role of triglycerides
is still being determined. Several case studies have shown that triglycerides could be
an independent disease risk factor, however. Furthermore, a 2007 study published
in Annals of Internal Medicine found that young men with the highest triglyceride levels
had a four times greater risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke than
similarly aged patients with the lowest triglyceride levels.
Normal triglyceride levels
You need some triglycerides to live healthily. Here are Wright's guidelines to
triglyceride levels in the blood:

● Normal: Less than 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or less than 1.7 millimoles per liter
(mmol/L)
● Borderline high: 150 to 199 mg/dL (1.8 to 2.2 mmol/L)

● High: 200 to 499 mg/dL (2.3 to 5.6 mmol/L)

● Very high: 500 mg/dL or above (5.7 mmol/L or above)
Measuring triglyceride levels
It is easy to find out your triglyceride levels. Your doctor can determine them with a
simple blood test. They are usually measured whenever your doctor conducts a
blood test called a lipid profile, which measures your total cholesterol level, HDL
level, LDL level, and triglyceride level. The American Heart Association recommends
that everyone older than 20 have their lipid profile checked at least every 4 to 6
years. If your levels are elevated, you may need to be tested more often.
It is normal for triglyceride levels to be high after you eat. For this reason, doctors
recommend waiting 12 hours after eating or drinking to have your triglyceride levels
tested. Other factors that may affect triglyceride level test results include blood
alcohol levels, menstrual cycle, recent exercise and the time of day, according to the
Cleveland Clinic.
Cholesterol & Triglycerides –
What Are They?
Wellness Dec 17, 2018
All the cholesterol you need to function properly is manufactured in the liver, however it
also comes from the foods we eat. Cholesterol and triglycerides are the most common
lipids (or fats) in the bloodstream. In order to make their way through the bloodstream so
they can be used by the body, protein wraps itself around the lipids, creating a
lipoprotein. When the body transports too many lipoproteins (filled with triglycerides and
cholesterol), the remainder are stored in the fat cells. Your body needs cholesterol to
make hormones, vitamin D, cellular membranes, and a substance that helps you digest
food called bile.

There are two types of cholesterol: low-density lipoproteins (LDL), known as bad
cholesterol and high-density lipoproteins (HDL), also known as good cholesterol. LDL
travels through your bloodstream delivering cholesterol to the cells that need it. If your
body has too much LDL it can build up a substance known as plaque on the walls of your
arteries. Overtime, plaque can narrow the arteries and reduce blood flow, which causes an
increase in blood pressure. This is why LDL is called bad cholesterol. Furthermore,
damage to vessel walls from things like high levels of sugar in the bloodstream can make
it easier for LDL to form plaques.

Plaque buildup in your coronary arteries causes coronary artery disease and increases
your risk of a heart attack. Whereas plaque buildup in arteries such as the carotid arteries
in your neck can reduce blood flow to your brain and increases the risk of a stroke.

In addition to LDL, your liver also makes HDL. This form of cholesterol helps return
excess cholesterol to your liver which removes it from your body. This is why HDL is
known as good cholesterol.

Triglycerides on the other hand are used for energy, and also come from food and your
liver. The foods providing the highest level of triglycerides are alcohol, fatty foods, refined
carbohydrates, and simple sugar. High triglycerides can increase your risk of pancreatitis
and other cardiovascular events like heart disease.
Other than meds, lifestyle changes can improve triglyceride levels. Changes include
eating a diet low in sweets, refined carbohydrates and alcohol, getting regular exercise,
managing your weight, and not smoking.

Below is a breakdown to show you ranges for cholesterol and triglycerides.

Cholesterol

Normal = < Total 200

Optimal HDL = > 60, < 50 for women or 40 for men is a risk for heart disease

Optimal LDL = < 100

Above optimal = 100 – 129

Borderline high = 130 – 159

High = 160 – 189

Very high = 190+

Triglycerides

Normal = less than 150

Borderline high = 151 to 199

High = 200 to 499

Very high = 500+