How Are Triglyceride Levels Related to Cholesterol Numbers?
Triglycerides are not actually
cholesterol, but a form of fat carried through the bloodstream. Most of your body's fat is in the form of triglycerides stored in fat tissue. Only a small portion of your triglycerides is found in the bloodstream.
High blood triglyceride levels alone do not necessarily cause
atherosclerosis. But some lipoproteins that are rich in triglycerides also contain cholesterol, which causes atherosclerosis in some people with
high triglycerides. Also, high triglycerides are often accompanied by other factors (such as low
HDL or
diabetes) that raise
heart disease risk. Therefore, a high triglyceride level may be a sign of a lipoprotein problem that contributes to
heart disease.
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Triglyceride Levels
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Triglyceride Category |
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Less than 150 mg/dL
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Normal
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150-199 mg/dL
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Borderline high
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200-499 mg/dL
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High
|
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500 mg/dL or above
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Very high
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Triglyceride numbers that are borderline high (150 to 199 mg/dL) or high (200 mg/dL or more) may require treatment.
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