High Triglycerides

As the main storage form of fat in the body, triglycerides provide energy and serve as building blocks for cells; however, high triglycerides in the blood can increase your risk for developing certain medical conditions, including heart disease. High triglycerides (over 200 mg/dL) occur in about 10 percent of people. Inadequate fasting prior to a lipid test may cause triglyceride levels to appear high, even when they're not. Factors associated with high triglycerides include obesity, lack of physical activity, a very high carbohydrate diet, and excessive alcohol use. People with extremely high triglycerides can develop other conditions, such as fatty liver and pancreatitis.

 
 

High Triglycerides: An Overview

Triglycerides are the main storage form of fat in the body, and are very important for the overall functioning of the body. However, high triglycerides in the blood (known as hypertriglyceridemia) can lead to health problems.
 

Understanding Triglycerides

Triglycerides have two important uses within the body:
 
 
  • Creating energy
  • Serving as building blocks for cells.
     
Triglycerides come from the fats in foods (saturated fat and unsaturated fat). Triglycerides are also made in the liver from carbohydrates and proteins. Triglycerides are mostly stored in fat cells, but other cells (such as muscle cells) store some triglycerides. To get to these cells, triglycerides are transferred with complexes called lipoproteins (specifically chylomicrons and VLDL).
 
Triglyceride levels in the blood are categorized below:
 
Triglyceride Levels                                           Triglyceride Category
Less than 150 mg/dL
Normal
150-199 mg/dL
Borderline-high
200-499 mg/dL
High
500 mg/dL or above
Very High
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD